This crock pot teriyaki chicken with pineapple is a delicious and easy weeknight meal the whole family will love! Only 5 ingredients and less than 8 minutes prep are all you need to make this simple yet mouthwatering Asian dish - no takeout required! Let's make it!
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Easy Slow Cooker Meal
This slow cooker pineapple teriyaki chicken dish couldn't be any easier! Dump all the ingredients in the crock pot and come back a few hours later.
Wonderful Asian Flavor
You will LOVE how tender the chicken thighs are after cooking low and slow for hours in an Asian salty-sweet teriyaki sauce blended with pineapple chunks and bell pepper. Delicious!
🥘 Ingredients Needed for Crock Pot Chicken Teriyaki
Here are the ingredients you will need to make crock pot teriyaki chicken with pineapple:
- Green Bell Pepper: I used green bell pepper, but any color is fine. Red, yellow, and orange bell peppers are sweeter than green.
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs: really, you can use chicken thighs or boneless skinless chicken breast!
- Teriyaki Sauce: use any favorite bottled brand or make your own.
- Cornstarch: an easy way to thicken the sauce.
- Pineapple Tidbits & Juice: pineapple chunks and some of the reserved juices are added for the freshness, sweetness, and tang.
- Optional: sesame seeds and green onion for garnish.
For exact ingredient quantities, please see the recipe card below!
🔪 How To Make Crockpot Teriyaki Pineapple Chicken
Here are the step-by-step instructions for making this easy crock pot teriyaki chicken with pineapple recipe:
- Whisk together cornstarch, half of the teriyaki sauce, and pineapple juice.
- Add bell pepper, chicken, and half the pineapple to the pot. Pour the sauce over the top. Then, cook on low until your chicken is done.
- About 30 minutes before serving, add the remaining pineapple and teriyaki sauce to the pot.
For complete instructions, please see the recipe card below!
Hint: A lot of liquid can build up in the crock pot. If the sauce needs thickening, whisk together another 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with the final addition of teriyaki sauce. Add the sauce to the crock pot then cook on high (with the lid off) until the sauce is thickened - enjoy!
🥗 How to Serve It
Here's how to serve your crock pot chicken teriyaki!
Adjust seasoning with additional teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, or salt and pepper.
Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
Meal idea! Serve over hot cooked rice with a side of steamed broccoli.
📖 Variations
Here are some suggestions for customizing crock pot teriyaki chicken with pineapple:
- Give it a spicy kick by adding Szechuan sauce, siracha, or red pepper flakes.
- Use chunky pineapple or tidbits.
- You can leave the chicken thighs whole instead of cutting them into pieces. This is slightly faster but will increase the cooking time slightly.
💭 Slow Cooker Tips
- If you prefer your bell pepper crisp tender add them about an hour before serving.
- Adjust any seasoning to taste.
- Quite a bit of liquid can build up in the crock pot. You can thicken the juices with cornstarch or cooked rice.
❓FAQ's
Let the chicken teriyaki cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Once the teriyaki chicken has cooled, transfer it to a freezer-proof air-tight container, leaving 1" of head space. Freeze for up to 4 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.
Reheat individual portions in a microwave, frequently stirring, for about 1 to 2 minutes on high.
Yes, teriyaki chicken can be made in a crock pot. Add boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts and bottled teriyaki sauce to a crock pot and cook on low until cooked, about 3 to 5 hours.
Yes, vegetables can be added to this dish. Bell peppers, snow peas, canned baby carrots, and broccoli are all great choices. Vegetables will add more liquid to the crock pot, so additional cornstarch may be needed to thicken the sauce. Dense vegetables such as carrots and broccoli can be added in the beginning but all other vegetables can become soggy if cooked too long. Most vegetables can be added the last hour of the cooking process.
No, teriyaki sauce is not the same as teriyaki marinade. Teriyaki sauce is a finished, thickened blend of ingredients ready for use in various Asian dishes. Teriyaki marinade, on the other hand, is much more liquid, saltier, and contains additional tenderizing ingredients as it is used to marinade and tenderize proteins. The marinade can can be thickened with cornstarch and used as a sauce if desired.
📖 Recipe
Crock Pot Chicken Teriyaki
Ingredients
- 1 large bell pepper (any color) (cut into 1" pieces)
- 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs (cut into 2" pieces)
- 1 20-ounce) can pineapple tidbits (drain, but reserve ¼ cup of the juice)
- 1 tablespoon corn starch (plus extra as an optional thickener at the end)
- ½ cup bottled teriyaki sauce (plus extra for serving and adjusting taste)
Instructions
- Spray the inside of a 3 to 4-quart slow cooker with nonstick spray.
- In a small bowl whisk cornstarch, ¼ cup of the teriyaki sauce, and pineapple juice together.
- Layer bell pepper, chicken, and then 1 cup of pineapple tidbits in the pot.
- Pour the sauce over the top. Cover and slow cooker on low for 3 to 4 hours or until the chicken is cooked through.
- About 30 minutes before serving, add the remaining 1 cup of pineapple tidbits and the remaining ¼ cup of teriyaki sauce to the pot. (Note: if the sauce needs thickening, whisk another 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with the teriyaki sauce in a small bowl. Stir into the pot and cook on low with the lid off until the sauce is thickened.)
Notes
- Don't miss all of our helpful hints, substitution ideas, cooking tips, and other delicious recipes that can be found in our post. Check it out!
- NOTES: If you prefer your bell peppers crisp-tender, add to the slow cooker about 1 hour before serving.
- VARIATIONS: Substitute chicken breast, pork butt or shoulder. Pineapple can be omitted and additional bell pepper added.
- SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Serve over cooked rice and garnish with sliced green onion and sesame seeds. Season with additional teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, or salt and pepper.
Nutrition
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