Slow Cooker Polynesian Chicken

4.25 from 8 votes

Keep dinner clean with this juicy slow cooker Polynesian chicken recipe.

Slow Cooker Polynesian Chicken

Got 10 minutes? Then you have time to prepare this slow-cooker recipe. Our Slow Cooker Polynesian Chicken is a healthy spin on a favorite chicken and rice dish served at restaurants. The recipe is cleaned up and includes whole grains, protein, and fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables. Best of all, its sweet taste will have your family requesting this dish at least once a week (and that’s great news for you because it’s so easy!)

Get Out of Your Chicken Rut

sweet & clean polynesian chicken

Chicken can be one of the healthiest ingredients in your kitchen, but finding great chicken recipes that are both tasty and good for your health can be tough. Many healthy chicken recipes are bland and dry, bleh. Meanwhile, those that taste great are sometimes filled with processed ingredients or full of fat and calories (sigh). But it doesn’t have to be that way! At Skinny Ms., we provide a wide selection of chicken dishes that are tasty and made with healthy ingredients. This means you never need to worry about what to do with the chicken in your freezer or refrigerator before it spoils, and you definitely won’t get stuck preparing the same meals over and over again.

Sweet, savory, and beyond easy to prepare, this Slow Cooker Polynesian Chicken is the perfect go-to chicken recipe to mix up your weeknight rotation. Under 300 calories, this easy dinner packs plenty of protein and big flavor into a light and healthy meal.

There’s More Than One Way to Prep and Serve Polynesian Chicken

easy weeknight meal

Typically, you’ll find juicy Polynesian chicken recipes like this one served with rice. If you’re looking to go the traditional route, keep things clean with a bed of healthy brown rice. Alternatively, you can also serve this Slow Cooker Polynesian chicken over quinoa for a fun and tasty (not to mention protein-packed) twist. Looking to keep your meal under the 300-calorie mark? This sweet and savory chicken is also delicious served over fresh steamed broccoli or riced cauliflower.

No matter how you serve it, this Slow Cooker Polynesian Chicken recipe is an easy, delicious, and healthy dinner you’ll definitely want to add to your weeknight meal rotation.

The flavors in this recipe can transport you (or at least your senses) straight to the islands, regardless of the time of year or weather conditions outside! What are you waiting for? Make it tonight and fill your kitchen with soft, fruity, and delectable scents!

4.25 from 8 votes

Slow Cooker Polynesian Chicken

Here is a nutritious and fruity chicken recipe that will make everyone smile.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 5 minutes
Yield 6 people
Serving Size 1 cup
Course Dinner
Cuisine Polynesian

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless and skinless chicken breasts, about 4 pieces cut into 2-inch cubes
  • 1 red bell pepper, cored and seeded, sliced into 1-inch strips
  • 20 ounces pineapple chunks, canned in natural juice
  • 2 tablespoons tamari or Bragg Liquid Aminos
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons ginger, grated
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot

Instructions

  • Pour juice from canned pineapple chunks into a small mixing bowl. Add Bragg Liquid Aminos (or soy sauce), garlic, ginger, and honey, and whisk to combine. Add cornstarch and stir until combined.
  • Place chicken in the slow cooker, and add pineapple chunks. Pour pineapple mixture over chicken, cover, and cook on low for 4-5 hours. Add bell peppers in the last 15 minutes of cook time. Serve chicken over a bed of quinoa or brown rice.

Notes

We recommend using a slow cooker that holds at least 4 quarts. 

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 255kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 468mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 16g |
SmartPoints (Freestyle): 7
Keywords Budget-Friendly, Gluten-Free, Kid-Friendly

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If you enjoyed this yummy slow cooker Polynesian chicken, we think you’re going to love these dishes as well:

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Editor’s note: Originally published on June 11, 2012. 

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Gale Compton

Gale co-founded SkinnyMs. with a goal to provide women with delicious recipes, fitness routines, and ways to reach their ideal weight. Gale has been featured on the Today Show in which she won a cook off for the best Lasagna. Be sure to search for her winning recipe, Skinny Lasagna Rolls.

Guided by her firm belief in healthy eating and the power of exercise, Gale has written two cookbooks and several fitness ebooks. She earned her Fitness Training Certification from, National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association. Gale loves to run with her dog Maggie and has completed numerous half-marathons.

More by Gale

40 Comments

  1. The recipe calls for freshly ground ginger, should it be freshly grated ginger?  I have ground ginger in my spice cabinet, but it’s not “fresh.”

  2. I'm the only one who will eat this, so I'll have to try freezing leftovers.  Bragg Liquid Aminos = awesome!

  3. I tried this recipe today and it was really good! I did add a few things….black pepper and some thinly sliced onion in with the chicken and pineapple at the beginning. I also added in some halved snow peas and one can of drained water chestnuts along with the red bell pepper at the end. Very good flavor. I do have to note that chicken always comes out a bit tough from the crock pot, but otherwise it was a very good recipe.

  4. Will give this one a go. However, will have to substitute the pineapple with mango. Pineapple is a trigger for my Hemiplegic Migraines.

    1. Mango, I should have thought of this. I tried it with the pineapple and wasn’t crazy about it. The texture of cooked pineapple bothers me for some reason. I may have to try it again using mango and a few of the other items a few people mentioned.

  5. Pingback: A Week of Eats « The Adventures of Z & K
  6. I have a question about the Bragg's Liquid Aminos. Low Sodium Soy Sauce has less sodium than the Bragg's. Are there other health benefits to using Aminos instead?

  7. This is in my slow cooker right now 🙂 There seems to be a layer of whitish stuff on the top so will have to see how it turns out.

  8. So I made this last night, or shall I say attempted. The sauce was pretty good. I put it all in the crockpot at around 6:30 and decided to check it before I went to bed at 9:30. Good thing I did! The chicken was EXTRA DONE. Very tough and stuck together. For it to have retained any type of possible tenderness, I most likely would've have to take it out about half an hour earlier. I know we used the Chicken Breast pieces for health and calorie purposes but chicken thighs would probably be devine in this dish for the crockpot. Next time I'll probably take the time to pound out my chicken breast really well with my blade tenderizer, let it marinade in the sauce for day, sear it and put it in the oven.

  9. Dont like this at all. My kids complained that it was too "pineappley" and I thought the chicken was pasty, and just did not taste good. I followed the directions to the letter, and am very disappointed. I will not make this recipe again.

  10. Is there a sweet substitute to pineapple? Not a huge fan of pineapple, and I used to love this dish when I lived in hawaii, from a place that didn’t use pineapple…I just don’t know what they used! Help!

  11. I’ve discovered that using frozen chicken breasts In virtually any crockpot recipe will reward you with perfect chicken.

  12. Loved this recipe but I am wondering, can this be pressure cooked in the instant pot? If so how long would I cook it for?

    1. Michelle,

      Check it out:
      Select the Poultry function. On Manual, select 5 minutes on high pressure.
      Use 10 minute natural release then turn off heat. Release remaining pressure. Open the lid.
      Select Sauté function, on low.
      In a small bowl combine cornstarch and juice from pineapple can, stir until smooth.
      Add the mixture to the Instant Pot, toss to combine. Cook on Sauté for 3 minutes, stir until sauce thickens.
      Allow chicken to rest 5-7 minutes.

  13. Made this tonight with 3 chicken breasts. As they were cut up, it took a shorter time to cook. Put it over rice and it was delicious! Very easy and will make again!5 stars

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