Description
This Crock Pot Huli Huli Chicken recipe offers a deliciously sweet and tangy Hawaiian-inspired meal that’s easy to prepare and perfect for a comforting family dinner. Tender chicken thighs slow-cooked in a flavorful blend of pineapple juice, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic create a luscious sauce that can be thickened and served over rice for a satisfying dish bursting with savory, sweet, and umami flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs (excess fat trimmed off)
Huli Huli Sauce
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1½ tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- 2 tsp fresh ginger (grated)
- 1½ tsp garlic (minced)
Sauce Thickener
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Place the boneless, skinless chicken thighs at the bottom of a 6-quart crock pot, ensuring they lay flat and evenly.
- Mix the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together pineapple juice, apple cider vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, grated fresh ginger, and minced garlic until well combined.
- Cook the Chicken: Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken in the crock pot. Cover the crock pot and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or on low for 6 to 7 hours until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Prepare the Thickener: Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the crock pot and set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water to create a slurry.
- Thicken the Sauce: Pour the cornstarch slurry into the crock pot with the remaining sauce and stir well. Return the chicken to the crock pot either whole or shredded with two forks, depending on your preference. Continue cooking for 1 to 15 minutes until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency.
- Serve: Serve the Huli Huli Chicken hot over cooked rice, drizzling extra sauce over the top for maximum flavor and enjoyment.
Notes
- You can swap chicken thighs for chicken breasts if preferred, but thighs offer more tenderness and flavor.
- Doubling the savory sauce is a great way to ensure there’s plenty to drizzle over the chicken and rice.
- Mix ¼ cup of water with two tablespoons of cornstarch to thicken the sauce; repeat as needed for your preferred thickness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 4.5 oz chicken with sauce)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
