This Hawaiian Chicken Dish comes together in about 4 hours in your slow cooker for a quick and easy weeknight meal that your family will love! Just picture that tropical flavor filling your home. Let’s dive right in!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s what you’ll need to whip up this Sweet Hawaiian Chicken Dish:
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs: You can use either to suit your preference; both turn out juicy and tender!
- 1 can (20 oz) pineapple chunks: This is where the magic happens, make sure to drain but reserve the juice!
- 1 red bell pepper, diced: Adds a splash of color and sweetness.
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced: For flavor and that vibrant touch!
- 1 cup barbecue sauce: Use your favorite brand or homemade if you have the time!
- 1/2 cup soy sauce: The umami flavor here is essential, trust me!
- 1/4 cup brown sugar: Just the right amount of sweetness.
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger: Fresh ginger adds tons of flavor and a slight kick!
- 2 cloves garlic, minced: Because garlic makes everything better, right?
- 1/4 cup cornstarch: This will help thicken your sauce later.
- 1/4 cup cold water: To mix with the cornstarch.
- Cooked rice: We’ll serve the chicken over this to soak up all that sticky goodness.
- Chopped green onions and sesame seeds: For that perfect finishing touch!
Step-by-Step For Hawaiian Chicken Dish!
Prep Your Slow Cooker: Start by placing the chicken breasts or thighs at the bottom of your slow cooker. Make sure to spread them out evenly for the best cooking results.
Add Pineapple & Veggies: Pile the pineapple chunks and diced red and yellow bell peppers on top of the chicken. Seriously, that vibrant color will make you excited to dig in!
Whisk the Sauce: In a medium bowl, combine the reserved pineapple juice, barbecue sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, grated ginger, and minced garlic. Whisk it all together until well mixed and bubbly. Ah, the smell is incredible, it’ll have you dreaming of summer!
Pour the Sauce Over Everything: Carefully pour this liquid gold over the chicken and vegetables, ensuring everything is well coated.
Set Your Slow Cooker: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender. Cooking it low and slow? It holds onto all those delicious flavors!
Shred the Chicken: Once the chicken is cooked, take it out and shred it using two forks. It should break apart easily, tender and juicy, just as it should be!
Thicken the Sauce: In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and cold water until smooth (it looks like magic!). Then add this mixture to the slow cooker to thicken the sauce. Stir everything together, cover, and cook on high for an additional 15-20 minutes until the sauce has reached the thickness you desire.
Serve & Enjoy: Serve the sweet Hawaiian chicken over warm cooked rice, and garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds for an extra pop of flavor and color!
And voilà! You’ve made a dish that smells and tastes like a tropical vacation!
If you loved this Sweet Hawaiian Chicken Dish, be sure to check out my Green Sauce Chicken or my Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken!
Why This Recipe Works
Quick & Easy
It comes all together in one pot (or slow cooker), taking away the hassle of multiple dishes. With just about 30 minutes prep time, you’ll be off living your life while it cooks!
Comfort Food
The sweet, tangy, and savory flavors of this dish wrap around you like a warm hug. It’s loaded with tons of flavor, and that combination of chicken and pineapple? Chef’s kiss!
Customizable
Don’t have red and yellow bell peppers? No problem! This recipe is incredibly flexible. You can swap in whatever’s hanging out in your fridge. Broccoli, snap peas, or even that half bag of frozen veggies? Toss ’em in!
Make-Ahead Friendly
If you’re prepping for a busy week, you can toss everything into your slow cooker in the morning, and it’s done by dinner time! Perfect for meal prep!
Budget-Friendly
Most of these ingredients are affordable staples you likely have on hand. Plus, you can adjust quantities to fit your budget!
Serving and Storage Tips
What to Serve With This
Serve this delightful dish over a bed of fluffy rice to soak up all that sticky sauce. You can also enjoy it with a fresh cucumber salad on the side or some sautéed greens for balance.
Keeping Leftovers Fresh
The leftover Sweet Hawaiian Chicken will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Just make sure you store it in an airtight container!
Reheating Instructions
When it’s time to enjoy leftovers, you can reheat them in the microwave or on the stovetop. Just stir gently over medium heat until warmed through, adding a splash of water or extra sauce if it seems dry. No one likes dry chicken!
Freezer Friendly?
Absolutely! You can freeze the chicken mixture before cooking it. Just place everything in a freezer bag and thaw it overnight in the fridge before cooking as directed. Also, cooked leftovers may be frozen for up to three months, just label them well so you remember what it is!
Food should be fun and rewarding! If you can make someone smile with just one dish, hey, why not? This Sweet Hawaiian Chicken Dish is just one of those home runs.
So, check it out, and let me know how it turns out for you! I’d love to hear all about your culinary adventures with this recipe. If your family enjoys it as much as mine does, I know you’ll be making it again and again!
Happy Cooking, friends! And for more recipes, follow us on Pinterest.
Print
Sweet Hawaiian Chicken Dish
- Total Time: 270 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: None
Description
A delicious and quick Sweet Hawaiian Chicken Dish prepared in your slow cooker, perfect for a family weeknight meal with tropical flavors.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 can (20 oz) pineapple chunks, drained and juice reserved
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup cold water
- Cooked rice, for serving
- Chopped green onions and sesame seeds, for garnish
Instructions
- Place the chicken in the slow cooker and spread evenly.
- Add the pineapple chunks and diced bell peppers on top of the chicken.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the reserved pineapple juice, barbecue sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, grated ginger, and minced garlic.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken and vegetables, ensuring everything is well coated.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until the chicken is cooked and tender.
- Remove the chicken and shred it with two forks.
- Mix cornstarch and cold water until smooth, then add to the slow cooker to thicken the sauce and cook on high for an additional 15-20 minutes.
- Serve the chicken over warm rice, garnished with chopped green onions and sesame seeds.
Notes
Feel free to swap in any other vegetables you have on hand for added flexibility.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 240 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg