Description
Tender slow-cooked chicken simmered in pineapple and smoky barbecue sauce until glossy and shreddable, served over rice or in sandwiches for an easy, crowd-pleasing meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 can (20 ounces) pineapple chunks with juice
- 1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat Your Equipment: Plug in your slow cooker and set it to low heat.
- Combine Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, stir together the pineapple chunks with some of their juice, barbecue sauce, soy sauce, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until combined.
- Prepare Your Cooking Vessel: Lightly grease the slow cooker insert to prevent sticking.
- Assemble the Dish: Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker, then pour the sauce and pineapple mixture evenly over the top.
- Cook to Perfection: Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Finishing Touches: If you prefer a thicker glaze, uncover the slow cooker for the last 30 minutes of cooking. Shred the chicken with two forks if desired and stir it back into the sauce to coat.
- Serve and Enjoy: Spoon the pineapple BBQ chicken over steamed rice, into sandwich rolls, or alongside roasted vegetables. Garnish with chopped parsley or toasted sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
- Drain the pineapple lightly to avoid watering down the sauce, but reserve a bit of juice for flavor depth.
- Use chicken thighs instead of breasts for a richer, more tender result.
- To thicken the sauce, stir in a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water) during the last 20 minutes of cooking.
- Adjust sweetness and heat by choosing a tangier BBQ sauce or adding red pepper flakes for a kick.
- For meal prep, assemble the ingredients in the slow cooker insert the night before and refrigerate until ready to cook.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1 cup)
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
Keywords: crockpot, pineapple, BBQ chicken, slow cooker, easy dinner, weeknight meal, family friendly