Description
How to make tender crockpot chicken with pineapple, bell peppers and sweet tangy sauce that transforms busy weeknights into something special.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Base
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed
- 1 large red bell pepper, cut into strips
- 1 large green bell pepper, cut into strips
- 1 medium yellow onion, sliced thick
Sweet Hawaiian Sauce
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/3 cup soy sauce, low sodium
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
Thickening & Garnish
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- 3 tbsp cold water
- 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
- 2 green onions, sliced thin
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds, toasted
Instructions
- Prep Ingredients: Trim chicken thighs and cut bell peppers into strips. Slice onion thick and mince garlic and ginger. Having everything ready makes the rest super smooth and easy.
- Layer Crockpot: Place chicken thighs in bottom of crockpot, then add bell peppers and onion on top. This layering helps everything cook evenly and prevents sticking to the bottom.
- Make Sauce: Whisk together pineapple juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil. Pour this golden mixture over chicken and vegetables in crockpot.
- Slow Cook: Cover and cook on low for 4 hours until chicken shreds easily with a fork. Resist lifting the lid early – every peek adds 15 minutes to cooking time.
- Shred Chicken: Remove chicken and shred with two forks, then return to crockpot. The meat should fall apart effortlessly if it’s properly cooked and tender throughout.
- Thicken Sauce: Mix cornstarch with cold water until smooth, then stir into crockpot. Cook on high 15 minutes until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Finish & Serve: Stir in fresh pineapple chunks and let warm through. Garnish with green onions and toasted sesame seeds before serving over rice or your favorite grain.
Notes
- Don’t lift the crockpot lid during cooking; each peek adds 15 minutes to total time.
- Store leftovers in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Fresh pineapple juice works best, but canned 100% juice is fine substitute.
- Double the recipe easily for meal prep or larger families.
- Add vegetables halfway through if you prefer them less tender.
- Freeze portions for up to 3 months in freezer-safe containers.
Allergy Information: Soy, Sesame
Nutrition
- Calories: 285 calories
- Fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Protein: 32g