Description
A flavorful and easy Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken recipe featuring tender chicken breasts slow-cooked with pineapple chunks and a tangy-sweet sauce made from soy sauce, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar. This dish is perfect for a hands-off meal that combines savory and tropical flavors with a touch of heat from red pepper flakes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Fruit
- 2 pounds chicken breast
- 1 cup pineapple chunks
Sauce
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Thickening Agent
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Place the 2 pounds of chicken breasts evenly into the bottom of your crockpot, ensuring they form a single layer for even cooking.
- Add the pineapple chunks: Scatter 1 cup of pineapple chunks on top of the chicken breasts to infuse the meat with sweet and tangy flavors during cooking.
- Mix the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 tablespoon grated ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes until fully combined.
- Pour sauce over chicken and pineapple: Evenly pour the prepared sauce mixture over the chicken breasts and pineapple chunks in the crockpot.
- Cook low and slow: Cover the crockpot with its lid and cook on the low setting for 4 to 6 hours, or until the chicken is tender and thoroughly cooked.
- Shred the chicken: Once cooked, use two forks to shred the chicken directly in the crockpot, distributing the pineapple chunks evenly.
- Thicken the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water to create a slurry. Stir this mixture into the shredded chicken and sauce.
- Finish cooking: Switch the crockpot to the high setting and cook for an additional 10 to 15 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken and coat the chicken beautifully.
Notes
- You can serve this dish over steamed rice or noodles to soak up the delicious sauce.
- Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes according to your spice preference.
- Using fresh pineapple chunks enhances the flavor but canned pineapple works well too.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute soy sauce with tamari.
