Description
A sweet and savory Hawaiian crockpot chicken recipe perfect for two, ready with just 30 minutes of prep and slow cooking. This easy dinner combines tropical pineapple flavors with tender chicken for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
- 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound / 450g)
- 1 cup canned pineapple chunks in juice (about 165g)
- ½ cup pineapple juice (120ml)
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce (60ml)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1 teaspoon fresh grated or ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds (optional)
- Cooked white rice or cauliflower rice (for serving)
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients by mincing garlic, grating ginger, draining pineapple chunks (reserve juice), and slicing green onions.
- In the crockpot, combine pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, grated ginger, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir until sugar dissolves and sauce is glossy.
- Place chicken breasts in the crockpot and spoon pineapple chunks on top. Pour sauce over chicken, ensuring it is mostly covered.
- Cover and cook on low for 2 to 3 hours or on high for 1 to 1.5 hours until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and is tender.
- Remove chicken breasts and shred with two forks. Return shredded chicken to the crockpot and stir to coat with sauce.
- Serve shredded chicken over cooked white rice or cauliflower rice. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Optionally, squeeze fresh lime juice on top.
Notes
[‘Use fresh ginger for best flavor; ground ginger can be used in a pinch.’, ‘Use pineapple chunks canned in juice, not syrup, to avoid overly sweet sauce.’, ‘Adjust brown sugar and soy sauce to taste before cooking to balance sweetness and saltiness.’, ‘Check chicken early if cooking on high to prevent drying out.’, ‘Chicken thighs can be used instead of breasts; adjust cooking time accordingly.’, ‘The sauce tastes better the next day; store chicken and sauce separately and reheat gently.’, ‘Do not freeze leftovers as pineapple and sauce texture may change.’, ‘Add vegetables like bell peppers or snap peas during last 30 minutes for added crunch and color.’]
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 to 3 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (half the
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 4
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 1.5
- Protein: 38
Keywords: Hawaiian chicken, crockpot chicken, slow cooker dinner, pineapple chicken, easy dinner for two, tropical chicken recipe, sweet and savory chicken