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Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken

Sweet Hawaiian crockpot chicken is slow-cooked until the chicken thighs turn tender, then finished with a thick pineapple-teriyaki style sauce. Pineapple chunks, garlic, and ginger create a glossy coating that’s spoonable over coconut rice.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Hawaiian-American
Calories: 730
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken thighs
  • 5 boneless chicken thighs
Pineapple sauce base
  • 1 can (20 oz) pineapple chunks in juice, drained (reserve juice) Reserve the juice for the sauce.
  • 0.333 cup soy sauce
  • 0.25 cup brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp ketchup
  • 2 tbsp sesame oil
  • 4 garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp ginger, grated
Thickener
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch + water Use cornstarch plus water to make a slurry (2 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water).
Serving
  • 0.25 coconut rice For serving.
  • 0.25 green onions For serving.
  • 1 sesame seeds For serving.

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Make the sauce and load the slow cooker
  1. Whisk reserved pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger until smooth and the sugar dissolves.
  2. Place the chicken thighs in the slow cooker, then pour the sauce over and add the pineapple chunks.
Slow cook until tender
  1. Cook on Low for 4-5 hours (or High for 2-2.5 hours) until the chicken is tender.
Thicken the sauce and finish
  1. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and stir the cornstarch slurry into the sauce.
  2. Turn the slow cooker to High and cook 15 minutes until the sauce thickens and looks glossy.
  3. Return the chicken to the sauce, then serve over coconut rice with green onions and sesame seeds.

Notes

For the best texture, cook until the thighs are tender but not dry; if your slow cooker runs hot, check around the lower end of the time range. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; freeze yes (up to 2 months) but thicken sauce again with a quick High simmer after thawing if needed. For a lower-sugar option, reduce brown sugar to 2 tbsp and add 1-2 tsp pineapple juice to keep the sauce pourable.