Three ingredients and a slow cooker are all you need to make this healthy Crock Pot Sweet Hawaiian Chicken. It’s naturally sweetened with pineapple and perfectly balanced with a smokey BBQ kick! Add all the ingredients and let it simmer away.
👨🍳 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This is one of our favorite dinner recipes, and I just know you are going to fall in love with it. The next time you crave an easy dinner the whole family will love, consider this recipe:
- There are only 3 ingredients in this recipe! Yup, you read that right. But don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s boring- It’s jam packed with flavor!
- Sweet canned pineapple is paired with smokey, tangy bbq sauce to make the best ever Hawaiian inspired flavor combination.
- The chicken comes out ultra tender and delicious. And because it’s made with all natural ingredients (and no brown sugar like other recipes), it’s also Whole30 compatible and Paleo friendly.
But the real beauty of this pineapple chicken dish is how little work is involved! You add your ingredients to your slow cooker, then turn it on. I call this “dump and start” cooking, and it’s one of my favorite things!
This pineapple chicken simmers away in the sauce until it’s fork tender, then serve with tasty cauliflower rice, bell peppers, tangy purple cabbage slaw or all by itself!
It’s also freezer-friendly, so you can save leftovers or make a double batch for easy meals later on. And don’t forget to check out my Aloha Burgers, too!
🍍 Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make this easy dinner of Sweet Hawaiian Chicken:
- Chicken breasts. Use organic or the best you can afford. You can also use chicken tenders.
- Canned crushed pineapple. Look for pineapple in 100% juice instead of heavy corn syrup. Pineapple chunks also work — they will break apart in the slow cooker.
- BBQ sauce. This tangy sauce is clutch. Use my sugar-free BBQ sauce recipe or grab a bottle of your favorite sugar free brand.
Substitutions & Variations
Want to mix things up?
👉 Don’t like canned pineapple? Substitute diced fresh or frozen pineapple!
👉 Don’t have chicken breasts? Use boneless chicken thighs!
👉 Want to add veggies? Add a diced bell pepper (fresh or frozen) and/or red onion to the slow cooker.
🔪 Slow Cooker Instructions
Ready to make this delicious Hawaiian Chicken recipe in your slow cooker? Here’s what you need to do!
Step 1: Use a sharp knife or kitchen shears to dice the chicken breasts into bite sized pieces.
Step 2: Add the chicken, pineapple, and bbq sauce to your slow cooker. Close the lid and turn it on. Keep reading to know how long to cook it.
⏰ Cook Times
Adjust the heat level for your slow cooker based on how much time you have! But there’s hardly any minutes of prep time, so do what works for you.
- Low Heat: 3.5-4 hours
- High Heat: 2-2.5 hours
Note: If using frozen diced chicken, add an additional 45 minutes to an hour to the cook times.
When the chicken is fork tender, it’s ready! Even if it is a tender chicken breast, remember always to check to make sure chicken is cooked to at least 165°F (74°C), per USDA.
Instant Pot Instructions
Prefer to make this sweet Hawaiian crockpot chicken in your Instant Pot? I got you! Here’s what to do:
- Add all the ingredients to your Instant Pot inner pot. No additional liquid is necessary.
- Close the lid and turn High Pressure for 8 minutes. If using frozen diced chicken, adjust the time and cook for 12 minutes.
- Allow for a Natural Pressure Release (NPR), then carefully open the lid. Stir and serve!
How to Store it
How to store leftovers? Transfer leftovers to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, per USDA.
You can also store it in the freezer — Sweet Hawaiian Chicken freezes perfectly! Allow it to cool to room temperature, then transfer to a freezer safe airtight container or bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible, and lay it flat in the freezer. Freeze for up to 6 months, per USDA.
To defrost, set the container on a plate in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat on the stove or in the microwave.
What to Serve with Sweet Hawaiian Chicken
This Crock Pot Hawaiian Chicken is great all on its own, and you can customize the sides based on your tastes and dietary restrictions.
It’s a great recipe to serve with rice, so try this juicy chicken with brown rice, white rice like jasmine rice or cauliflower rice. Some purple cabbage slaw adds a great texture and flavor. A side of spaghetti squash is also fantastic to add to this recipe. Or serve it on lettuce wraps with fresh avocado and diced red bell pepper.
Fresh cilantro and sliced green onions are also great flavors and garnishes to add to this sweet chicken. Top it with sesame seeds or red pepper flakes, too.
Another idea is to spear the chicken with skewers to make slow cooker Hawaiian chicken kabobs.
ℹ️ FAQ
Absolutely! Use boneless skinless chicken thighs. Note that you may need to cook the chicken thighs slightly longer than breasts. Because thighs are slightly denser and fattier than lean breasts, they require longer cooking to become tender. Add an extra 20-30 minutes to cook time if using thighs.
Frozen chicken would work great in this recipe. When using frozen chicken, simply add an additional 30-45 minutes of cook time.
More Slow Cooker Dinners
✨ Making this recipe? I’d love to hear about your experience with it! ✨
Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @cookathomemom!
Crock Pot Sweet Hawaiian Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pound chicken breasts boneless & skinless
- 1.5 cups barbecue sauce
- 15 ounces canned crushed pineapple
Instructions
- Dice the chicken into about 1 inch cube pieces.
- Transfer the chicken to the slow cooker. Add the pineapple and bbq sauce. Stir to combine the ingredients.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 3.5 – 4 hours or high for 2 – 2.5 hours. If using frozen diced chicken, add an additional 30-45 minutes to the cook time. When it's done cooking, the chicken should be at least 165°F (74°Ç) and fork tender, and the sauce should be simmering and thickened slightly.
- Carefully open the lid and spoon the chicken mixture onto plates. Garnish with lime and cilantro (optional).
Video
Notes
- Don’t like canned pineapple? Substitute diced fresh or frozen pineapple!
- Don’t have chicken breasts? Use boneless, skinless thighs, and add about 20 minutes to cook time.
- For extra veggies, add a diced bell pepper and/or red onion.
