Description
Tender and juicy chicken thighs or breasts slow-cooked in a sweet and tangy Hawaiian-inspired sauce made with pineapple juice, soy sauce, and brown sugar, combined with colorful bell peppers, onions, and pineapple chunks. Perfectly served over steamed white rice for a tropical and comforting meal that’s easy to prepare in your crockpot.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Vegetables
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 1 cup pineapple chunks
Sauce
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ginger powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Thickening (optional)
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water
For Serving
- Cooked white rice
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken and vegetables: Place the boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts at the bottom of the crockpot in an even layer to ensure even cooking.
- Make the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, rice vinegar, garlic powder, ginger powder, and black pepper until well combined.
- Add sauce and vegetables: Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the chicken. Then layer the sliced red and green bell peppers, sliced onion, and pineapple chunks on top of the chicken and sauce.
- Cook the chicken: Cover the crockpot and cook on low heat for 6 to 7 hours, or alternatively on high heat for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is tender and fully cooked through.
- Thicken the sauce (optional): If a thicker sauce is preferred, carefully remove about 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid from the crockpot. Stir in the cornstarch mixture until smooth, then return this mixture to the crockpot. Cook on high for an additional 15 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Serve: Serve the tender Hawaiian chicken and rich sauce over freshly cooked white rice for a complete meal. Optionally garnish with chopped green onions or toasted sesame seeds for extra flavor and texture.
Notes
- This dish can be made with either chicken breasts or thighs; chicken thighs tend to stay juicier and more flavorful with the long cooking time.
- For added color and texture, garnish with chopped green onions or toasted sesame seeds just before serving.
- Adjust the amount of brown sugar if you prefer a less sweet sauce.
- Use low-sodium soy sauce to reduce the sodium content if desired.
