Description
This Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken recipe combines tender chicken pieces coated in a light cornstarch-egg batter, quickly browned, then slow cooked in a sweet and tangy sauce made with BBQ sauce, pineapple juice, and brown sugar. The result is a flavorful and juicy Hawaiian-inspired dish, perfect served over rice and garnished with fresh scallions for a delightful meal.
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 variety)
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
Garnish
- Green onions or scallions (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Combine eggs and cornstarch: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and cornstarch until smooth, forming a batter to coat the chicken pieces.
- Coat chicken pieces: Dip each bite-sized chicken tenderloin piece into the egg and cornstarch mixture, ensuring each piece is fully coated.
- Heat oil: In a large skillet, heat 1 cup of vegetable oil over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking.
- Brown chicken: Quickly fry the coated chicken pieces in the hot oil, turning to brown all sides lightly. The goal is to develop color, not to cook the chicken fully through at this stage.
- Transfer to slow cooker: Place the browned chicken pieces into the slow cooker evenly.
- Prepare sauce: In a separate mixing bowl, combine BBQ sauce, pineapple juice, and brown sugar. Stir well to incorporate the brown sugar fully.
- Add sauce to chicken: Pour the prepared 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 the LOW setting for 3 to 4 hours. Check the dish halfway through and stir to prevent burning and ensure even cooking.
- Garnish and serve: Once cooked, garnish with chopped green onions or scallions if desired. Serve the Hawaiian chicken hot over a bed of rice.
Notes
- Be careful not to overcook the chicken while browning; it should only develop light color.
- Adjust the sweetness by modifying the amount of brown sugar based on your preference.
- If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can simmer the sauce and chicken gently on the stovetop, but cooking time will be reduced.
- The dish pairs excellently with steamed white rice or fried rice.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure your BBQ sauce is gluten-free and use a suitable cornstarch or substitute.
