Description
This Crockpot Pineapple Chicken is a flavorful and easy-to-make dish combining tender chicken breasts with sweet pineapple chunks, vibrant bell peppers, and a tangy soy-honey ginger sauce. Perfect for a hassle-free meal, it cooks slowly in a crockpot for juicy, melt-in-your-mouth chicken with a thickened, delicious sauce. Serve over steamed rice or noodles and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds for an impressive weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Sauce and Vegetables
- 1 can (20 oz) pineapple chunks (with juice)
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
Thickener
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Optional Garnishes
- Sliced green onions
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Place the 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts at the bottom of the crockpot, ensuring they are spread out evenly for even cooking.
- Mix the sauce: In a medium bowl, combine the pineapple juice (from the can, reserving the chunks), low-sodium soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, and grated fresh ginger. Stir well to blend all flavors together.
- Add ingredients to the crockpot: Pour the prepared sauce mixture over the chicken breasts in the crockpot. Then add the chopped red and green bell peppers along with the reserved pineapple chunks on top.
- Cook on low or high: Cover the crockpot with its lid. Cook on low heat setting for 5 to 6 hours or alternatively, cook on high heat for 2 to 3 hours until the chicken is tender and fully cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F or 74°C).
- Thicken the sauce: In the last 30 minutes of cooking, whisk together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water to create a slurry. Stir this slurry thoroughly into the crockpot to thicken the cooking juices into a rich sauce.
- Serve: Once the sauce has thickened and the chicken is cooked, serve the pineapple chicken mixture over steamed rice or noodles. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds if desired for added flavor and presentation.
Notes
- For extra flavor, marinate the chicken breasts in the sauce mixture for 1-2 hours before cooking.
- Use low-sodium soy sauce to reduce the salt content.
- Adjust honey quantity based on preferred sweetness.
- Vegetables can be substituted or added such as snap peas or broccoli for variation.
- Check chicken tenderness with a fork or meat thermometer to ensure doneness.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
