Easy One Pot Dinner: Hawaiian Chicken That Saves Busy Weeknights

I still remember the first time I made this Easy One Pot Dinner on a night when everything felt chaotic. The laundry was overflowing, my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing, and dinner? Completely forgotten. I opened the fridge, saw chicken and a lonely can of pineapple, and thought, “This has to work.” That night, my Easy One Pot Dinner turned into a family favorite sweet, savory, colorful, and unbelievably simple.

If you’re craving a flavorful meal without juggling five pots and pans, this Easy One Pot Dinner Hawaiian Chicken is about to become your new best friend. It’s the kind of recipe that feels like a tropical vacation but fits perfectly into real life busy schedules, hungry kids, and very little time.

Why This Easy One Pot Dinner Is Perfect for Busy Families

Let’s be honest most of us don’t have time for complicated meals. That’s why this Easy One Pot Dinner works so beautifully. Everything goes into one crockpot. No babysitting. No stress. Just layer, pour, cook, and thicken.

This Easy One Pot Dinner combines tender chicken breast, sweet pineapple chunks, colorful bell peppers, and fluffy rice all infused with a savory-sweet Hawaiian-style sauce. It’s balanced, comforting, and incredibly easy to prepare.

Even better? Cleanup is minimal. And on a Wednesday night, that feels like winning the lottery.

Easy One Pot Dinner Hawaiian Chicken

This Easy One Pot Dinner Hawaiian Chicken is a sweet and savory crockpot meal made with tender chicken, pineapple, colorful bell peppers, and rice all cooked together in a flavorful Hawaiian-style sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights with minimal cleanup.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 4 hours hrs

Total Time 4 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Hawaiian

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Main Ingredients

• 1 cup white rice dry
• 1 20 oz can pineapple chunks with juice
• 1 lb chicken breast diced
• 1 cup red bell pepper diced
• 1 cup orange bell pepper diced
• 1 small white onion diced

See also  Crockpot Beef & Peppers: A Slow-Cooked Hug for the Soul

Sauce

• 7-14 oz chicken broth
• 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 1/4 tsp minced ginger
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/4 cup ketchup

Slurry

• 1/2 cup cooking sauce reserved from crockpot
• 2 tbsp cornstarch

Equipment

• Crockpot
• Mixing Bowl

Method

 

1. Layer the dry white rice, pineapple chunks with juice, diced chicken breast, red bell pepper, orange bell pepper, and diced white onion into the crockpot.
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together chicken broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, minced garlic, minced ginger, brown sugar, and ketchup until well combined.
3. Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the ingredients in the crockpot.
4. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours, until the chicken is tender and the rice is fully cooked.
5. During the last 30 minutes of cooking, remove 1/2 cup of the cooking sauce and whisk it with cornstarch to create a slurry.
6. Stir the slurry back into the crockpot and continue cooking until the sauce thickens to a glossy consistency. Serve warm.

Notes

For fluffier rice, cook the rice separately and serve the Hawaiian chicken over freshly cooked rice. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top for extra flavor if desired.

Ingredients for This Easy One Pot Dinner

Here’s everything you need to make this Easy One Pot Dinner Hawaiian Chicken:

Main Ingredients (Layer in Crockpot)

• 1 cup white rice (dry)
• 1 (20 oz) can pineapple chunks with juice
• 1 lb diced chicken breast
• 1 cup diced red pepper
• 1 cup diced orange pepper
• 1 small diced white onion

Sauce Ingredients

• 7 to 14 oz chicken broth
• 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 1/4 tsp minced ginger
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/4 cup ketchup

Slurry (To Thicken)

• 1/2 cup sauce
• 2 tbsp cornstarch

Every ingredient in this Easy One Pot Dinner plays a role. The pineapple brings sweetness. The soy sauce adds depth. The vinegar balances everything. It’s that perfect sweet-and-savory harmony we all love.

How to Make This Easy One Pot Dinner Step by Step

Making this Easy One Pot Dinner couldn’t be simpler. Just follow these easy steps:

Step 1: Layer Everything

In your crockpot, layer:

1. White rice (dry)
2. Pineapple chunks with juice
3. Diced chicken breast
4. Red and orange peppers
5. Diced white onion

This layering method helps the Easy One Pot Dinner cook evenly and absorb all those delicious flavors.

