Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken (Print View)
Tender chicken with sweet pineapple, bell peppers, and tangy-sweet sauce. Tropical-inspired dish for busy weeknights.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 red bell pepper, chopped
03 - 1 green bell pepper, chopped
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, sliced
→ Fruit
05 - 1 (20 oz) can pineapple chunks in juice, drained (reserve juice)
→ Sauce
06 - 1/2 cup reserved pineapple juice
07 - 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
08 - 1/4 cup ketchup
09 - 3 tbsp brown sugar
10 - 2 tbsp rice vinegar
11 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
12 - 1 tbsp freshly grated ginger
13 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
→ Thickener
14 - 2 tbsp cornstarch
15 - 2 tbsp cold water
→ Garnish
16 - 2 green onions, sliced
17 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
# Method:
01 - Whisk together pineapple juice, soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes in a medium bowl until sugar dissolves.
02 - Arrange chicken thighs in the bottom of the slow cooker. Distribute bell peppers, onion, and pineapple chunks evenly over the chicken.
03 - Pour the prepared sauce evenly over all ingredients. Cover and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F.
04 - Mix cornstarch with cold water in a small bowl until smooth and fully dissolved.
05 - During the last 30 minutes of cooking, stir cornstarch mixture into the slow cooker. Remove lid and continue cooking until sauce reaches desired consistency.
06 - Transfer to serving platter or individual bowls. Sprinkle with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately over steamed rice.
# Insider Tips:
01 -
- Set it and forget it cooking that lets you walk away and come back to dinner ready
- That perfect balance of sweet pineapple and tangy sauce that keeps everyone coming back for seconds
02 -
- The sauce will taste quite sweet before cooking but it balances out perfectly as it simmers with the chicken
- Removing the lid for the last 30 minutes is crucial otherwise the sauce never thickens properly
03 -
- Trim excess fat from the chicken thighs or youll end up with greasy sauce
- Fresh ginger makes such a difference compared to ground its worth the extra minuting