Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken is the kind of meal that makes dinner feel special without adding stress to your day. This easy slow cooker recipe combines juicy chicken with pineapple juice, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger to create a sticky, sweet-and-savory glaze that tastes like a tropical getaway. Best of all, it’s a true dump-and-go dinner, perfect for busy weeknights when you still want something comforting and flavorful.
Why You’ll Love This Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
This recipe checks all the boxes for a family-friendly favorite. It’s simple to prepare, packed with flavor, and incredibly versatile. The chicken cooks low and slow until it’s fall-apart tender, soaking up every bit of the Hawaiian-inspired sauce.
- Minimal prep with pantry-friendly ingredients
- Sweet and savory flavors kids love
- Perfect for meal prep and leftovers
- Easy to customize with vegetables or spice
- Great served over rice, quinoa, or noodles
If you’re looking for a reliable slow cooker dinner that feels fun and comforting, this one deserves a spot in your rotation.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need a handful of simple ingredients to create this bold, island-style dish:
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- Pineapple juice
- Soy sauce or tamari
- Brown sugar
- Ketchup
- Fresh garlic and ginger
- Rice vinegar
- Sesame oil
- Red bell pepper
- Cornstarch and water (for thickening)
- Green onions and sesame seeds for garnish
These ingredients come together to form a glossy sauce that’s sweet, tangy, and deeply savory.
How to Make Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
Step 1: Add the Chicken
Place the chicken breasts or thighs directly into the bottom of your slow cooker. There’s no need to brown them first, which keeps prep quick and easy.
Step 2: Mix the Sauce
In a bowl, whisk together pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, minced garlic, grated ginger, rice vinegar, and sesame oil until smooth.
Step 3: Slow Cook
Pour the sauce over the chicken, making sure it’s well coated. Cover and cook on LOW for 5–6 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is very tender.
Step 4: Shred and Thicken
Remove the chicken and shred or slice it. Whisk cornstarch with water and stir it into the sauce in the crockpot.
Step 5: Finish the Dish
Add sliced red bell pepper to the sauce, return the chicken to the slow cooker, and cook for another 15–20 minutes until the sauce thickens. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds before serving.
Tips & Variations
- Use thighs for extra juiciness: Chicken thighs stay especially tender in the slow cooker.
- Make it lighter: Use low-sodium soy sauce and reduce the sugar slightly.
- Add veggies: Pineapple chunks, snap peas, or carrots make great additions.
- For picky eaters: Skip the bell pepper and keep the sauce smooth.
- Extra sauce: Double the sauce ingredients if serving over lots of rice.
Serving Ideas & Storage
Serve Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken over fluffy white rice, brown rice, or even cauliflower rice for a lighter option. It also works well in lettuce wraps or tucked into meal-prep containers for easy lunches.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of water if needed to loosen the sauce.
Print
Easy Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken
- Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Bring island flavors home with Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken! Pineapple juice, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger create a sticky, sweet-and-savory glaze while the chicken cooks until fall-apart tender. This dump-and-go slow cooker dinner is kid-friendly, effortless, and perfect served over rice.
Ingredients
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup soy sauce (or tamari)
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup ketchup
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
2 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tsp sesame oil
1 red bell pepper, sliced
2 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp water
Green onions, sliced (for garnish)
Sesame seeds (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Place chicken in the slow cooker.
2. In a bowl, whisk together pineapple juice, soy sauce (or tamari), brown sugar, ketchup, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, and sesame oil.
3. Pour sauce over the chicken and cover.
4. Cook on LOW for 5–6 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is very tender.
5. Remove chicken and shred (or slice), then set aside.
6. In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch and water until smooth.
7. Stir the cornstarch slurry into the sauce in the slow cooker.
8. Add sliced red bell pepper and return the chicken to the slow cooker.
9. Cover and cook 15–20 minutes more, until the sauce thickens and peppers are tender-crisp.
10. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve over rice.
Notes
Chicken thighs stay extra juicy, but breasts work great too.
For a less salty sauce, use low-sodium soy sauce or tamari.
Want more veggies? Add pineapple chunks, snap peas, or carrots in the last 30–60 minutes.
If you want a thicker glaze, add 1 extra teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 teaspoon water.
Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days. Reheat with a splash of water to loosen the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Recipes
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Hawaiian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | ~420 |
| Protein | 36g |
| Carbohydrates | 38g |
| Fat | 12g |
| Fiber | 1g |
| Sodium | ~900mg |
Values are estimates and will vary based on ingredients used.
Final Thoughts
Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken proves that slow cooker meals don’t have to be boring. With its tropical sweetness, tender chicken, and effortless prep, this recipe delivers big flavor with very little work. It’s the kind of dinner that brings everyone to the table smiling — and asking for seconds.