Dairy & Gluten Free Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken Recipe

There are some meals we can make that seemingly transport us to an entirely different place. Our dairy-free and gluten-free slow cooker Hawaiian chicken recipe is one of those transporting meals. Perfect for busy weeknights when you just need a tropical escape.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Easy to Make: Most of our recipes are easy to make, but our slow cooker Hawaiian chicken recipe might be the easiest dump-n-go recipe ever.
• Hawaiian Flavors: One of the best things about Hawaii is the food. A combination of sweet and savory goes a long way here.
• Meal Prep: This recipe isn’t the healthiest you can make, but it is up there. That makes it perfect for meal prep.

Dairy & Gluten Free Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken Recipe

On a busy weeknight, our easy dairy-free slow cooker Hawaiian chicken recipe may just leave you feeling like you are in Hawaii. Slow cookers are great for busy weeknights, even if the name has “slow” in it.

This is because we can start cooking in the morning before we leave for work or errands. Then come home to a meal ready to serve. Many slow cookers even have timed cooking features that will automatically stop cooking and switch to warming without you having to do anything.

This recipe lends to that perfectly. You can dump the ingredients into the slow cooker and then go about your day. This recipe takes at least 8 hours, which means you can do whatever you want all day, knowing a meal will be ready when you get home.

Hawaiian Chicken Ingredients

• Chicken Breasts – Boneless and skinless work best here. We will need to shred this chicken later, and boneless, skinless breasts make that easier.
• Brown Sugar – Starting off strong with the sweetness. Brown sugar gives the chicken a deeper sweetness that isn’t too overpowering.
• Coconut Aminos – We are aiming for a healthier dairy-free, gluten-free slow cooker Hawaiian chicken. We will need to make some substitutes, like this one.
• Honey – A touch more sweetness from a natural source is always a good idea. Bonus points for using local honey to help with springtime allergies.
• Tomato Paste – The acidity from the tomatoes is necessary, and we will be adding more later. However, this paste is more like a thickening base for a sauce.
• Lime – We will need both the juice and the zest, so be sure to save the lime rinds.
• Crushed Pineapple – