As a mom, I'm always looking for those magic dinners that are healthy and that my daughter, Olivia, will eat with zero fuss. This Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken is a total winner! It's the ultimate kid-friendly crockpot recipe because that delicious, sweet pineapple chicken sauce is irresistible to her. It's the one meal I know will result in a "clean plate" every time!
Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot chicken is ideal for busy weeknights when you need something delicious but don't have time to stand over the stove. Chicken thighs and peppers are cooked in a pineapple brown sugar sauce that's sweet, tangy, and absolutely irresistible. This set-it-and-forget-it crock pot dinner fills your house with the most amazing tropical aroma while you go about your day.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
- Ingredients for Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
- How to Make Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
- My Top Tips for Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
- Making Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken with My Family
- Substitutions for Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
- Variations on Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
- Equipment for Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
- Storage Tips for Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
- Adam's Tip for Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
- FAQ about Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
- Conclusion
- Related
- Pairing
Why You'll Love This Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
- Incredibly easy: This 5 ingredient slow cooker hawaiian chicken requires minimal prep and the crockpot does all the work while you go about your day.
- Sweet and tangy: The pineapple brown sugar sauce creates a sticky sweet sauce with pineapple that coats every piece of tender chicken slow cooker perfectly.
- Family-friendly: Kids and adults both love this sweet and tangy homemade sauce that's not too spicy and full of familiar flavors.
Ingredients for Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
This sweet hawaiian crockpot chicken recipes uses simple pantry ingredients to create something special. Combine chicken, pineapple juice, brown sugar, and soy sauce in a slow cooker for the base, then add bell peppers and pineapple chunks for texture and color. You can make this as sweet hawaiian crockpot chicken with rice for a complete meal.
What You'll Need
For the Chicken:
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks
- 1 green bell pepper, cut into chunks
- 1 medium onion, cut into chunks
- 2 cups pineapple chunks (fresh or canned, drained)
For the Sweet Hawaiian Sauce:
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated (or ½ teaspoon ground ginger)
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (for thickening)
For Serving:
- Cooked white or brown rice
- Sesame seeds
- Sliced green onions
- Fresh cilantro
Why These Ingredients Matter
- Chicken thighs: These stay incredibly juicy and tender during the long low vs high slow-cooker cook time, making them perfect for crockpot cooking.
- Pineapple juice and brown sugar: Together they create that signature pineapple brown sugar sauce that's both sweet and slightly caramelized.
- Bell peppers and pineapple chunks: Add color, texture, and vitamins to make this a complete, balanced meal.
How to Make Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
Step-by-Step Directions
- Place the chicken thighs in the bottom of your slow cooker.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together pineapple juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, minced garlic, grated ginger, and ketchup until the sugar dissolves.
- Pour the sweet and tangy homemade sauce over the chicken.
- Add the bell peppers, onions, and pineapple chunks on top.
- Cover and cook it for about 6 hours in the crock pot on low, or 3 to 4 hours on high, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- About 30 minutes before serving, remove the chicken and shred it with two forks if desired, or leave it in chunks.
- Mix the cornstarch with water to create a slurry, then stir it into the sauce in the crockpot.
- Return the chicken to the crockpot and let it cook for the final 30 minutes to thicken the sauce.
- Serve over rice with garnish of sesame seeds, green onions, and cilantro.
Hint: For sweet hawaiian crockpot chicken with pineapple that's extra caramelized, you can broil the finished chicken for 2 to 3 minutes to get slightly crispy edges before serving.
My Top Tips for Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
Don't skip the thickening step at the end. The sauce will be thin after hours of cooking, and adding that cornstarch slurry transforms it into a sticky sweet sauce with pineapple that clings to everything beautifully. Also, if you're using chicken breasts instead of thighs, reduce the cooking time by about an hour to prevent them from drying out. This attention to detail is similar to what we do with our Hawaiian chicken sheet pan, where proper timing makes all the difference.
Making Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken with My Family
Last Tuesday morning, Adam helped me prep this sweet hawaiian chicken recipe before school. He dropped the pineapple chunks into the crockpot and asked, "Can we eat this for breakfast?" I laughed and told him we had to wait all day. He groaned but understood.
When we came home that evening, the house smelled incredible. Adam walked in and said, "Okay, NOW can we eat it?" Grandma Viola, who had stopped by, tried some and said, "Juicy chicken cooked in a sticky sweet sauce with pineapple & peppers is exactly what comfort food should be. And you didn't even have to watch it cook. That's brilliant."
Substitutions for Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
- Protein: Use sweet hawaiian crockpot chicken thighs for the juiciest results, or try shrimp added in the last 30 minutes for a seafood version.
- Sweetener: Replace brown sugar with honey or maple syrup for a different sweet note in the sauce.
