🍍 Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken

Sweet, savory, juicy, and incredibly easy, this Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken combines tender chicken with pineapple juice, brown sugar, and soy sauce for a delicious island-inspired glaze.

With just a few ingredients and almost no prep, the slow cooker does all the work. Serve it over fluffy white rice for an easy weeknight dinner the whole family will love.

Recipe Details

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 3–4 hours on HIGH or 5–6 hours on LOW
• Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes–6 hours 10 minutes
• Servings: 6
• Difficulty: Easy
• Method: Slow Cooker

Ingredients

For the Chicken

• 2 lb (900 g) chicken tenderloin chunks
• 1 cup (240 ml) pineapple juice
• ½ cup (100 g) packed brown sugar
• ⅓ cup (80 ml) soy sauce

Optional Additions

For extra flavor, you can also add:

• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup pineapple chunks, drained
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar for a little tang
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch + 2 tablespoons cold water, for a thicker sauce

For Serving

• Steamed white or jasmine rice
• Sliced green onions
• Toasted sesame seeds
• Fresh pineapple
• Steamed broccoli or vegetables

Instructions

1. Prepare the Slow Cooker

Lightly spray the inside of a 6-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.

Arrange the chicken tenderloin chunks evenly in the bottom.

2. Make the Hawaiian Sauce

In a bowl, whisk together:

• Pineapple juice
• Brown sugar
• Soy sauce

Whisk until the brown sugar is mostly dissolved.

If using garlic, ginger, black pepper, or rice vinegar, add them now.

3. Add the Sauce

Pour the pineapple-soy mixture evenly over the chicken.

Gently toss the chicken so all of the pieces are coated in the sauce.

4. Slow Cook

Cover and cook:

• LOW: 5–6 hours
• HIGH: 3–4 hours

Cook until the chicken is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Avoid significantly overcooking the chicken, especially because tenderloin pieces are relatively small and can dry out if left in the slow cooker too long.

5. Add Pineapple

If using pineapple chunks, stir them into the chicken during the last 20–30 minutes of cooking.

This keeps the pineapple from becoming excessively soft.

6. Thicken the Sauce — Optional

For a thicker, glossy Hawaiian-style sauce, transfer the cooking liquid to a small saucepan.

Mix:

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons cold water

until smooth.

Whisk the slurry into the sauce and simmer for 2–3 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened.

Pour the sauce back over the chicken.

Alternatively, you can add the cornstarch slurry directly to the slow cooker during the final 20–30 minutes and cook on HIGH with the lid slightly ajar.

7. Serve

Gently toss the chicken in the sauce.

Spoon the chicken and plenty of the sweet Hawaiian sauce over steamed rice.

Finish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds if desired.

Serve hot.

Chef’s Tips

• Don’t add extra salt initially. Soy sauce provides plenty of salt, and you can adjust at the end.
• Use low-sodium soy sauce if you prefer a less salty dish.
• Chicken tenderloins cook relatively quickly, so start checking them toward the lower end of the cooking range.
• For the best sauce, don’t skip reducing or thickening it if you want a sticky glaze.
• Fresh pineapple can be added, but canned pineapple works perfectly well too.
• For a stronger pineapple flavor, replace ¼ cup of the pineapple juice with additional pineapple juice from the canned fruit.

Flavor Variations

🌶️ Sweet & Spicy Hawaiian Chicken

Add ½–1 teaspoon red pepper flakes or 1–2 teaspoons sriracha to the sauce.

🧄 Garlic Hawaiian Chicken

Add 3–4 minced garlic cloves and 1 teaspoon grated ginger for a deeper savory flavor.

🍯 Extra Sticky Glaze

After slow cooking, reduce the sauce in a saucepan until thick and glossy, then toss the chicken in it before serving.

🥓 Hawaiian BBQ Chicken

Add ½ cup of your favorite barbecue sauce to the pineapple-soy mixture for a smoky-sweet version.

🫑 Hawaiian Chicken Bowls

Serve the chicken over rice with sautéed bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, pineapple chunks, and green onions.

Make-Ahead

The sauce can be mixed up to 2 days ahead and stored covered in the refrigerator.

For the best texture, cook the chicken fresh rather than assembling it several days ahead.

Storage

Store leftover chicken and sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Reheating

Reheat gently in the microwave or in a skillet over medium-low heat.

Add a splash of pineapple juice or water if the sauce has thickened too much.

Freezing

Freeze cooled chicken with some of the sauce in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently.

What to Serve With Hawaiian Chicken

Build an easy Hawaiian-inspired dinner with:

• 🍚 Jasmine rice
• 🍍 Grilled or fresh pineapple
• 🥦 Steamed broccoli
• 🥕 Stir-fried vegetables
• 🥗 Hawaiian-style macaroni salad
• 🥬 Simple green salad
• 🥥 Coconut rice

The Result

Tender chicken coated in a sweet, savory pineapple-soy sauce with caramelized brown sugar flavor. Served over steaming rice with fresh pineapple and green onions, this easy crockpot meal is pure comfort with a tropical twist. 🍍🍗