Slow Cooker Pineapple Barbecue Chicken
There’s nothing better than coming home to a slow cooker full of supper that’s been simmering low and slow all day. This easy Slow Cooker Pineapple Barbecue Chicken brings together juicy chicken breasts, sweet pineapple chunks, and tender onions, all smothered in your favorite barbecue sauce. As it cooks, the sweet and smoky flavors mingle together, creating fork-tender chicken and a rich, delicious sauce that’s too good to waste. Spoon it over a bed of fluffy rice to soak up every last drop, or serve it alongside a loaded baked potato and a fresh salad for a hearty, family-friendly meal that’s sure to earn a spot in your regular supper rotation.
Easy Slow Cooker Pineapple Barbecue Chicken Recipe
Slow cookers make getting a hot, homemade meal on the table so much easier on those busy days when life doesn’t slow down. Just toss everything into the crockpot in the morning, go about your day, and come home to a kitchen that smells downright amazing.
This Slow Cooker Pineapple Barbecue Chicken is one of those easy family favorites you’ll find yourself making again and again. The sweet pineapple, tender onions, and tangy barbecue sauce slowly cook together until the chicken is juicy enough to fall apart with a fork. Every bite is packed with sweet, smoky flavor, and the sauce is too good to leave behind.
Serve it over a bed of fluffy white rice so every bit of that delicious sauce gets soaked up, or spoon it over mashed potatoes if you’re craving a little comfort food. It’s also mighty good with a loaded baked potato, buttery corn on the cob, green beans, coleslaw, or a simple garden salad. If you’re feeding a crowd, set out a basket of warm rolls or cornbread for sopping up every last drop.
Key ingredients you’ll need to make Crockpot Pineapple BBQ Chicken: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card and quantities.)
- Chicken – Boneless skinless chicken breasts.
- Pineapple – Fresh or canned pineapple chunks give this chicken a sweet and salty flavor combination.
- Barbecue Sauce – Use your favorite brand of thick barbecue sauce for a smoky flavor and Teriyaki sauce complements the flavor.
- Spices – Crushed red pepper flakes, barbecue seasoning, garlic salt.
- Tomato Paste – Tomato paste is used at the end of slow cooking to thicken the sauce.
How to Make Slow Cooker Pineapple Barbecue Chicken Recipe
- Prepare Crock Pot – Spray the bottom and sides of a 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Prep Onion and Pineapple – Arrange the chopped onion and pineapple chunks over the bottom. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes.
- Season Chicken Breasts – Rub the chicken pieces on all sides with BBQ seasoning. Arrange over the pineapple.
- Sauce and Oil – Drizzle with Teriyaki sauce, olive oil and season with garlic salt. Drizzle with barbecue sauce.
- Slow Cook – Cover with lid and cook per the cooking time in the recipe.
- Thicken Sauce at the End of Cooking – Uncover and use a slotted spoon to remove the chicken pieces to a platter. Thicken the sauce using tomato paste. Adjust using more if needed to thicken to your taste.
- Serve over cooked rice, drizzled with sauce.
Kitchen Equipment to Make Slow Cooker Pineapple BBQ Chicken
- One 6 quart slow cooker or crockpot.
- Measuring cups and measuring spoons.
- Slotted spoon.
- Sharp knife and cutting board.
Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions
- Protein – You can make this recipe using boneless chicken thighs or pork chops.
- Chicken – I tend to use whole chicken breasts for this pineapple barbecue chicken. That said, you can also use smaller pieces of chicken cut into chunks or even bite size, if you want to stretch the servings for a larger group and your hungry eaters. Smaller pieces may cook quicker so adjust accordingly.
- Pineapple – You can use canned pineapple chunks for convenience or fresh pineapple, the choice is yours.
- BBQ Sauce – You change up the flavor combination using your favorite prepared barbecue sauce to make this dish your own. If you’re in the mood for hickory smoked, sweet and spicy, chipotle or honey barbecue go for it! A thicker barbecue sauce works best.
- Spice – Should you choose to use a spicy barbecue sauce, you might omit the crushed red pepper flakes or adjust the amount to your taste.
