Hawaiian BBQ Slow Cooker Chicken

This is an easy recipe that you can just throw all together in a slow cooker and 3 or so hours later it is done. You can serve each chicken piece whole with a side of rice, or make it into a sandwich. I shredded it and used it to make BBQ Chicken sandwiches. You can also use the filling in pork bun dough and steam them, oh, so good!

What makes this “Hawaiian” is the addition of crushed pineapple in the cooking process. Not only does the acidic pineapple help tenderize it but gives it a wonderful flavor, especially since it is paired with brown sugar. This would also be yummy with a splash of coconut milk in it…umm, I need to try that next time!

You will need:

• 4-5 pounds large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (sliced down middle to make 2 even cutlets)
• 1 1/2 cups of a sweet type BBQ sauce
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup canned crushed or tidbit pineapple, mostly drained (you can use fresh too)
• 1 red onion, grated (with juices)
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 large jalapenos, seeds removed and quartered or slice

Steps:

1. Grill chicken for a minute per side in a grill pan or on your outdoor grill. You want the pieces to just firm up and seal in the juices and get some char marks on it. This is not to fully cook them. Remove and set aside.
2. In the bowl of a 6 quart slow cooker, mix the BBQ sauce, vinegar, pineapple, red onion, butter, oil, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Give it a good stir or two.
3. Nestle in the lightly grilled chicken pieces and then stick the jalapenos throughout and cover to cook.
4. Cook on high for 3 to 3 1/2 hours. If you prefer to cook on low then cook for about 6 1/2 hours, or until chicken shreds easily and is still moist.
5. When done, remove chicken to a sheet pan and shred with two forks.
6. Meanwhile, slowly and carefully, and using oven mitts, pour the sauce from the crockpot into a sauce pan, remove as much of the top oil, and boil on medium-high for 20 minutes until it is thickened and reduced by almost half. Stir occasionally so nothing sticks to bottom of pot.
7. Add shredded chicken back to the crock pot on warm and pour reduced sauce over it, and combine. If you are not shredding your chicken then just pour the reduced sauce over the whole pieces.

Kali Orexi!