Known for its delicious and flavorful taste, sweet Hawaiian Crockpot chicken is ideal for busy weeknights. The dish is made effortlessly in a slow cooker.
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Whether you're a busy single looking for a hassle-free meal or simply craving a taste of paradise, this recipe is sure to satisfy your cravings. It brings a tropical twist to your dinner table, combining tender chicken breasts with the irresistible sweetness of pineapple.
Say aloha to the simplicity and burst of flavors that come together in this delightful slow cooker dish. From juicy chicken breasts infused with tangy pineapple and savory soy sauce to the aromatic blend of garlic and ginger, this sweet Hawaiian crockpot chicken will transport you straight to the sandy shores of Hawaii.
Reasons to Love
- Easy and Convenient. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal preparation, you can have a delicious and flavorful meal ready in no time. All you need to do is combine the ingredients in your crockpot, set it on low heat, and let it cook for several hours.
- Sweet and Savory Flavors. The combination of tangy pineapple juice, sweet brown sugar, salty soy sauce, and aromatic ginger and garlic creates the perfect blend of tastes.
- Tender and Juicy Chicken. The low and slow cooking method helps break down the connective tissues in the meat, resulting in incredibly tender chicken that practically falls apart with each bite.
Ingredients
The great thing about this Hawaiian chicken recipe is that you don't need much to make it. It's made with common foods you can find at any grocery store.
Here are the items you'll need:
- boneless and skinless chicken breasts
- soy sauce
- tomato paste
- Worcestershire sauce
- garlic powder
- brown sugar
- black pepper
- red bell pepper
- canned pineapple chunks
Scroll down to the recipe card for quantities used.
Instructions
If you like dump-and-go slow cooker dishes, this recipe is for you. Simply combine everything in the Crock Pot, turn it on, and come back to a flavorful dinner waiting for you to enjoy.
Add the soy sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, brown sugar black pepper to the slow cooker and mix together.
Add the diced chicken breasts, red bell pepper and a can of pineapple chunks (including the juice) into the slow cooker.
Gently stir the ingredients in the slow cooker, ensuring the chicken and bell peppers are evenly coated in the marinade. Set your slow cooker to low and cover it with the lid. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
About 30 minutes before serving, taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if necessary. You can add more soy sauce or brown sugar if desired. Optionally, garnish with sliced scallions ad serve over rice.
Hint: Taste the sauce before adding it to the crockpot, and adjust the sweetness or saltiness to your preference. You can add a bit more soy sauce for saltiness or pineapple juice for sweetness until you achieve the perfect flavor balance. This helps to tailor the dish to your taste and ensures a delicious result.
Variations
Want to put your own spin on the classic Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken? Here are a few modifications that allow you to personalize this dish:
- Chicken - try using skinless, boneless chicken thighs instead of chicken breast.
- Additions - add carrots for added nutrition and color.
- Spicy - mix in red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños for a spicier kick.
- Seasoning - stir in various spices like ginger or even cinnamon for an unexpected twist.
Check out my slow cooker pork chops for another sweet meat sauce that can be used in the crockpot.
Tips
Top tip: Cooking on the low setting is recommended for slow cooker recipes. This allows the flavors to meld together more thoroughly, resulting in a tastier dish.
- Avoid filling the crockpot to its maximum capacity. Leave enough space for proper heat circulation within the pot.
- Don't lift the lid during cooking. Precious heat escapes each time you open the lid, increasing cooking time and affecting the final result.
- You can thicken the sauce with a cornstarch slurry if desired.
Serving suggestions
This delicious dish pairs well with slow cooker rice and roasted vegetables or a fresh green salad. I like to serve it with roasted cabbage steaks or a raw carrot salad.
Storage
Once the chicken has cooled down, transfer it into an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. Make sure to remove as much air as possible before sealing the container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
You can also freeze it to store for a longer period of time. Place the cooled chicken in a freezer-safe container or bag, again removing any excess air before sealing. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw the chicken overnight in the refrigerator before reheating and serving.
FAQs
Yes, you can use frozen chicken in this recipe. However, it's recommended to thaw the chicken before adding it to the crockpot for more even cooking and better flavor absorption.
Absolutely! If you prefer a sweeter taste, you can add a bit more brown sugar or pineapple juice. For a less sweet version, reduce the amount of brown sugar or substitute with a natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup.
Certainly! You can easily double or triple the ingredients to accommodate a larger group. Just make sure your crockpot is large enough to hold all the ingredients comfortably and adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Related Recipes
Want more slow cooker recipes that make the perfect amount for two? Check out these dishes:
- Chicken tacos are easy to prepare with slow cooked meat.
- Slow cooker pork loin comes out juicy and tender every time.
- Buffalo chicken dip is perfect for kids and picky eaters.
- Crockpot mac and cheese is an excellent alternative to baked dishes.
- Chili for two whips together effortlessly for easy meals.
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Recipe
Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
Ingredients
- ½ pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cubed
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free
- 1 teaspoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon brown sugar
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 8 ounces small can of pineapple chunks with juices
- Scallions for garnish (optional)
- Rice for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Add the soy sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, brown sugar black pepper to the slow cooker and mix together.
- Add the diced chicken breasts, red bell pepper and a can of pineapple chunks (including the juice) into the slow cooker.
- Gently stir the ingredients in the slow cooker, ensuring the chicken and bell peppers are evenly coated in the marinade.
- Set your slow cooker to low and cover it with the lid. Cook for 4-6 hours. You can also cook on high for 2-3 hours.
- About 30 minutes before serving, taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if necessary. You can add more soy sauce or brown sugar if desired.
- Optionally, garnish with sliced scallions and serve over rice.
Barbara Smith
Delicious and easy to prepare! Thank you.
Luis
Used this recipe for meal prep and it saved me so much time! Having a batch of this delicious Hawaiian chicken ready to go made my weeknight dinners so much easier and more enjoyable this week.
Camil
I thickened the sauce with a cornstarch slurry at the end for a more luscious texture, and I loved how it turned out! The sauce clung to the chicken and veggies and the flavors were just amazing!
regina milstein
do you just add it to the crockpot?
Lisa MarcAurele
I'd say just add the cornstarch and water mixture to the crockpot at the end of cooking (like last hour or half hour).
Myka
Tried this recipe using chicken thighs instead of breasts. The meat was incredibly juicy and soaked up all the flavors from the marinade perfectly.
Candice
Made a spicier version by adding red pepper flakes to the dish and it turned out so delicious. I served it with fresh green salad and the sweet and savory combination is so addictive.
Rita
We are in a "try something new" season in our house, but a lot of these recipes can be complicated and I needed something for a busy weeknight. This recipe was perfect. Easy to make and the flavors were incredible. Thanks for sharing.
Joseph A Motil
I swap out the SOY SAUCE with GF Tamari as standard soy has wheat in it (check labels).
Lisa MarcAurele
I prefer tamari as well. But my favorite is to use coconut aminos in place of soy sauce.
TRICIA
THIS IS NOT GLUTEN FREE, SOY SAUCE HAS GLUTEN
Lisa MarcAurele
Many brands of soy sauce do contain gluten but it's easy to use a gluten-free soy sauce or tamari if you need this to be a gluten-free recipe. Coconut aminos is also a great substitute for those avoiding soy.