Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken is an easy and flavorful slow-cooked meal featuring tender chicken breasts simmered in a delicious sweet and tangy sauce made with pineapple, brown sugar, soy sauce, and aromatic spices. Perfect for effortless weeknight dinners or meal prep, this tropical-inspired dish offers juicy, melt-in-your-mouth chicken with bright island flavors that pair wonderfully with rice, veggies, or creative presentations.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-6 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes to 6 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
- Diet: Gluten Free (with soy sauce substitution)
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Fruit
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 1/2 cups pineapple chunks (fresh or canned)
Sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (use low-sodium for a milder salt level or tamari/coconut aminos for gluten-free option)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Thickener
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp water
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken and pineapple: Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts into the crockpot. Evenly distribute pineapple chunks on top to infuse tropical sweetness into the chicken as it cooks.
- Mix the sauce: In a bowl, combine brown sugar, soy sauce, minced garlic, onion powder, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir until fully blended to create a sweet and savory sauce.
- Pour sauce over the chicken: Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the chicken and pineapple, ensuring all pieces are nicely coated for balanced flavor throughout the slow cooking process.
- Slow cook: Cover and cook on low heat for 4-6 hours or on high heat for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is tender and can be shredded easily with a fork.
- Thicken the sauce: About 20 minutes before serving, remove the chicken from the crockpot. Stir the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with water) into the crockpot to thicken the sauce to a glossy finish. Return the chicken to the crockpot and coat it thoroughly with the thickened sauce before serving.
Notes
- Pat chicken dry before adding sauce to help it absorb flavors better instead of steaming.
- Do not skip thickening the sauce—it adds lusciousness and helps it cling to the chicken.
- For more tropical depth, add pineapple juice along with the chunks.
- Use a digital timer or set a reminder to avoid overcooking and maintain perfect tenderness.
- Serve immediately for best taste. Leftovers reheat well for next-day meals.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Keywords: sweet hawaiian chicken, crockpot chicken, slow cooker chicken, pineapple chicken, easy dinner, meal prep, tropical chicken, gluten free crockpot
Find it online: https://dishesbylina.com/sweet-hawaiian-crockpot-chicken/