Total Time: 25 minutes | Prep: 5 minutes | Cook: 20 minutes
When the afternoon chaos hits and you need dinner that practically makes itself, this sweet and tangy Hawaiian chicken gives you a mini tropical vacation without any fuss.
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts), cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 can (20 oz) pineapple chunks in juice, undrained
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup soy sauce (low sodium works fine)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
- 2 cups cooked rice, for serving
Instructions
- Add chicken pieces to your crockpot or slow cooker.
- Make the sauce by combining pineapple with juice, BBQ sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, and garlic in a bowl. Pour over the chicken.
- Add bell pepper and onion, stirring gently to combine.
- Cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or LOW for 4-5 hours until chicken is fully cooked.
- Optional thickening step: 15 minutes before serving, mix cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water. Stir into the crockpot and cook on HIGH for 15 minutes until sauce thickens.
- Serve over rice and enjoy!
Quick Tips
Need it even faster? This can be made in 20 minutes on the stovetop! Just sauté chicken until almost done, add the sauce ingredients and vegetables, and simmer until chicken is cooked through and sauce thickens.
- Meal prep hack: Double the recipe and freeze half in a labeled freezer bag for another busy night.
- Kid-friendly tip: Serve components separately for picky eaters – plain chicken pieces, rice, and pineapple chunks on their own.
Easy Swaps
No pineapple? Use mango chunks or peach slices with a splash of orange juice
- Vegetarian version: Substitute firm tofu or chickpeas for the chicken
- Low-sugar option: Use sugar-free BBQ sauce and omit the brown sugar
- Add more veggies: Frozen mixed vegetables or broccoli work great added in the last 30 minutes of cooking
Serving Ideas
Serve in lettuce cups for a lighter meal
- Put toothpicks in individual pieces for an easy finger-food dinner
- Spoon into tortillas for Hawaiian chicken wraps the next day
Is your family’s favorite weeknight rescue recipe even easier than this one? Share it with other moms by submitting to contact@organizedmomcollective.com and you might see it featured in an upcoming post!
