This Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken combines juicy chicken with a sweet and tangy pineapple sauce, creating a tropical flavor that’s perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings. The chicken cooks in a savory-sweet sauce of pineapple juice, brown sugar, and soy sauce, infused with garlic and ginger. This simple, yet flavorful dish will quickly become a family favorite!

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

• 1 cup pineapple juice

• ½ cup brown sugar

• ⅓ cup soy sauce

• 1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple in juice, undrained

• 1 teaspoon minced garlic

• ½ teaspoon ground ginger

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

• 2 tablespoons water

• Optional: sliced green onions and sesame seeds for garnish

Directions

1. Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of a slow cooker.

2. In a small bowl, mix together the pineapple juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, crushed pineapple, minced garlic, ground ginger, salt, and pepper.

3. Pour the mixture over the chicken breasts, making sure they are well coated.

4. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until the chicken is tender and cooked through.

5. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and set it aside.

6. In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch and water together to form a slurry, then pour it into the slow cooker, stirring well to thicken the sauce.

7. Return the chicken to the slow cooker and let it cook for another 10-15 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken.

8. Shred the chicken with two forks or serve it in whole pieces, as desired.

9. Serve the Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken over cooked rice or noodles and garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.

Nutrients

• Calories: ~300 per serving

• Carbs: 36g

• Protein: 30g

• Fat: 6g

• Fiber: 2g

• Sugar: 26g

Why Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken Works So Well

The beauty of Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken lies in its balance of flavors and the ease of preparation. The slow cooking process allows the chicken to absorb all the sweet and savory flavors from the pineapple juice, soy sauce, and brown sugar, resulting in a dish that’s tender and full of flavor. The garlic and ginger add aromatic depth, making the sauce wonderfully fragrant, while the pineapple provides a natural sweetness that contrasts perfectly with the salty soy sauce.

Using a slow cooker ensures that the chicken comes out tender and juicy every time. The sauce is thickened towards the end of cooking with a simple cornstarch slurry, creating a rich, glossy glaze that coats the chicken and adds an extra layer of indulgence. Whether served over rice, noodles, or vegetables, this dish is an easy yet flavorful meal that will please the whole family.

The Chicken: Tender and Flavorful

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are the perfect choice for this dish, as they cook up tender and juicy when simmered in the crockpot. The chicken absorbs the savory-sweet sauce, infusing it with flavor as it cooks. Whether you choose to shred the chicken or serve it whole, it will be easy to cut through and tender, making it ideal for serving over rice or noodles.

The slow cooking process allows the chicken to become incredibly flavorful, while the sauce thickens and develops a rich, sweet, and tangy profile. The result is a dish that’s comforting and satisfying without being overly heavy.

The Sauce: Sweet, Savory, and Tangy

The sauce for this dish is simple yet packed with flavor. Pineapple juice and brown sugar create a sweet base, while soy sauce adds a savory depth that balances out the sweetness. Garlic and ginger bring an aromatic quality that enhances the overall flavor profile, making the sauce fragrant and flavorful.

The crushed pineapple, which is added undrained, further intensifies the tropical flavors of the dish and contributes to the texture of the sauce. The pineapple chunks break down during cooking, thickening the sauce naturally and adding extra sweetness. Once the chicken is removed, a quick cornstarch slurry is used to thicken the sauce, giving it a rich, glossy texture that coats the chicken beautifully.

Slow Cooking: Hands-Off and Effortless

One of the best things about this dish is how easy it is to prepare. Simply place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker, pour the pineapple sauce over the top, and let it cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours. During the cooking process, the chicken becomes incredibly tender as it absorbs the flavors of the sauce, and the sauce thickens to a luscious consistency.

The slow cooker allows you to walk away and let the meal cook itself, making it ideal for busy days when you need a hands-off dinner. The result is a perfectly cooked, flavorful chicken dish that requires minimal effort but delivers maximum taste.

Finishing the Sauce: Thickening and Serving

Once the chicken is cooked, you can remove it from the slow cooker and set it aside while you thicken the sauce. Mixing cornstarch with water creates a slurry that’s added to the cooking liquid, which is then stirred until it thickens. This step creates a rich, glossy sauce that perfectly coats the chicken and enhances the dish’s overall flavor and texture.

Once the sauce has thickened, return the chicken to the slow cooker to reheat in the sauce. If you prefer, you can shred the chicken with two forks for a more casual, pulled-chicken texture or serve it in whole pieces for a more elegant presentation.

Serving Suggestions

Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken is best served over a bed of rice or noodles, which will soak up the flavorful sauce. The sweetness of the sauce pairs perfectly with the mildness of the rice, creating a balanced dish. For an extra touch, garnish the chicken with sliced green onions and sesame seeds, which add a pop of color and texture.

This dish also pairs wonderfully with steamed vegetables or a side of sautéed greens, which provide a fresh, slightly bitter contrast to the richness of the chicken and sauce. You could also serve it with roasted vegetables or a simple side salad for a lighter meal.

Nutritional Breakdown

Each serving of Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken contains approximately 300 calories, making it a satisfying but not overly indulgent meal. The dish provides 30g of protein, thanks to the chicken, which is a great source of lean protein. With 6g of fat, including minimal saturated fat, the dish is relatively light and balanced.

The 36g of carbohydrates come primarily from the pineapple juice and brown sugar, while the dish also provides 5g of fiber from the pineapple. With only 2g of sugar per serving, the sweetness is naturally derived from the pineapple, keeping the dish from being overly sugary.

Conclusion: A Tropical, Flavorful Dish

In conclusion, Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken is a deliciously easy and flavorful dish that brings the taste of the tropics to your dinner table. The combination of tender chicken and a sweet and tangy pineapple sauce creates a perfect balance of flavors that is sure to please everyone. Whether you serve it over rice, noodles, or vegetables, it’s a comforting and satisfying meal that’s quick to prepare and incredibly flavorful. With minimal effort and maximum taste, this dish is destined to become a family favorite.