Sweet Hawaiian Chicken (Printable)
Slow-cooked chicken infused with pineapple, soy, and ginger for a flavorful Hawaiian-inspired meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
→ Sauce
02 - 1 cup pineapple juice
03 - 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
04 - 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
05 - 1/2 cup ketchup
06 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
07 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch
08 - 2 tablespoons water
09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
→ Vegetables & Fruit
11 - 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
12 - 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
13 - 1 medium onion, sliced
14 - 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks, drained
→ Garnish
15 - 2 green onions, sliced
16 - Sesame seeds
# How-to Steps:
01 - Place boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker, ensuring even distribution for consistent cooking.
02 - Whisk together pineapple juice, low-sodium soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and grated fresh ginger in a medium bowl until sugar dissolves completely.
03 - Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the chicken pieces, ensuring all meat is coated for maximum flavor absorption.
04 - Layer sliced onion, red and yellow bell pepper pieces, and pineapple chunks over the chicken and sauce mixture.
05 - Cover and cook on LOW setting for 4-5 hours until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F and becomes tender enough to shred easily.
06 - Remove cooked chicken and vegetables to a serving platter using a slotted spoon, cover loosely with foil to maintain warmth.
07 - Mix cornstarch and water in a small bowl until smooth, ensuring no lumps remain for even thickening.
08 - Transfer cooking liquid from slow cooker to a saucepan, bring to simmer over medium heat, whisk in cornstarch slurry gradually, and cook 2-3 minutes until sauce reaches desired consistency.
09 - Pour thickened sauce over chicken and vegetables, garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds, serve immediately with steamed rice.
# Expert Pointers:
01 -
- The sauce balances sweet and tangy so perfectly that even picky eaters go back for seconds
- Its a dump and go meal that makes you look like you put in way more effort than you actually did
02 -
- Dont skip the cornstarch step because the sauce will be too thin to coat the chicken properly
- Resist the urge to lift the lid during cooking or you will add significant time to the process
03 -
- If your sauce seems too sweet after thickening, add a splash more rice vinegar to balance it
- Chop your vegetables into uniform pieces so everything cooks at the same rate