Description
Hawaiian crockpot chicken brings tropical flavors to dinner tables with minimal effort. Succulent chicken thighs simmer in a tangy pineapple sauce, offering you a delightful meal that transports senses to island paradise.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (900 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 can (20 oz / 565 g) pineapple chunks, drained (reserve juice)
- ½ cup (120 ml) brown sugar
- ½ cup (120 ml) soy sauce
- 1 tbsp garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ginger, minced (optional)
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
- 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsps water (optional, for thickening)
- Green onions, chopped
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Sauce Preparation: Whisk pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, and grated ginger into a harmonious blend that promises robust flavor complexity.
- Chicken Placement: Position chicken breasts in the crockpot, creating an even layer that ensures consistent heat distribution and flavor absorption.
- Sauce Infusion: Pour prepared sauce over chicken, thoroughly coating each piece to guarantee deep, rich flavor penetration throughout the protein.
- Flavor Enhancement: Distribute pineapple chunks strategically around and between chicken pieces, allowing natural sweetness to permeate the dish during slow cooking.
- Slow Cooking Process: Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours until chicken becomes incredibly tender and easily shredded, releasing its full aromatic potential.
- Sauce Refinement: Remove chicken momentarily, transform cooking liquid by whisking in cornstarch slurry to create a luxuriously thick, glossy sauce that clings perfectly to the meat.
- Final Assembly: Return chicken to the thickened sauce, gently folding to ensure complete and elegant coating, then plate over fluffy rice or delicate noodles.
- Presentation: Garnish with finely sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds, adding visual intrigue and textural contrast to this tropical-inspired culinary creation.
Notes
- Prevent Overcooking: Check chicken’s internal temperature around 5-6 hours to avoid drying out, aiming for 165°F for perfect tenderness.
- Enhance Flavor Depth: Briefly sear chicken breasts before placing in crockpot to develop richer caramelized exterior and deeper taste profile.
- Manage Sauce Consistency: If sauce appears too thin, gradually mix cornstarch slurry while stirring to prevent lumps and achieve desired thickness.
- Dietary Adaptations: Substitute chicken with firm tofu or tempeh for vegetarian version, ensuring similar marinating and cooking techniques for plant-based alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-7 hours (or 3-4 hours on high)
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 294
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 1020 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg