Description
This Sweet Hawaiian Crock Pot Chicken recipe offers a tender and flavorful slow-cooked dish combining the tropical sweetness of pineapple with savory soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. Perfectly cooked chicken mixed with colorful bell peppers and a thickened, tangy sauce is ideal served over steamed rice and garnished with green onions and sesame seeds for a delicious Hawaiian-inspired meal with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sauce
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1 can (8 oz) pineapple chunks, drained
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- Salt and pepper to taste
Thickening Mixture
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Additional Ingredients
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- Cooked rice for serving
- Green onions, sliced for garnish
- Sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Season the chicken breasts or thighs with salt and pepper and place them evenly in the slow cooker.
- Make the Sauce: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, and ground ginger until well combined. Pour this mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker.
- Add Pineapple and Bell Pepper: Distribute the drained pineapple chunks and thinly sliced red bell pepper over the sauce and chicken. Cover the slow cooker with its lid.
- Slow Cook: Cook on low for 5 to 6 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Thicken the Sauce: Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and set aside. In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water to create a slurry. Stir the slurry into the sauce in the slow cooker, then cover and cook on high for about 15 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Finish Chicken in Sauce: Return the chicken pieces to the thickened sauce, ensuring they are well coated. Cook for an additional 5 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Serve: Serve the Sweet Hawaiian Crock Pot Chicken over cooked rice. Garnish with sliced green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds for extra flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Use either chicken breasts or thighs based on your preference; thighs tend to be more moist and tender after slow cooking.
- Adjust the sweetness by varying the amount of brown sugar to suit your taste.
- For a gluten-free option, use tamari instead of regular soy sauce.
- Do not add the cornstarch slurry at the beginning, as it will break down during the long cooking time; instead, add it towards the end to thicken the sauce.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours 50 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Keywords: Slow Cooker chicken, Hawaiian chicken, pineapple chicken, sweet and savory chicken, crock pot recipes, easy chicken dinner