- Barbecue Seasoning – Prepared barbecue seasonings vary wildly in the amount of sodium that they contain. If the particular blend you’re using is salt heavy, adjust the amount of garlic salt or replace it with granulated garlic.
- Thickening the Sauce – The chicken and pineapple will naturally release juices while cooking thinning the sauce. I recommend using tomato paste at the end of cooking to thicken the sauce. Begin with 1-2 tablespoons then add more as needed to suit your personal taste.
Storage and Leftovers
- Serving Options – I highly recommend serving this over rice to soak up every drop of the delicious sauce. Checkout my Oven Baked Rice recipe. Leftover chicken also makes fantastic barbecue sandwiches the next day, just pile it onto toasted buns with a scoop of crunchy coleslaw for an easy lunch or supper.
- Leftovers – Store Slow Cooked Pineapple Barbecue Chicken in an airtight container chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating – Reheat gently in the microwave in single servings.
- Freezer – You can freeze leftovers for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat just before serving.
More Easy Slow Cooker and Crockpot Recipes to Make
- Slow Cooked Three Cheese Macaroni and Cheese is the side dish everyone will love. Bonus, oven instructions included.
- Slow Cooked Sweet and Sour Chicken is a lighter take on a Chinese takeout favorite.
- Crockpot Barbecue Pork and Beans is a picnic favorite you can make any time of year.
- Tender Slow Cooked Dr Pepper Barbecue Beef is delicious piled high on toasted rolls.
- If you love one-pot meals my Roast Chicken with Vegetables is a tasty option.
- Hungry eaters will flip for this Slow Cooked Cowboy Casserole.
- Slow Cooked Smothered Cubed Steak is the best served with a heaping helping of mashed potatoes.
- For an Asian twist, you may like this Sweet Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken from Family Fresh Meals.
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Helpful Kitchen Items:
Slow Cooker Pineapple Barbecue Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 medium sweet onion diced
- 1 20 oz pineapple chunks drained (Or 2 cups fresh)
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes more or less to taste
- 2-3 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup BBQ seasoning i.e. Barbecue Magic, Smokehouse Maple
- 2 Tbsp teriyaki sauce
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- garlic salt
- 1 1/2 cups Sweet & Spicy Barbecue Sauce i.e. Sweet Baby Rays or your favorite plus additional for serving
- 2-4 Tbsp tomato paste
Instructions
- Spray the bottom and sides of a 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Arrange the chopped onion and pineapple chunks over the bottom. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes.
- Rub the chicken pieces on all sides with BBQ seasoning. Arrange over the pineapple.
- Drizzle with Teriyaki sauce, olive oil and season with garlic salt.
- Drizzle with barbecue sauce. Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-6. (Cooking time may vary depending on thickness of chicken pieces)
- Uncover and use a slotted spoon to remove the chicken pieces to a platter. Thicken the sauce using 2 Tbsp tomato paste. Adjust using more if needed to thicken to your taste.
- Serve over cooked rice, drizzled with sauce.
Notes
- Protein – You can make this recipe using boneless chicken thighs or pork chops.
- Chicken – I tend to use whole chicken breasts for this pineapple barbecue chicken. That said, you can also use smaller pieces of chicken cut into chunks or even bite size, if you want to stretch the servings for a larger group and your hungry eaters. Smaller pieces may cook quicker so adjust accordingly.
- Pineapple – You can use canned pineapple chunks for convenience or fresh pineapple, the choice is yours.
- BBQ Sauce – You change up the flavor combination using your favorite prepared barbecue sauce to make this dish your own. If you’re in the mood for hickory smoked, sweet and spicy, chipotle or honey barbecue go for it! A thicker barbecue sauce works best.
- Spice – Should you choose to use a spicy barbecue sauce, you might omit the crushed red pepper flakes or adjust the amount to your taste.
- Barbecue Seasoning – Prepared barbecue seasonings vary wildly in the amount of sodium that they contain. If the particular blend you’re using is salt heavy, adjust the amount of garlic salt or replace it with granulated garlic.
- Thickening the Sauce – The chicken and pineapple will naturally release juices while cooking thinning the sauce. I recommend using tomato paste at the end of cooking to thicken the sauce. Begin with 1-2 tablespoons then add more as needed to suit your personal taste.