Step 2: Prepare the Sauce

In a bowl, whisk together:

• Chicken broth
• Soy sauce
• Rice vinegar
• Minced garlic
• Minced ginger
• Brown sugar
• Ketchup

Whisk until fully blended. Pour this sauce evenly over the layered ingredients. This sauce is what gives your Easy One Pot Dinner that irresistible Hawaiian flavor.

Step 3: Cook

Cook your Easy One Pot Dinner on:

• High for 3 to 4 hours
  OR
• Low for 6 to 8 hours

The chicken will become tender, and the rice will soak up all that flavorful sauce.

Step 4: Thicken the Sauce

During the last 30 minutes of cooking:

1. Take 1/2 cup of the cooking sauce.
2. Whisk it with 2 tablespoons cornstarch.
3. Pour it back into the crockpot.

This slurry thickens your Easy One Pot Dinner sauce into that glossy, slightly sticky finish we all crave.

Flavor Profile of This Easy One Pot Dinner

This Easy One Pot Dinner is sweet but not sugary. Savory but not salty. The pineapple juice naturally caramelizes during cooking, while the soy sauce and garlic deepen the flavor.

The peppers add freshness and a little crunch. The onion melts into the sauce. And the chicken? Perfectly tender.

Every bite of this Easy One Pot Dinner tastes like something you’d order at a Hawaiian restaurant but made effortlessly at home.

Options for Serving This Easy One Pot Dinner

You have two simple options for this Easy One Pot Dinner:

1. Cook the rice directly in the crockpot (as written).
2. Leave the rice out and serve the Hawaiian chicken over freshly cooked rice.

Both methods work beautifully. If you like softer rice that absorbs flavor, cook it inside. If you prefer fluffier texture, serve it separately.

Either way, this Easy One Pot Dinner delivers big flavor.

Tips for the Best Easy One Pot Dinner

• Don’t skip the pineapple juice it’s essential for flavor.
• If your sauce looks thin before adding the slurry, don’t panic. The slurry works magic.
• Dice chicken evenly so your Easy One Pot Dinner cooks uniformly.
• For extra flavor, sprinkle sesame seeds before serving.

And if your kids are picky about peppers? Dice them smaller. They’ll blend right into your Easy One Pot Dinner without complaint.

Nutritional Balance of This Easy One Pot Dinner

This Easy One Pot Dinner includes protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates in one meal. That means no need for complicated side dishes unless you want them.

Chicken breast keeps it lean. Bell peppers add vitamin C. Pineapple contributes natural sweetness. It’s comfort food that still feels balanced.

Frequently Asked Questions About Easy One Pot Dinner Hawaiian Chicken

Can I use brown rice in this Easy One Pot Dinner?

Yes, but brown rice may require longer cooking time and slightly more broth. Adjust liquid levels so your Easy One Pot Dinner doesn’t dry out.

Can I use frozen chicken?

You can, but thawing first is recommended for even cooking in your Easy One Pot Dinner.

How do I store leftovers?

Store leftover Easy One Pot Dinner Hawaiian Chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Can I freeze this Easy One Pot Dinner?

Yes! Let it cool completely, then freeze in portions. This Easy One Pot Dinner reheats beautifully.

Why This Easy One Pot Dinner Works Every Time

This Easy One Pot Dinner succeeds because it balances simplicity and flavor. The crockpot does the heavy lifting while you live your life.

No complicated steps. No fancy techniques. Just wholesome ingredients layered together.

When I first made this Easy One Pot Dinner, I didn’t expect it to become part of our regular rotation. But now? It’s requested constantly. It’s dependable. It’s flavorful. It’s comforting.

Make This Easy One Pot Dinner Tonight

If you’ve been searching for a stress-free meal that tastes like sunshine in a bowl, this Easy One Pot Dinner Hawaiian Chicken is it. It’s warm, sweet, savory, and ridiculously simple.

The next time your day feels overwhelming, remember this Easy One Pot Dinner. Layer it. Cook it. Thicken it. Serve it. Smile.

Because dinner doesn’t have to be complicated to be delicious and this Easy One Pot Dinner proves it every single time.

I’m the creator of Quicky Girl Recipes, where I share easy air fryer meals, cozy comfort food, and simple recipes made for real life.
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