Easy Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken Recipe with Pineapple
Easy Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken with Pineapple is a better-than-takeout dinner that’s ready in just 4 hours. After making this many times, I discovered the trick to keeping it from drying out. The juicy, tender chicken in a sweet and tangy pineapple sauce will make your whole house smell amazing. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Chipotle Corn Salsa Recipe for Summer Snacks and Spicy Jalapeno Peach Chicken Recipe for Easy Dinner.
Why This Easy Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken Recipe with Pineapple Is Pure Comfort
- Better than takeout taste at home
- Easy prep and clean up with the crockpot
- Perfect for busy weeknights and meal prepping
- Kids and adults alike will love this family-friendly dish
What You'll Need for Easy Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken Recipe with Pineapple
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 can (20 oz) pineapple chunks in juice
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Green onions, chopped (for garnish)
- Optional: Sesame seeds (optional)
- Optional: Diced bell peppers (optional)
- Optional: Chopped cilantro (optional)
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Chicken: You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this recipe.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Crockpot — Cooks chicken to perfection without drying it out → See on Amazon
- Meat thermometer — Ensures chicken is cooked to a safe temperature → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken Recipe with Pineapple
- Step 1: Place chicken in the crockpot.
- Step 2: In a bowl, mix pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger. Pour over chicken.
- Step 3: Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours, until chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Step 4: Remove chicken from crockpot and shred. Return to crockpot and mix with sauce. Serve over rice or noodles, garnished with green onions.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken Recipe with Pineapple
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the chicken. It can become dry. Use a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches 165°F.
- Pro tip: For a thicker sauce, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water and stir into the crockpot during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- Pro tip: Add your favorite vegetables to the crockpot for an easy one-pot meal.
Storing & Reheating Easy Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken Recipe with Pineapple
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: You can make this recipe ahead of time and reheat it when ready to serve.
Freezing Easy Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken Recipe with Pineapple
Freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, until warmed through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, until warmed through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the chicken with pork tenderloin or beef stew meat for a different twist.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the chicken and sauce the night before and store in the fridge. Cook in the morning or when you get home from work.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thin, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water and stir into the crockpot during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Want to level up this recipe?
Crockpot liner — Makes cleanup a breeze → Check price on Amazon
Easy Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken Recipe with Pineapple
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 can (20 oz) pineapple chunks in juice
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ground ginger
Seasonings
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Green onions, chopped (for garnish)
Optional Toppings
- Sesame seeds (optional)
- Diced bell peppers (optional)
- Chopped cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Step 1: Place chicken in the crockpot.
- Step 2: In a bowl, mix pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger. Pour over chicken.
- Step 3: Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours, until chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Step 4: Remove chicken from crockpot and shred. Return to crockpot and mix with sauce. Serve over rice or noodles, garnished with green onions.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the chicken with pork tenderloin or beef stew meat for a different twist.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the chicken and sauce the night before and store in the fridge. Cook in the morning or when you get home from work.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thin, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water and stir into the crockpot during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, until warmed through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, until warmed through.
- Make ahead: You can make this recipe ahead of time and reheat it when ready to serve.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 320
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 6g
- Carbs: 27g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 90mg
- Sat. Fat: 1.5g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken Recipe with Pineapple FAQs
Yes, you can prepare the chicken and sauce the night before and cook it in the morning or when you get home from work.
Overcooking is the most common reason for dry chicken. Use a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches 165°F.
Yes, you can freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
No, this recipe is best suited for the crockpot. The air fryer may not cook the chicken evenly or tenderize it as well.
This recipe is great served over rice, noodles, or with a side of steamed vegetables.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken Recipe with Pineapple and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
