Try a tropical twist on your meal plan with Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken! Sweet and savory chicken thighs in a rich sauce create the perfect protein to serve over a bed of fluffy white rice or steamed veggies. Just a few minutes of prep for the slow cooker will result in the tastiest island flavor!

Cooked Hawaiian chicken on a bed of rice garnished with green onions and black pepper

What are Hawaiian flavors?

If you’re visualizing palm trees and fancy drinks right now, you can probably almost taste the flavors of Hawaiian cuisine!

Even if you’ve never been to Hawaii, most of us can recognize Hawaiian dishes by their distinctive tropical fruits and vegetables. In Hawaii’s warm climate, these fruits and veggies grow year-round and are readily available for cooking in many different ways.

To recreate Hawaiian flavors in your dishes at home, you’ll need to use a combination of tropical fruit along with peppers to give your dish a little heat. Some of the most common ingredients in these dishes include pineapple, garlic, ginger, and other citrus fruits.

Ingredients Needed

Boneless skinless chicken thighs – I like using chicken thighs for the added flavor of the darker meat and higher fat content. You could also use boneless skinless chicken breasts. No need to worry about browning the chicken beforehand – in this case, adding the chicken to the slow cooker raw helps prevent it from getting dry.
Pineapple juice – Pineapple juice is perfect for infusing flavor into the chicken thighs and producing tender pieces of meat. I only used pineapple juice, but you could also add just about any variation of pineapple fruit into the slow cooker.
Soy sauce – Soy sauce works so well with chicken in the slow cooker because of the added sodium that tenderizes the meat over time. If you prefer a gluten-free version, you can also swap for tamari sauce.
Ketchup – A small amount of ketchup really adds to the sauce with a bit of acidity and thickness. If you like, look for a reduced or sugar-free variety.
Brown sugar – Brown sugar helps achieve that signature sticky sauce that is unique to tropical dishes.
White vinegar – A little white vinegar helps bring out the flavors in the sauce.
Garlic paste – Using a garlic paste (instead of garlic cloves or minced garlic) creates a smooth, complex sauce in the slow cooker.
Ginger paste – Ginger is a wonderful element to pair with citrusy fruits. The paste also easily blends into a smooth sauce.
Cornstarch – Mix with 1 tablespoon of water to create a slurry to thicken the sauce. You’ll want to spoon every last drop of the end result over your rice or veggies!

5 small bowls displaying sauces and seasonings like soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, and pineapple juice

How To Make Hawaiian Chicken In The Slow Cooker

My family loves the flavors of the chicken and rice combinations at one of our local Hawaiian-style fast-casual restaurants. This recipe brings island cuisine into our kitchen but utilizes the slow cooker to do practically all the work! Hawaiian Chicken will have your taste buds watering with the mix of pineapple, garlic, and ginger simmering away in the background.

Cut chicken thighs into large bite-sized pieces and place them in the slow cooker.

Raw chicken inside of white slow cooker bowl

Next, mix all remaining ingredients, except the cornstarch, until they are blended into a smooth sauce.
Mix cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water until it creates a slurry, and then whisk the slurry into the sauce.
Pour the sauce over the chicken and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6 hours until the chicken is cooked through. (Use an internal thermometer to ensure that the temperature has reached 165 ℉.)

Cup with sauce prepared in measuring cup

Raw chicken inside of sauce mixture in white slow cooker bowl

If the sauce is too thin, you can whisk additional cornstarch slurry into it by adding 1 tablespoon at a time. Let it heat through thoroughly.
Serve over white or brown rice and top with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.

Cooked diced chicken in sauce mixture inside of slow cooker

Variations and Substitutions

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken is a fantastic base recipe to change up based on the ingredients you know your family will enjoy best! Take some ideas here and try out some simple variations.

Chicken – The added fat from chicken thighs helps the ingredients to meld together to create a thicker, more flavorful sauce. If you prefer, you can also use boneless skinless chicken breasts and shred them before serving. You may need to add a little extra cornstarch slurry if you use chicken breasts.
Pineapple – If you like the added taste and texture of pineapple, add some in! It’s such an easy addition because you can add fresh, frozen, or canned pineapple chunks as well as crushed pineapple! You’ll get extra taste and texture elements and can also shred the chicken to mix the two together.
Spice – To make a spicier version of Hawaiian chicken, add 1 or more teaspoons of Sriracha or your favorite hot sauce. A sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes will also heat things up!
Bell peppers and onions – Many traditional Hawaiian chicken dishes will also include colorful bell peppers and onions. If you’d like to add these, simply dice them into large chunks (about the same size as the pieces of chicken), and add them to the slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients.
Extra veggies – Add in any other veggies that do not have a high water content. Chopped cauliflower or broccoli florets would work well.

Hawaiian chicken garnished with green onions and black pepper on a bed of white rice

How To Serve Hawaiian Chicken

Since Hawaiian chicken will be the star of the meal, you won’t need much else for a tasty dinner!

Serve the chicken over your preferred variety of rice (try this Instant Pot Jasmine Rice for ease), and pair with a steamed or sauteed veggie on the side. Some great options would be broccoli, snap peas, brussels sprouts, or Lemon Pepper Roasted Asparagus.

Top off your bowl of rice and chicken with a sprinkle of black sesame seeds, sliced green onions, or chopped cilantro. If you like, add some finely diced jalapeño for spice.

Another unique way to serve Hawaiian chicken is by creating a fresh taco plate! Use traditional crispy corn shells and top the chicken with shredded purple cabbage, pineapple chunks, and a drizzle of lime jalapeño ranch dressing. Offer a side of Hawaiian Macaroni Salad for a true island meal.

Storing and Reheating

Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days or store in the freezer for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Defrost if needed and reheat in the microwave.

To save some steps at mealtime or to just have tasty meals on hand, prep this recipe ahead as a freezer meal. Simply add all ingredients to a freezer-safe gallon bag and thaw in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before cooking.

Hawaiian Chicken FAQs

What does the pineapple do to the chicken? Fresh pineapple contains the enzyme bromelain which can break down the fibers in chicken and other meats over time. If left too long, the pineapple enzyme can cause the chicken to become mushy. Canned pineapple no longer contains the enzyme which makes it a great option for extended slow cooking.
Do I have to brown the chicken before putting it in the slow cooker? For this recipe, you do not need to brown the chicken before putting it in the slow cooker. Some recipes will call for this step, but I think that omitting this step here helps keep the chicken tender and allows it to absorb all the flavors of the sauce.
Can this recipe be made in the Instant Pot? Yes, this recipe can be made in the Instant Pot! Add all ingredients (except cornstarch slurry) to the Instant Pot and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Allow for a natural release, then switch to sauté mode and add the cornstarch slurry to thicken.