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Close up of Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken showing the glossy dark amber sauce and vibrant red bell peppers.

Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken with a Glossy Dark Amber Glaze

Tender bite-sized chicken thighs slow-cooked in a thick, dark amber pineapple sauce. Served over fluffy white rice with vibrant red peppers, juicy pineapple, and a garnish of toasted sesame seeds and fresh scallions.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American, Hawaiian-inspired
Calories: 415
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Recipe Ingredients
  • 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1-inch bite-sized pieces
  • 20 oz canned pineapple chunks reserve juice for sauce
  • 2 large red bell peppers sliced into thin strips
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce naturally brewed
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger finely minced
  • 1 tbsp garlic finely minced
  • 3 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 3 tbsp water
  • 3 cups cooked white rice fluffy and steamed
  • 1 tbsp white sesame seeds toasted
  • 3 whole green scallions finely sliced

Equipment

  • 1 6-Quart Slow Cooker Standard crockpot for even cooking.
  • 1 Small Whisk For the cornstarch slurry.

Method
 

Prepare Sauce and Chicken
  1. Trim and cut chicken thighs into 1-inch (2.5cm) pieces and place in the slow cooker.
  2. In a bowl, whisk pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic, and ginger until sugar dissolves.
Slow Cooking
  1. Pour sauce over chicken. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours.
  2. Halfway through cooking, stir in the red bell pepper strips and pineapple chunks.
Thicken and Garnish
  1. Whisk cornstarch and water. Stir into the crockpot. Cook on HIGH for 30 minutes until sauce is dark amber and thick.
  2. Serve over fluffy white rice. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and sliced scallions.

Notes

Use chicken thighs for maximum tenderness; breasts can dry out.
Add peppers late in the cooking process to ensure they remain vibrant and softened rather than mushy.