Slow Cooker Pineapple Chicken
Make this easy Crock Pot Pineapple Chicken with fresh pineapple, peppers, onions, and teriyaki sauce for a simple weeknight meal that's healthy and comforting.
Some of the best dinners are the ones that practically cook themselves, and this Slow Cooker Pineapple Chicken is exactly that kind of recipe. It's packed with juicy chicken, sweet fresh pineapple, crisp vegetables, and plenty of rich teriyaki sauce, all made with very little hands-on work.
If you've been around my blog for long, you probably already know how much my family loves the sweet and savory combination of chicken and pineapple. I have several recipes featuring this delicious pairing including my popular Hawaiian Chicken Sheet Pan Meal, Pineapple Chicken and Rice Casserole, and my Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs.
This Slow Cooker Pineapple Chicken has quickly become one of our favorites because it's so easy and has amazing flavor. Instead of making a homemade sauce from scratch, I take a shortcut with a quality bottled teriyaki sauce that still has great flavor while keeping prep time to a minimum.
And while there are a few ingredients to prep, the slow cooker takes care of most of the cooking for you. I also love that the pineapple keeps its texture and the chicken cooks up tender without the dish becoming mushy.
Ingredients You Need
- Chicken- Use chicken breasts or chicken thighs depending on your preference.
- Red onion
- Red bell pepper or use any color pepper you enjoy.
- Fresh pineapple is preferred for texture and flavor but canned pineapple will work in a pinch.
- Teriyaki sauce- This can be your favorite store-brand or homemade.
- Water chestnuts are stirred in at the very end for crunch and texture.
- Corn starch and water if you want to thicken the sauce.
- Green onions and toasted sesame seeds for garnish.
How To Make Slow Cooker Pineapple Chicken
- Prepare chicken, onions, and bell pepper and place them in a 6 qt or larger slow cooker. See tips below for slow cooker suggestion.
- Pour teriyaki sauce over the chicken and veggies and stir to combine. Place the lid on and cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3.
- Transfer cooked chicken, veggies, and pineapple to a bowl. Bring the sauce to a simmer and slowly add cornstarch and water slurry. Whisk until sauce thickens.
- Add the chicken mixture back to the pot with the thickened sauce and toss in water chestnuts and part of the green onions. Gently stir everything together until the chicken and veggies are well coated.
- Top with more green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve over rice or your favorite starch.
Ang's Helpful Tips
- Slow cooker- The crockpot I use has an insert that is stovetop safe. This is helpful for thickening the sauce without dirting another pot.
- Cut ingredients evenly- Make sure the ingredients are cut relatively the same size for even cooking.
- Chicken cooks quickly- Unlike larger chicken pieces, the smaller size chunks cook quickly so keep an eye on it towards the end of the cooking time.
- Thicken sauce- This is optional but makes the experience that much better for serving over rice, potatoes, or other starches you enjoy.
More Options For Serving Pineapple Chicken
While rice is the most common to serve with a dish like this, like my Easy Coconut Rice, or Cilantro Lime Rice, here are additional ideas you might enjoy:
- Crockpot Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese
- Easy Asian Noodles
- Quick Roasted Asparagus
- Roasted Potatoes and Carrots
- Cilantro Pesto Cauliflower Rice
- Green Beans Almondine
Can I make this on the stovetop?
Yes! Simply sauté chicken, onions, and peppers with olive oil until cooked and tender, then stir in pineapple and teriyaki sauce. Continue to cook until bubbly and sauce has thickened a bit. If you want the sauce thicker, add the cornstarch/water slurry. Stir in the remaining ingredients and add toppings.
Try These Easy Crockpot Recipes Next:
- Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup
- Slow Cooker Pinto Beans and Ham
- Slow Cooker Cowboy Soup
- Slow Cooker Coconut Lentil Curry
- Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken
- Slow Cooker Chicken Adobo
Slow Cooker Pineapple Chicken
Equipment
- 6 Qt Slow Cooker
- small sauce pot if your slow cooker insert is not stovetop safe
Ingredients
- 4 3-4 medium size chicken breast cut in 1 inch pieces
- 1 small red onion cut in 1 inch chunks
- 1 medium red bell pepper cut in 1 inch pieces
- 2 cups fresh pineapple cut in 1 inch chunks
- 1 ½ cups prepared teriyaki sauce
- 8 ounce can, diced water chestnuts, drained well
- 2-3 green onions, sliced and divided
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 2 tablespoon cold water
- toasted sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- In a slow cooker add prepared chicken, red onions, red bell pepper, and pineapple. Pour in teriyaki sauce and toss together. Cover with a lid and cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3. Chicken should be cooked through and tender.
- Transfer chicken, veggies, and pineapple to a bowl. If your slow cooker insert is not stovetop safe, transfer the liquid to a saucepan.
- Mix cornstarch and water in a small bowl until smooth and no longer see lumps.
- Bring the liquid to a simmer and slowly add the cornstarch slurry. Use a whisk to stir constantly until mixture starts to thicken to your preference, then remove from the heat.
- Add chicken mixture back to the thickened sauce. At this time also add the water chestnuts, and half of the green onions. Gently stir together until the chicken and veggies are well coated.
- Garnish the top with the remaining green onions and top with toasted sesame seeds. Serve over rice or your favorite starch.
Notes
Nutrition
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