In Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken Recipe, chicken thighs are slow-cooked in a thick, syrupy, and sour pineapple brown sugar sauce along with a vibrant mix of bell peppers. The tropical flavor emerges when it is served with rice.
In the slow cooking process over low flame, the chicken becomes extremely tender, and all the flavors are deeply infused in the chicken. The recipe is easily customizable. People can reduce or increase the amount of spices and add vegetables to enhance the taste.
The dish is extremely suitable and comforting for dinner, particularly in colder months. Moreover, the colorful presentation of the dish, including chicken, bell peppers, and chicken, appeals to the eyes. It’s usually a child-friendly dish due to its sweetness.
What Will You Love About This Recipe
This dish is a treat for those who like sweet and savory combinations. It is easy to prepare as it needs minimal hands and cooks on its own on a low flame. It’s ideal for busy people to manage the recipe and let it cook for several hours on a low flame.
You can customize the recipe to suit your taste buds. You can serve it in numerous ways, like with dinner rolls, coleslaw, beans, and roasted vegetables. It is perfect to make it in bulk and serve at family gatherings or potlucks, as it stays warm in the cock pot for a long time.
You can store the leftover Hawaiian chicken in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for 3–4 days, and it can last up to 3 months in the freezer. For reheating the frozen Hawaiian chicken, let it come to room temperature and then microwave it to heat it.
Ingredients
- Pineapple juice = 1 cup
- Packed Brown sugar = 1/2 cup
- soy sauce or a gluten-free substitute = 1⁄2 cup
- Hoisin sauce = 1/2 cup
- Minced garlic = 1 tablespoon
- Minced ginger = 1/2 tablespoon
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs = 2 pounds
- Yellow bell pepper = 1 (diced into 1-inch slices)
- Green bell pepper = 1 (diced into 1-inch pieces)
- Red bell pepper = 1 (Diced into 1-inch pieces)
- Orange juice = 1/4 cup
- Cornstarch = 1/4 cup
- Cooked rice, for serving
- Green onions, for garnish
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
- Red pepper flakes, for garnish
Ingredients Description
- Pineapple juice: This ingredient lends the sauce its exotic taste. It gives the chicken an inviting, soft texture.
- Brown Sugar: It enhances the flavor of pineapple juice by making it sweet and warm.
- Soy sauce: It balances the taste of pineapple juice and brown sugar by providing the needed saltiness.
- Ginger and garlic: They provide spice and a deep, earthy taste to the sauce.
- Bell peppers: They add nutrition and color to the dish.
- Hoisin Sauce: It adds a slight sugar flavor and more saltiness.
Instructions for Making Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken Recipe
Step 1
Coat a 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray, then place it aside. Mix the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, pineapple juice, minced ginger, and garlic in a medium-sized bowl.
Step 2
Cover the chicken thighs and peppers with half of the sauce, then pour the remaining sauce into the preheated crockpot.
Step 3
For 7-8 hours on LOW or 3–4 hours on HIGH, cook using a cover. For a thicker gravy, you can cook it without cover for some time. (This will cause some liquid to evaporate.)
Step 4
Take out and keep the chicken aside.
Step 5
Combine the orange juice and cornstarch in a small bowl and mix them well to get a smooth mixture. Gradually incorporate it into the sauce until thoroughly blended.
Step 6
Cut the chicken into big chunks and add it to the slow cooker. Cook on high heat for a further thirty minutes while covered.
Step 7
Taste again, add more seasoning if needed.
Step 8
Serve with rice along with optional garnishes.
Step 9
Relish and enjoy!
Recipe Variations
Pineapple
Pineapple pieces are added to several sweet Hawaiian chicken recipes to lend even more sweetness, tropical taste, and texture. You are free to add more if you’re inclined to.
Meat of Your Choice
You can use the meat of your choice, including turkey, pork, or beef.
Extra Vegetables
Broccoli or green beans would provide a very delicious taste! You can choose your favorite vegetables too. To prevent them from being soft, just make sure to add them during the final hour of cooking.
Spice
For a spicy kick, add some red chili flakes.
Smoky Sauce
Add some bar-b-que sauce for a smoky touch.
Tofu
Vegetarians can use tofu in place of chicken. They need to make sure to well drain the tofu by pressing it so it may absorb more flavors.
Sugar Substitute
You can freely use honey or maple syrup as a substitute for sugar.
More Recipes
Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup Pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup Packed Brown sugar
- 1/2 cup soy sauce or a gluten-free substitute
- 1/2 cup Hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon Minced garlic
- 1/2 tablespoon Minced ginger
- 2 pounds Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 Yellow bell pepper (diced into 1-inch slices)
- 1 Green bell pepper (diced into 1-inch pieces)
- 1 Red bell pepper (Diced into 1-inch pieces)
- 1/4 cup Orange juice
- 1/4 cup Cornstarch
- Cooked rice for serving
- Green onions for garnish
- Sesame seeds for garnish
- Red pepper flakes for garnish
Instructions
- Coat a 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray, then place it aside. Mix the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, pineapple juice, minced ginger, and garlic in a medium-sized bowl.
- Cover the chicken thighs and peppers with half of the sauce, then pour the remaining sauce into the preheated crockpot.
- For 7-8 hours on LOW or 3–4 hours on HIGH, cook using a cover. For a thicker gravy, you can cook it without cover for some time. (This will cause some liquid to evaporate.)
- Take out and keep the chicken aside.
- Combine the orange juice and cornstarch in a small bowl and mix them well to get a smooth mixture. Gradually incorporate it into the sauce until thoroughly blended.
- Cut the chicken into big chunks and add it to the slow cooker. Cook on high heat for a further thirty minutes while covered.
- Taste again, add more seasoning if needed.
- Serve with rice along with optional garnishes.
- Relish and enjoy!
