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A detailed overhead shot of tender pulled Hawaiian chicken coated in a thick, amber-colored sweet pineapple glaze, mixed with bright yellow pineapple chunks in a white bowl. (Crockpot Sweet Hawaiian Chicken)

Crockpot Sweet Hawaiian Chicken (Easy & Saucy Recipe)

This Crockpot Sweet Hawaiian Chicken is an easy, set-it-and-forget-it meal with tender pulled chicken in a thick, glossy, sweet and savory pineapple glaze. Perfect for a delicious, family-friendly weeknight dinner that's packed with flavor.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Hawaiian
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1.1 kg)
  • 1 can pineapple chunks in 100% juice (20 oz / 567g), undrained
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar (110g), packed
  • 1/3 cup soy sauce (80ml)
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch (16g)
  • 2 tbsp cold water (30ml)
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onions (25g), for garnish
  • 1 tsp white sesame seeds (3g), for garnish
  • Fluffy steamed rice for serving

Equipment

  • 1 Slow Cooker (6-quart)
  • 1 Mixing Bowl

Instructions
 

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together the pineapple juice from the can, brown sugar, soy sauce, minced garlic, and ground ginger.
  2. Place chicken breasts in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken, then scatter the pineapple chunks around it.
  3. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
  4. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and cold water to create a smooth slurry. Whisk the slurry into the sauce in the crockpot. Cover and cook on HIGH for 15-20 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened and is glossy.
  5. While the sauce thickens, shred the chicken using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the thickened glaze in the crockpot and stir to coat everything thoroughly.
  6. Serve the Crockpot Sweet Hawaiian Chicken over a bed of fluffy white steamed rice. Garnish generously with chopped green onions and a sprinkle of white sesame seeds.

Notes

Don't Skip the Slurry: The cornstarch slurry is absolutely essential for thickening the sauce.
Low and Slow is Best: The low setting allows the chicken to become exceptionally tender.
Shred with a Mixer: For the fastest shredding, use a hand mixer on low speed for 10-15 seconds on the cooked chicken in a separate bowl.
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