Description

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make dish featuring tender chicken pieces lightly browned and then slow-cooked in a flavorful mixture of BBQ sauce, pineapple juice, and brown sugar. This recipe combines the tangy sweetness of pineapple with savory BBQ flavors, perfect for a comforting meal served over rice. Garnished with fresh green onions, it’s both visually appealing and packed with taste.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Coating

1 to 1 1/2 pounds chicken tenderloins, cut into bite-size pieces
1/3 cup cornstarch
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil (for frying)

Sauce

18 ounces BBQ sauce (bottle of your favorite)
1 cup pineapple juice
1/3 cup brown sugar

Garnish

Green onions or scallions (optional)

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Instructions

Mix Eggs and Cornstarch: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and cornstarch until fully combined and smooth.
Coat Chicken: Dip and coat each piece of chicken tenderloin thoroughly in the egg and cornstarch mixture to ensure an even coating.
Heat Oil: Heat 1 cup of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot enough for browning the chicken.
Brown Chicken: Quickly brown the coated chicken pieces in the hot oil. Aim to get a light golden color on all sides without cooking the chicken fully through.
Transfer to Slow Cooker: Place the browned chicken pieces in the slow cooker, spreading them out evenly.
Prepare Sauce: In a separate bowl, combine the BBQ sauce, pineapple juice, and brown sugar. Stir until the brown sugar dissolves and the sauce is well mixed.
Add Sauce to Chicken: Pour the sauce over the chicken in the slow cooker and stir gently to coat all pieces evenly.
Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours. Stir halfway through cooking to prevent burning and ensure even cooking. Adjust heat as necessary since slow cookers vary.
Garnish and Serve: Once fully cooked and tender, garnish the Hawaiian chicken with chopped green onions or scallions if desired. Serve hot over steamed rice for a complete meal.

Notes

Make sure to brown the chicken just until lightly golden; the slow cooker will finish cooking it through.
Stir the sauce occasionally during cooking to prevent it from burning at the edges, especially if your slow cooker runs hot.
Serving suggestion: serve over white or brown rice to soak up the flavorful sauce.
For a healthier option, use low-sugar BBQ sauce or reduce the brown sugar quantity.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.