Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken Recipe
Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken is a flavorful and tender dish made by slow-cooking chicken breasts with pineapple chunks, a tangy soy sauce-based glaze, and aromatic spices. This easy, hands-off recipe results in juicy shredded chicken coated in a sweet and savory sauce, perfect served over rice or noodles for a comforting meal with a tropical twist.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 to 6 hours + 15 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes to 6 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Fruit
- 2 pounds chicken breast
- 1 cup pineapple chunks
Sauce
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Thickening Agent
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Arrange Chicken: Place the chicken breasts evenly at the bottom of the crockpot to ensure uniform cooking.
- Add Pineapple: Scatter the pineapple chunks over the chicken to infuse the meat with a sweet, tropical flavor during cooking.
- Prepare Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, and red pepper flakes until well combined, creating a balanced sweet and tangy sauce.
- Combine Ingredients: Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the chicken and pineapple in the crockpot, ensuring everything is well coated.
- Slow Cook: Cover the crockpot with its lid and cook on low heat for 4 to 6 hours, allowing the chicken to become tender and soak up the flavors.
- Shred Chicken: Once cooked, use two forks to shred the chicken directly in the crockpot, mixing it with the pineapple and sauce.
- Thicken Sauce: In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and water to make a slurry; stir this into the crockpot sauce and set it to high heat. Cook for an additional 10 to 15 minutes to thicken the sauce.
- Final Mix: Return the shredded chicken to the thickened sauce in the crockpot and stir thoroughly to coat the meat before serving.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, increase the red pepper flakes according to taste.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with steamed white rice or quinoa for a complete meal.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- Ensure chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for safety.
Keywords: Sweet Hawaiian Chicken, Crockpot Chicken, Slow Cooker Chicken, Pineapple Chicken, Sweet and Tangy Chicken
