Description
Slow Cooker Pineapple Chicken is a simple crockpot dinner made with tender chicken, juicy pineapple, garlic, ginger, and a sweet savory sauce. This easy slow cooker recipe delivers tropical flavor with minimal effort and pairs perfectly with rice or vegetables for a comforting family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs
- 2 cups pineapple chunks
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger grated
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 red bell pepper sliced (optional)
- 1 green bell pepper sliced (optional)
- 1 small onion sliced (optional)
- 1 cup snap peas or broccoli florets (optional)
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 3 to 4 cups cooked white or jasmine rice for serving
Instructions
- Lightly grease the inside of the slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Place the chicken breasts or thighs at the bottom of the slow cooker.
- In a bowl whisk together pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, and sesame oil.
- Scatter pineapple chunks and optional vegetables over the chicken.
- Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the chicken and pineapple.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours or HIGH for 3 to 4 hours.
- Remove the cooked chicken and shred or slice it using two forks.
- Return the chicken to the slow cooker.
- In a small bowl mix cornstarch and water to create a slurry.
- Stir the slurry into the slow cooker sauce and cook on HIGH for 10 to 15 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Serve the pineapple chicken over cooked rice and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
Notes
- Chicken thighs stay juicier during slow cooking but chicken breasts work well for a leaner option.
- Fresh pineapple offers brighter flavor but canned pineapple works for convenience.
- Add vegetables during the last 30 minutes if you prefer them slightly crisp.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze cooked pineapple chicken for up to 2 months in airtight containers.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 95mg