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My family can't get enough of this Hawaiian pineapple chicken. The sweet pineapple and tangy balsamic create magic in the slow cooker transforming simple chicken into something absolutely delicious. Best of all it only needs three ingredients and your slow cooker does all the work.
Three Simple Reasons You'll Love This
This recipe uses just three ingredients you probably have right now. It takes five minutes to throw together then your slow cooker handles the rest. The chicken turns out so tender and flavorful you can serve it lots of ways over rice in tacos or even wrapped in lettuce leaves.
Your Shopping List
Grab four chicken breasts from your freezer or fresh works too. You'll need a bottle of balsamic vinaigrette dressing and one can of pineapple chunks with the juice. That's it really just three ingredients for an amazing dinner.
Making Your Hawaiian Chicken
Put your chicken in the slow cooker it can be frozen or thawed. Pour the balsamic vinaigrette and the whole can of pineapple with juice right over the top. Cover and let it cook on low for 8 hours. When it's done take two forks and shred that tender chicken right in the sauce. It's that simple.
My Kitchen Tips
If you want a milder taste use half the bottle of vinaigrette. The recipe works great with frozen or fresh chicken just keep an eye on the cooking time. Sometimes I toss in some colorful bell peppers or onions for extra flavor and crunch.
Keeping It Fresh
This chicken stays good in the fridge for 3 days just keep it in an airtight container. When reheating add a splash of water or broth and microwave for a few minutes. You can even freeze portions for up to 3 months just thaw overnight before warming up.
Make It a Meal
We love this pineapple chicken served over fluffy rice or creamy mashed potatoes. Add some roasted veggies or a fresh green salad on the side and dinner is ready. The leftovers taste even better the next day after all those flavors have had time to blend together.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?
Yes, chicken thighs work great in this recipe. They tend to stay even more tender than breasts and work well with the sweet pineapple flavor.
- → Do I need to thaw the chicken first?
You can use either frozen or thawed chicken. The cooking time remains the same at 8 hours to ensure tender meat either way.
- → What can I serve this with besides rice?
This chicken works well over mashed potatoes, quinoa, or cauliflower rice. You can also serve it in sandwich buns for a Hawaiian-style pulled chicken sandwich.
- → Can I use fresh pineapple instead of canned?
Fresh pineapple works, but you'll need to add about 1/2 cup of juice or water since the recipe relies on the canned pineapple juice for liquid.
- → What if the sauce is too thin?
If you want a thicker sauce, remove the chicken and shred it. Mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water, stir into the liquid, and cook on high for 15 minutes.