Crock Pot Pineapple Chicken

This Crock Pot Pineapple Chicken is an easy slow cooker dinner packed with sweet and savory flavor! With just a few minutes of prep, this is an easy family dinner you can have cooking while you go about your day. Tender chicken breast cooks low and slow in a delicious blend of teriyaki sauce and juicy pineapple, creating a flavorful sauce that’s delicious served over rice.

this Recipe

Why I LOVE this recipe

It doesn’t get much easier than this Crock Pot Pineapple Chicken! Just a few ingredients combined together and the slow cooker does the hard work. I also have a sheet pan pineapple chicken that is perfect when it’s 5pm and you need dinner NOW!

Fast forward a few hours and you have a CRAZY DELICIOUS take-out inspired dinner ready to eat!

This is especially perfect for evenings where you are out and about and won’t walk in the door until the moment you should already be eating. Set this up in the crockpot and you will have it ready and waiting when you get home!

Recipe Notes

This Crockpot Pineapple Chicken recipe is as simple as promised! Just 10 minutes prep for a family friendly dinner.

In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make Chicken and Peppers to get the absolute best and most delicious results.

Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.

Ingredients + Substitutions

• Chicken– This recipe calls for chicken breast.  Based on preference, you can sub any boneless, skinless cut of chicken such as chicken thighs, or chicken tenderloins.
• Teriyaki Sauce– I highly recommend the thicker teriyaki glaze style sauce over the thinner sauce. You can also make your own- I like this homemade Teriyaki Sauce recipe.
• Pineapple– You can use pineapple chunks as called for in this recipe, or if you want the pineapple to be less prominent, you can use crushed pineapple instead so it will be smaller pieces instead of chunks. Just make sure to drain it well!

Recipe Step by Step

I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Crockpot Pineapple Chicken.

Recipe Tips

As directed in the recipe card, I recommend cooking the chicken for 2.5-3 hours on high.

Since chicken breast is a very lean meat, this enables you to cook the meat without drying it out.

Since the slow cooker cooks without losing much moisture, you are able to leave the meat in there for hours on end without it burning.

However, this does not mean that the meat isn’t technically over cooked!

If you have ever had chicken from the crock pot that wasn’t burnt and was still tender and easy to shred, but tasted almost dry and was hard to chew. This is why!

Freezing Instructions

Pineapple Chicken makes a fantastic freezer meal!  You can freeze both before or after cooking in your slow cooker with great results.

To Freeze Before Cooking:

1. Combine chicken breast, teriyaki sauce, pineapple chunks, and garlic in a freezer friendly container or zip top bag.
2. Freeze.
3. When ready to use, thaw in refrigerator then add to the crock pot and continue at step 4 in the instructions.

You can also cook from frozen in the slow cooker, however it will add 30 min -2 hours to the cooking time.

To Freeze After Cooking:

1. Prepare recipe as directed.
2. Let cool and then divide into meal sized portions.
3. Freeze in an airtight container or zip top bag.
4. When ready to eat, thaw in the refrigerator or cook in the microwave or on the stove top until heated through.

How to Serve Pineapple Chicken

I like to serve this dish right over rice and to take it to the next level, I add a little bit of finely shredded cabbage and drizzle it with a combo of this Asian Spicy Mayo and a little additional teriyaki sauce. HEAVEN! Sometimes I even put the pineapple chicken right on top of my Thai Chicken Salad – the peanut sauce is delicious!

Then add some sides that would traditionally be paired with Asian foods and you have a filling meal.

Side Dish Ideas

• Rice – White, brown or fried
• Veggie Fried Rice
• Salad with Ginger dressing
• Asian Cucumber Salad
• Garlic green beans
• Spring rolls

It can be as easy as making one, or choose a few for a more hearty meal.

Pineapple Chicken Leftovers

Leftovers of this dish reheat well in the microwave or stove top, so it is a good day when there is some left at the end of the night.

To save leftovers, package in meal sized portions, then place in the:

• Refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Freeze for up to a month.

Pineapple Chicken Variations

Here are a few ideas on how to reinvent the Crock Pot Pineapple Chicken you have leftover into a new meal for later in the week.

• Pineapple Chicken Lettuce Wraps– Core and wash a head of butter lettuce. Remove the leaves and fill with pineapple chicken. Sprinkle with cashew pieces, shredded carrots and spicy mayo.
• Pineapple Chicken Spring Rolls– Fill spring roll wrappers with pineapple chicken and a some finely chopped cabbage and roll them. Bake for fry based on preference.  Serve with sweet and sour dipping sauce.
• Pineapple Chicken Salad– Mix a combination of chopped romaine and chopped red cabbage. Top with pineapple chicken, grated carrots, sliced toasted almonds, sesame seeds, and green onions.  Drizzle with ginger dressing. 
• Pineapple Chicken Fried Rice– Make your favorite Fried Rice recipe and add this pineapple chicken as the meat.

More Easy Crock Pot Recipes

If you enjoyed this Pineapple Chicken, we hope you will try a few more of our favorites!

• Slow Cooker Thai Chicken
• Hawaiian Meatballs
• Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken
• Crock Pot Honey BBQ Meatballs