Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken

One of the best crockpot chicken recipes you can try this winter is this Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken with its tropical, juicy sauce and tender, shredded chicken that turns out so soft and flavorful.

This Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken is super simple, but you need to make it special just like I did. Make sure to prepare a the sauce using pineapple juice, cornstarch and ketchup After that, all you have to do is turn your crockpot on and let it cook slowly and then enjoy it with some bread or rice.

I once tried adding a bit of my Pokeworks classic sauce but the taste turned out a bit strange so I wouldn’t recommend it. I was aiming for a stronger tropical flavor since both recipes have Hawaiian ingredients but the mix didn’t quite work.

Why you’ll love Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken

Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken is like a nice dinner option to have in your holidays because it is full of juicy chicken and sweet pineapple and a lovely sauce that tastes so good since it is easy to make and does not need much work as you just place everything in the slow cooker and let it do its magic while you rest or play or do your chores it smells so good while cooking.

As I said the dish is perfect for families who love simple and happy meals also perfetc for people who loves Hawaiian islands flavors as the pineapple adds a soft sweetness while the chicken turns tender and juicy when cooked slowly and the sauce ties everything together with warmth.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup pineapple chunks fresh or canned
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Ingredients notes

• Chicken breasts – soft and light meat that holds the sauce nicely.
• Pineapple chunks – Makes the meal sweet and tropical.
• Pineapple juice – gives a bright and sunny taste.
• Brown sugar – adds sweet flavor.
• Soy sauce – gives saltiness and balance to the sweetness.
• Ketchup – brings a touch of tomato taste.
• Cornstarch – makes the sauce thick.
• Water – helps the cornstarch mix smoothly.
• Garlic powder – adds a good smell.
• Ground ginger – gives warmth and flavor.
• Salt – makes the other tastes come out better.
• Black pepper – Important for me.

How to Make Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken?

Place the chicken back in the crockpot and stir it into the sauce so every piece is covered. And you can enjoy it with rice or vegetables, and pour more sauce on top if you like it sweeter.

Kitchen equipment needed

• Crockpot or slow cooker
• Mixing bowls
• Spoon for stirring
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Plate

Variations

You can change this Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken recipe in many nice ways so it tastes a bit different every time for me sometimes I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts for a softer and more flavorful dinner or you can add red or green bell peppers to bring more color and veggies touch to your plate, also you can eat it with white rice brown rice or coconut rice to make it taste more tropical another great idea is to to have it with a soup espechaly a japaness one like Low salt miso soup and for sure you can enjoy it with some breads fro your choice.

Substitutions

I will start with soy sauce as you can replace it with teriyaki sauce for the same salty sweet flavor and if you run out of brown sugar you can use honey to make it naturally sweet.

For the pineapple juice I would say to replace it with orange juice or apple juice as they works too, though the flavor will be a little different but still very tasty.

Now for the peoipel who want this Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken gluten free, well make sure you use gluten free soy sauce if you do not have cornstarch and you can use flour or arrowroot powder to thicken the sauce and if you do not have ketchup you can mix tomato paste with a little sugar to get a similar taste.

Tips for making the best Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken

To make the best Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken try to use fresh pineapple when you can because it gives extra bright flavor and freshness and for me its the key ingredient in this Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken, so make sure you stir all the sauce ingredients well before adding them to the crockpot so the flavors mix nicely.

For the chicken to be cooked faster cut it into medium pieces so the sauce soaks in better also when you add the cornstarch mix it carefully so it does not clump together and also if the sauce becomes too thick you can add a little water but I preffer pineapple juice to make it smoother and to make it like more tropical.

If you want your chicken to be very tender, cook it on low instead of high since slow cooking keeps it juicy and soft and you can also prepare everything the night before. I will suggest Friday night and turn on the crockpot in the morning so you will have dinner ready by the evening without stress.

FAQ

What is this Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken recipe made of?

It is made of chicken pineapple, soy sauce, brown sugar, and a few simple seasonings.

Can I use frozen chicken?

Yes you can but it is better to thaw it first.

How can I make the sauce thicker?

You can mix a little more cornstarch with water.

Can I make it without a crockpot?

Yes, I will suggest not to do that.

What can I eat with Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken?

It tastes great with rice noodles or steamed vegetables like broccoli and carrots as well as soups.