By Wendy Stoltz / Last Modified On July 31, 2023

Use your slow cooker to make this sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken recipe featuring chicken, pineapple, soy sauce, and brown sugar to create the most delicious sauce to serve over rice.

The flavors in this recipe bring to mind summer days, the beach, and sweet beverages inside of hollowed out pineapples.

If you like these flavors, you'll also like Gluten Free Teriyaki Chicken and Hawaiian Chicken made on the grill.

In this post we're sharing what ingredients are in Hawaiian chicken, also known as pineapple chicken. We're also sharing how to make Hawaiian chicken, how to thicken the sauce for sweet Hawaiian crockpot chicken, what to serve with sweet Hawaiian crockpot chicken, and what chicken to use when making sweet Hawaiian crockpot chicken. Let's get started.

There's just something about this combination of sweet, sour, and salty that makes Sweet Hawaiian Chicken irresistible. We almost never have leftovers of this meal.

Table of Contents

SWEET HAWAIIAN CROCKPOT CHICKEN RECIPE

Using the crockpot to make Sweet Hawaiian Chicken serves two important purposes.

One, you can make this amazing meal without ever turning on your stove, making it great for hot summer days or busy weeknights.

Two, cooking low and slow means that your chicken will be tender, easy to shred, and super flavorful.

Chunks of pineapple pick up the flavor from the chicken and vice versa, giving us a complete dish that is sweet, tangy, and savory in every bite of this sweet Hawaiian crockpot chicken.

INGREDIENTS IN SWEET HAWAIIAN CROCKPOT CHICKEN

Canned Pineapple Chunks - Separate the fruit from the juice, we'll be using both in this recipe.

Gluten Free Soy Sauce - Use GF soy sauce or tamari to keep this recipe free of gluten.

Brown Sugar - This adds so much caramelly sweetness to the chicken.

Garlic Powder - A kick of garlic is exactly the flavor needed to balance the sweet flavors in the sauce.

Onion Powder - Onion powder gives dishes that warm, homemade flavor.

Ginger - Powdered ginger or fresh minced ginger can be used here.

Chicken - Use either breasts or thighs with skin and bones removed.

If you have any questions about this sweet Hawaiian crockpot chicken, please leave a comment and I will get back to you.

HOW TO MAKE SWEET HAWAIIAN CROCKPOT CHICKEN

Add the pineapple juice, tamari, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder and ginger to a small bowl.
Mix well to combine.
Add the sauce mixture and the chicken to the crockpot.
Add in the pineapple chunks.
Cover and cook on low as directed in the recipe card below.
Once cooked, if desired, remove the chicken from the crockpot and shred with two forks before serving.

These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions in this sweet Hawaiian crockpot chicken, please see the recipe below.

HOW TO THICKEN THE SAUCE FOR SWEET HAWAIIAN CHICKEN IN THE CROCKPOT

The sauce in this sweet Hawaiian crockpot chicken recipe doesn't have a thickener in it, so it's thin, but I like it that way because it soaks into the rice and makes everything yummy.

You may want to thicken things up a bit though.

To do that using cornstarch, mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water, and add this to the crockpot 30 minutes prior to the end of the cook time.

Stir it well and then leave it alone. It will thicken up nicely by the time it's finished.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH SWEET HAWAIIAN CROCKPOT CHICKEN

Rice. I always serve rice with this sweet Hawaiian crockpot chicken, no matter what. I think I've already mentioned how yummy this sauce is with rice! Cauliflower rice would be a great low carb gluten free alternative as well.

An extra vegetable like Instant Pot Broccoli would be a great addition to make this a really delicious and nutritious meal. We've also served it with Gluten Free Garlic Bread.

Grilled bell peppers and onions also pair wonderfully with the flavors of this sweet Hawaiian crockpot chicken dish.

WHAT KIND OF CHICKEN TO USE FOR HAWAIIAN CHICKEN

I generally like to make this sweet Hawaiian crockpot chicken with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I've also used chicken tenders, and boneless and skinless chicken thighs.

Really any cut of chicken will work as long as you remove the skin and bones.

HOW TO STORE HAWAIIAN CROCKPOT CHICKEN

This chicken dish is full of simple ingredients, but like most chicken dishes, it only stays good for about 3 days covered in the refrigerator. You can freeze the leftovers for up to 3 months, just note that the pineapple continues to soften after it's been frozen and reheated.

MORE CHICKEN DISHES

Caprese Stuffed Balsamic Chicken is another incredibly flavorful recipe that uses chicken breast meat. A super simple, yet flavorful recipe for Caprese Stuffed Balsamic Chicken that's stuffed with fresh mozzarella, basil, and sundried tomatoes and baked with a sweet balsamic glaze.

Instant Pot Chicken Stir Fry - Make this simple and completely delicious Instant Pot Chicken Stir Fry with vegetables for dinner this week. This recipe is fast, easy, and filling.

Instant Pot Chicken Fried Rice is a simple and delicious way to get dinner on the table with minimal effort. Fragrant jasmine rice, tender chicken, and lots of veggies come together to create a healthy and satisfying meal that the whole family will enjoy.

Instant Pot Salsa Chicken - A super simple recipe for instant pot salsa chicken that is ready in under 30 minutes. This instant pot salsa chicken recipe uses three ingredients that most people who love tacos have on hand.

Marry Me Chicken - One of our favorites, and super simple to make, this chicken recipe is naturally gluten free, super savory, and delicious.

Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip - Cook up this easy Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip the next time you need a dip or appetizer for game day or a party. It only uses a handful of ingredients and it's bursting with flavor.

Did you make this Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken? Please leave a comment below letting me know what you thought.

Yield: 8 servings

Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken

Name: Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 4 h
Total time: 4 h 5 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 can pineapple chunks, the juice separated from the pineapple chunks; 1/3 cup gluten free soy sauce or tamari; 1/3 cup brown sugar; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon powdered ginger (or 2 tablespoon fresh minced ginger); 2 lbs skinless chicken breast or boneless, skinless thighs

Use your slow cooker to make this sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken recipe featuring chicken, pineapple, soy sauce, and brown sugar to create the most delicious sauce to serve over rice.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients

1 can pineapple chunks, the juice separated from the pineapple chunks
⅓ cup gluten free soy sauce or tamari
⅓ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon powdered ginger (or 2 tablespoon fresh minced ginger)
2 lbs skinless chicken breast or boneless, skinless thighs

Instructions

Mix the pineapple juice, tamari, brown sugar, garlic powder,
onion powder, and powdered ginger.
Add the sauce mixture and chicken to the crockpot.
Add in the pineapple chunks.
Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Once cooked, if desired, remove the chicken from the
crockpot and shred with two forks.
Serve warm.

Notes

Any boneless, skinless chicken will work in this recipe.
Make sure you don't drain the pineapple juice down the drain! Save it to make the sauce.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 313Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 117mgSodium: 837mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 1gSugar: 20gProtein: 41g

This nutrition info is based on the exact ingredients and brands that I used a the time. It may not be 100% accurate. Please check your ingredients nutrition labels.

Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken Recipe Post

Thanks for sharing!