Slow Cooker Huli Huli Chicken – slow cooked chicken in a sweet and sour sauce with a Hawaiian twist! A kid favorite!
My kid goes back to school today which means the holidays are officially over for us.
We celebrated his last day of freedom by sledding pretty much all day. It was the most fun I’ve had in a very long time and I’ll be anxiously awaiting our next decent snow.
I haven’t really been cooking since the kid and husband started their holiday breaks but it’s time to get back to it now.
And what better way to ease myself into it than with the slow cooker?
How to Make Slow Cooker Huli Huli Chicken
Huli Huli Chicken is a Hawaiian chicken dish that’s typically made over a fire but this version is super simple in the slow cooker.
And then because slow cooked chicken can look kind of pale, you finish it off in the oven, brushing it with the delicious sweet and sour sauce.
The sauce kind of caramelized in the oven and becomes extra delicious.
Oh, the sauce! The sauce is made from pineapple juice, brown sugar, ketchup, lime juice, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. It is sweet and sour and one of my favorite ways to enjoy chicken.
Use whatever parts of the chicken you want – the recipe calls for bone-in chicken because chicken on the bone tends to stay more moist and juicy but if you absolultely opposed to bone-in chicken, go ahead and the boneless stuff.
I like using drumsticks because kids just love drumsticks, for some reason.
More Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken – cubed chicken cooked in a sweet, sour, and slightly spicy sauce! Serve it on rice with chopped cashews on top.
Slow Cooker Cool Ranch Chicken – chicken cooked with ranch dressing mix and taco mix so it tastes like everyone’s favorite Doritos! Shred it and put it in tacos!
Slow Cooker Orange Chicken – a family favorite recipe! Chicken cooked in an Asian-inspired orange sauce. This one is also delicious served on rice.
- 2/3 cup pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice about 2 limes
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 6 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh ginger grated or minced
- salt and pepper
- vegetable oil spray
- 4 pounds bone-in skin-on chicken (breasts, thighs, and/or drumsticks)
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Simmer pineapple juice, brown sugar, ketchup, lime juice, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger in a medium saucepan until thickened and measures about 1 1/2 cups, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
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Spray slow cooker with vegetable oil spray. Transfer 1/2 cup of the sauce to the slow cooker; reserve remaining sauce separately. Season chicken with salt and pepper, add to slow cooker, and coat evenly with sauce. Cover and cook until chicken is tender, 4 to 6 hours on low.
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Preheat oven to 450F. Transfer chicken, skin side up, to an aluminum foil lined baking sheet; discard braising liquid.
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Brush chicken with some reserved sauce and baking, brushing with more sauce every few minutes, until it has a deep, mahogany color, 20 to 30 minutes. Serve hot.
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says
I love Huli Huli sauce! I only recently stumbled across a homemade recipe, as my dad always bought it bottled straight from Hawaii growing up. I sent him the recipe to save him the cost of that order haha. I’ll have to tell him about doing it in a slow cooker too.
Amy @Very Culinary says
Oh my holy yum.
Sheryl says
Have you tried just dumping everything into the slow cooker? I am always on the lookout for easy one step slowcooker meals. I get the oven carmelization, but do you HAVE to thicken the sauce first? Just wondering if you have already tried it like this. Thanks for sharing!
amanda says
No, I haven’t tried doing it but I’m sure it would be fine. The flavors would still be there whether you simmer the sauce or not. It just might not coat the chicken at the end. :)
Cate @ Chez CateyLou says
Your day of sledding sounds like so much fun! I really need to buy myself a slow cooker – this chicken looks so good, and I love how easy it is!
Gerry @ foodnessgracious says
Always a lover of Hawaiian dishes and this is no exception! sounds delicious :)
Stephanie Conway says
I just tried this and it was amazing! I added a little extra ketchup and brown sugar to make the sauce thicker like a store bought bbq and added chili flakes for some heat. Your directions were great and easy to follow. I can’t wait to make this again when we have guests over. Thanks so much for the recipe.
Stacy Kay says
I made this for my family tonight and it was a hit! I have already received a request for it again! Thanks for sharing a keeper for our fam!
amanda says
Awesome! This reminds me that I need to make it again! Thanks for coming back to let me know! :)
Marcia says
My family doesn’t like chicken skin. How do you think it would turn out if I used boneless skinless chicken?