Description
Hawaiian huli huli chicken simmers with sweet and tangy flavors, creating a tropical paradise in your slow cooker. Juicy, caramelized chicken promises a delightful meal that transports you to island shores with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
main ingredients:
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
sauce ingredients:
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp ginger, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
garnish/optional ingredients:
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1/4 cup fresh pineapple chunks
Instructions
- Prepare the crockpot by lightly coating the interior with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking and ease cleanup.
- Whisk together pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, rice vinegar, minced ginger, and minced garlic in a mixing bowl to create a vibrant, glossy marinade.
- Nestle chicken breasts into the crockpot, ensuring they are arranged in a single layer for even cooking.
- Pour the prepared marinade evenly over the chicken, making sure each piece is thoroughly coated and bathed in the flavorful sauce.
- Cover the crockpot and set to low heat, allowing the chicken to slow-cook for 4-5 hours until the meat becomes tender and easily shreds with a fork.
- Once cooking is complete, carefully remove the chicken and transfer to a cutting board, shredding the meat using two forks.
- Optional: For a caramelized finish, transfer shredded chicken to a baking sheet and broil for 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Return shredded chicken to the crockpot, stirring to recoat with the remaining sauce and ensure maximum flavor absorption.
- Plate the Huli Huli chicken and garnish generously with chopped green onions, sesame seeds, and fresh pineapple chunks for a tropical presentation.
- Serve hot, accompanied by rice or your preferred side dish to complete the meal.
Notes
- Test marinade heat levels by adjusting brown sugar and adding a dash of sriracha for extra kick while maintaining authentic Hawaiian flavor profile.
- Swap chicken breasts with thighs for more succulent meat that absorbs sauce more deeply and prevents drying out during slow cooking.
- Pat chicken completely dry before adding marinade to help sauce cling better and create deeper caramelization during optional broiling step.
- Transform recipe into gluten-free version by replacing traditional soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos, ensuring same umami-rich taste without wheat complications.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-5 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg