Slow Cooker Chicken With Pineapple

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Do you want an easy, 3 ingredient dinner without a ton of work? Make this Slow Cooker Chicken With Pineapple in your Crockpot or Instant Pot and serve it over rice, in a sandwich, or on top of a salad!

pineapple chicken and rice in a blue bowl with cilantro behind it.

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Why You'll Love Slow Cooker Chicken Pineapple
Ingredient Information and Substitutions
How To Make Pineapple Slow Cooker Chicken
Frequently Asked Questions
Tips For Making Crock Pot Pineapple Chicken
What To Serve With Chicken Pineapple
Other Delicious Slow Cooker Chicken Recipe
Slow Cooker Chicken With Pineapple

Why You'll Love Slow Cooker Chicken Pineapple

I love a good shredded chicken recipe! There are so many options for ways to serve it and repurpose it for multiple meals and meal preps. So I thought it would be fun to mix things up with a tropical chicken recipe.

I love the idea of taking only a couple of ingredients and dumping them into a crockpot or instant pot and letting the machine to the rest. The great thing about these is that the chicken ends up fall-apart-tender and the other ingredients give it a robust flavor that will keep everyone coming back for more!

Crockpot or Instant Pot Friendly
Delicious
Tropical flavors
Great for weeknight dinners
Family Friendly

A close up of the shredded chicken with pineapple and chopped cilantro on top of it.

Ingredient Information and Substitutions

Chicken- I prefer boneless skinless chicken breasts, but you could also make this recipe with chicken thighs as well.
Sofrito- It's a tasty tomato cooking base that gives the dish plenty of flavor. In a pinch salsa will work, but Sofrito is where its at!
Pineapple- For best results, use crushed pineapple. It allows the chicken to really soak up the sweet pineapple juices. Make sure you don't drain it!
Cilantro- While it's optional, cilantro adds some extra vibrance and flavor when sprinkled on top just before serving!

Labeled ingredients for pineapple chicken.

How To Make Pineapple Slow Cooker Chicken

Step 1: Place the chicken into the pot.

Step 2: Pour the Sofrito and the crushed pineapple with it's juices over the top of the chicken.

Sofrito and crushed pineapple on top of the raw chicken in the slow cooker.

Step 3: Cover and cook as per the recipe directions (depending on which machine you're using).

Pineapple chicken in a slow cooker with the cover on top.

Step 4: Once cooking is done, shred chicken.

Stir the shredded chicken with the sauce to combine and serve with chopped cilantro. Devour!

Hands using two forks to shred the cooked chicken in the crockpot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What cut of chicken is best?

I made this with chicken breasts to keep it on the leaner side, but this would also be delicious with boneless skinless chicken thighs (about 4-6 of them since they're smaller).

How do you serve tropical chicken?

One thing I love about this recipe is that it offers several serving options. It's excellent on its own with the sides of your choice. You can serve it over white or brown rice. Put it in some Hawaiian rolls or the bread of your choice for sandwiches. Use it to make tacos. Or, for a healthier twist, use it as a salad topper.

Where does pineapple chicken come from?

I've heard various mixed opinions in terms of the origin of classic pineapple and chicken recipes. Some say they have Asian origins (these variations are typically enjoyed in stir fry form).

Others say Hawaii is the place of origin since many people are quick to associate pineapple with Hawaii. For this particular recipe, I was inspired by my brother-in-law Les. He is of Puerto Rican background and is an excellent cook. He was the person who introduced me to Sofrito as an ingredient, and the addition of the pineapple seemed delicious and lent the "tropical" feel.

Can you make pineapple chicken with fresh pineapple?

Yes- I would dice it pretty small (use around 1 cup of diced) and add ¼ cup of water since there won't be juice like you find in the canned pineapple. You can also pop it into a food processor and pulse it a couple times to chop it. Just be carefully you don't overdo and puree the pineapple.

Is crockpot pineapple chicken sweet?

A little but but the Sofrito adds a nice balance, so it ends up being a little bit sweet and a little bit savory.

Can you freeze this?

Yes! You can place all ingredients into a plastic zipper bag and freeze and then thaw before cooking. You can also freeze this covered once cooked if you'd rather (just be sure you don't shred it too finely if doing this).

An overhead image of the chicken and pineapple with cilantro on top of a bed of white rice in a blue bowl with fresh cilantro on the side and a white towel.

Tips For Making Crock Pot Pineapple Chicken

Trim any extra fat from the chicken breasts to that it's all meat and nothing weird or chewy.
You don't even have to stir the ingredients- this is a true dump-and-go recipe.
I always taste it before serving and if you feel it needs salt and pepper, you can totally add it (specific to your taste) but don't feel like you need to!
Prep Ahead- You can place all the ingredients into a zipper bag and freeze or have it prepped in your fridge for a day or two later.
Storage and Leftovers- This will last up to 4 days covered in the refrigerator. up to 3 months in the freezer.

A close up of the side of a blue bowl of chicken and pineapple with sofrito sauce on a bed of rice with chopped cilantro on top and a bunch of cilantro in the background.

What To Serve With Chicken Pineapple

A few great recipes to round out and complete this meal would be:

Other Delicious Slow Cooker Chicken Recipe

Love this recipe? Please leave a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a review in the comment section further down. Check out my Amazon Store for all my favorite tools, including those used in this recipe. And follow @thelifejolie on Instagram and TikTok!