- Vegetables: Add snap peas, broccoli, or carrots for extra nutrition and color.
- Pineapple: Use mandarin oranges for a different tropical twist while maintaining that fruity sweetness.
Variations on Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
- 4-ingredient version: Make the simplest sweet hawaiian crockpot chicken 4 ingredients using just chicken, pineapple juice, brown sugar, and soy sauce.
- Wings version: Try sweet hawaiian crockpot chicken wings by using chicken wings and increasing the cornstarch for an extra thick, sticky sauce.
- Grandma's version: Create grandma's secret recipes sweet hawaiian chicken by adding a splash of bourbon or rum to the sauce for depth. Check out this sesame chicken for slow cooker for more Asian-inspired crockpot ideas.
Equipment for Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
- 6-quart slow cooker: The perfect size for 2 pounds of chicken with room for vegetables and sauce.
- Sharp knife: For cutting chicken, vegetables, and pineapple into uniform pieces.
- Measuring cups: Important for getting the sweet-to-savory ratio just right in the sauce.
- Small bowl: For mixing the cornstarch slurry before adding it to thicken the sauce.
Storage Tips for Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days. The flavors actually develop more as it sits.
- Freezer: Freeze the cooked chicken and sauce (without the peppers and pineapple) for up to 3 months. Add fresh vegetables when reheating.
- Reheating: Warm gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. Add a splash of pineapple juice if the sauce has thickened too much.
This is one of those crockpot recipes for family that's perfect for meal prep. Make it on Sunday and you'll have easy lunches or quick dinners ready all week. It pairs beautifully with our creamy white cheddar chicken pasta when you want variety in your weekly dinner recipes crockpot rotation.
Adam's Tip for Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
"If you really like pineapple like me, add extra chunks. They get all soft and sweet and soak up the sauce. Also, the sauce is really good poured over rice, so don't skip the rice part."
FAQ about Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
How do you cook sweet Hawaiian chicken in a slow cooker?
To cook sweet hawaiian chicken in a slow cooker, place chicken in the crockpot, mix your sauce ingredients (pineapple juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger), pour over chicken, add vegetables and pineapple, then cook it for about 6 hours in the crock pot on low or 3 to 4 hours on high. Thicken the sauce with cornstarch slurry in the last 30 minutes. Serve over rice with garnish for a complete meal.
Should you put raw chicken in a slow cooker?
Yes, you can and should put raw chicken in a slow cooker for recipes like this sweet hawaiian crockpot chicken. The slow cooker's moist heat environment cooks chicken safely and keeps it tender. Make sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Using tender chicken slow cooker methods ensures juicy results. Raw chicken is actually preferred over pre-cooked because it absorbs more of the pineapple brown sugar sauce flavor during cooking.
Is it better to cook chicken on low or high in a crockpot?
For sweet hawaiian crockpot chicken recipes, low is generally better. Cooking on low (6 to 7 hours) produces more tender, juicy chicken compared to high (3 to 4 hours). The low vs high slow-cooker cook time matters because low heat allows the chicken to cook gently without drying out. However, if you're short on time, high works fine, just check for doneness earlier and watch that the chicken doesn't overcook.
What are the spices in Hawaiian chicken?
Traditional hawaiian chicken doesn't use many spices. The main flavors come from ginger, garlic, and sometimes a touch of sesame oil. The sweet and tangy homemade sauce is built on soy sauce, pineapple, and brown sugar rather than heavy spices. Some versions add a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat. The beauty of this 5 ingredient slow cooker hawaiian chicken is its simplicity.
What is Hawaiian Chicken sauce made of?
Hawaiian Chicken sauce is typically made of pineapple juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. This creates the signature sticky sweet sauce with pineapple that coats the chicken. Some recipes add ketchup for tang and color. The sauce should be sweet and tangy with tropical notes. For this set-it-and-forget-it crock pot dinner, the sauce simmers for hours, concentrating the flavors beautifully.
Conclusion
It's the best feeling in the world to see your whole family, especially the kids, happily cleaning their plates. I hope this "Olivia-approved," sweet and tangy chicken brings a little bit of that fuss-free magic to your dinner table, too! This Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken with its pineapple brown sugar sauce and tender chicken slow cooker method is comfort food at its easiest.
This set-it-and-forget-it crock pot dinner is perfect for busy families who want homemade meals without the stress. Whether you make the sweet hawaiian crockpot chicken 4 ingredients version or add all the extras, it's always a winner. If you're looking for more crockpot dishes, try our easy taco lasagna recipe or cheesy garlic chicken wraps for variety. Let me know how your hawaiian crock pot chicken turns out! Enjoy.
Related
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken:
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