Known for its delicious and flavorful taste, sweet Hawaiian Crockpot chicken is ideal for busy weeknights. The dish is made effortlessly in a crock pot.
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There’s nothing better than coming home to a meal that’s already cooked and ready to go. That’s why I love making this easy crockpot chicken recipe. It takes just minutes to throw together, and the slow cooker does all the work. The combination of tender chicken, a touch of sweetness, and a rich, savory sauce makes it something everyone at the table actually looks forward to eating.
This recipe is one of my go-to options for busy days when I don’t have time to stand over the stove. The flavors remind me of a takeout meal, but it’s homemade and way more budget-friendly. Plus, the leftovers (if there are any) taste just as good the next day, which means I can stretch one meal into two without anyone complaining.
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 – Cook up tender and soak in the sauce without extra fat or bones to deal with.
- Soy sauce – Adds a deep, savory flavor that balances the sweetness of the other ingredients.
- Tomato paste – Thickens the sauce and gives it a rich, slightly tangy base.
- Worcestershire sauce – Brings in a hint of umami and a little tang to round out the flavors.
- Garlic powder – Provides a subtle, savory depth without overpowering the dish.
- Brown sugar – Enhances the sweetness and helps caramelize the sauce as it cooks.
- Black pepper – Adds a mild heat to balance the sweet and savory elements.
- Red bell pepper – Brings color, a bit of crunch, and a slight sweetness to the dish.
- Canned pineapple chunks – Infuses the sauce with tropical sweetness while keeping the chicken juicy.
Scroll down to the recipe card for quantities used.
Instructions
If you like dump-and-go 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 crock pot and mix together.
Add the diced chicken breasts, red bell pepper and a can of pineapple chunks (including the juice).
Gently stir the ingredients, 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 and 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 additional spices like ginger or try a little BBQ sauce.
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. If you want a bit more texture, try serving it with quinoa or cauliflower rice for something different.
For a heartier meal, pair the chicken with classic barbecue sides like shrimp macaroni salad or grilled vegetables. If you’re looking for something a little crispier, serve it alongside air fried frozen sweet potato fries or fried plantains for a mix of flavors and textures. This dish also works great in sandwiches or wraps for an easy meal.
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.
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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.
Kathi
it's not a good as I thought it was going to be. I was thinking that it would be more like sweet and sour but it's not and the sauce should be thicker
Lisa MarcAurele
You can add a little vinegar for the "sour" if you like that.
Skip Matthews
not impressed
Lisa MarcAurele
I'm planning to work on this recipe to get the taste more appealing. I think a lot of people are expecting a sweet/tart flavor.
Debby
I made this for dinner tonight. it was delicious. I served it over rice. while it was cooking I added 2 tablespoons of starch , flaky red peppers and 1 teaspoon more of tomato paste. Turned out nice and thick.
Lisa MarcAurele
Thanks for sharing your modifications!
Kathy Williamson
Recipe please printer down
Lisa MarcAurele
You'll find the recipe here.
Linda K Richardson
Recipe was easy to prepare, my husband enjoyed as is. I thought it needed a little more zip.
I did thicken the sauce with a cornstarch slurry.
Robin
It didn't have a lot of flavor for some reason. I followed the recipe exactly, then added some brown sugar & more pineapple juice but still too bland for me.