The thing I love about tacos is that you can eat them every day and never have the same kind! Need a new taco dish to spice up your dinner time? Try these Hawaiian Chicken Tacos that are quick and easy to prep in the slow cooker.
What are Hawaiian flavors?
Anyone who's eaten Hawaiian cuisine knows it has a distinctive flavor. Because of its climate, Hawaii experiences a year-round growing season. Tropical fruits and veggies are readily available, making it easy to create those unique flavors anytime.
In order to create that Hawaiian flavor we're used to, you'll need to use a combination of tropical fruit and some peppers (to give your dish some heat). My recipe for Hawaiian Chicken Tacos uses pineapple, jalepenos, and taco seasoning to create tacos with twist!
Ingredients
Can I substitute chicken breasts for thighs? If you want your Hawaiian Chicken Tacos to have really great flavor, use chicken thighs. The fat content in thighs is a bit higher than breasts, but cooking with them will be worth it. It's that fat that helps the ingredients meld together in the slow cooker, creating a tastier taco.
What can I substitute for pineapple chunks? If you're not a fan of chewing on big chunks of pineapple, you can use crushed pineapple to make your Hawaiian Chicken Tacos. You'll still get that amazing flavor, but the texture will be a little smoother.
What kind of taco seasoning should I use? Whenever you cook, you should use high-quality seasoning blends. Try making up a batch of my homemade Taco Seasoning Blend for use in your Hawaiian Chicken Tacos and to keep in your pantry.
Preparation
How do I make Hawaiian Chicken Tacos spicier? Want to give your Hawaiian Chicken Tacos a little kick? It's easy to do! Simply add more jalapeño, some of the jalapeno seeds, or more hot sauce to the slow cooker.
Can I make the dressing ahead of time? Yes, you sure can! The dressing for your Hawaiian Chicken Tacos will keep for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Store it in an airtight container. It may need to be shaken a little before serving.
Can I serve the dressing on other dishes? Yep! This dressing tastes great on salads, wraps, and as a dip for fresh veggies.
Serving Suggestions
How do I serve Hawaiian Chicken Tacos? Hawaiian Chicken Tacos taste great served on soft or crispy taco shells. You could make up some taco bowls by adding the meat mixture to some rice. Why not use your Instant Pot to make rice while your slow cooker does the rest? Here are a few links to my favorite Instant Pot rice recipes: Brown Rice, Jasmine Rice, and Basmati Rice.
Related Recipes
Why not give some of my other taco recipes a try?
Slow Cooker Greek Chicken Tacos
Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 20 oz can pineapple chunks with juice
- ½ cup diced red onion
- 1 jalapeno seeded and diced
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- Dressing:
- ½ cup mayo
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- 1 jalapeno pepper ribs and seeds removed
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- ½ teaspoon salt
- shredded cabbage
- corn tortillas
Instructions
- Add all taco filling ingredients to slow cooker and stir to combine
- Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 6-8
- In the meantime, add dressing ingredients to blender or food processor and blend until smooth
- Refrigerate dressing until ready to serve
- Once taco filling is done cooking, remove and shred chicken and return to slow cooker
- Serve tacos on corn tortillas topped with chicken, shredded cabbage and dressing
Notes
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Use chicken thighs for best flavor
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Use crushed pineapple if you don't want the bigger bites of pineapple
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Use my homemade taco seasoning for best results
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For spicier tacos, add more jalapeño, some of the jalapeno seeds, or more hot sauce
-
Dressing will keep up to 3 days in fridge, shake before serving
What if a person is diabetic or like myself pre and can't have a ton of fat wouldn't chicken breast be a better option?
Yes, you could definitely make that substitution here.
This is one of my new favorites for the crock pot. The flavor combo of pineapple and chicken with a greek-style sauce is excellent!!!!!