Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken slow-cooked with sweet pineapple and savory soy sauce, creating a perfect balance of flavors.

# Ingredient List:

→ Chicken

01 - 2.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into large chunks

→ Vegetables & Fruit

02 - 1 large red bell pepper, chopped
03 - 1 large green bell pepper, chopped
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
05 - 1 (20 oz) can pineapple chunks in juice, drained (reserve juice)

→ Sauce

06 - 3/4 cup pineapple juice (from reserved can)
07 - 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
08 - 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
09 - 1/4 cup ketchup
10 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
11 - 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
12 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
13 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
14 - 2 tablespoons water (only if thickening sauce)

→ Garnish

15 - 2 tablespoons sliced green onions
16 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

# How to Make:

01 - Arrange chicken pieces in the bottom of your slow cooker.
02 - Scatter chopped bell peppers, onion, and pineapple chunks evenly over the chicken.
03 - In a medium bowl, whisk together pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, minced garlic, grated ginger, and rice vinegar until smooth.
04 - Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the chicken and vegetables.
05 - Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or on LOW for 6-7 hours, until the chicken is tender and easily shredded with a fork.
06 - For a thicker sauce, whisk cornstarch and water together in a small bowl to make a slurry. In the last 20 minutes of cooking, stir the slurry into the slow cooker, cover, and cook until the sauce thickens.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds, over steamed rice or with your favorite sides.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • Its the kind of dinner that makes people think you tried much harder than you actually did
  • The sauce works beautifully over rice, noodles, or even inside lettuce wraps for leftovers
02 -
  • Dont skip browning the sauce if you have time—simmer it on the stove for 5 minutes before pouring it over for deeper flavor
  • The chicken will release liquid as it cooks, so your sauce will be thinner than when you first poured it in
03 -
  • If your sauce tastes too salty initially, add a splash more pineapple juice—the flavors balance out significantly during cooking
  • Low and slow gives you shreddable chicken while high heat keeps pieces intact

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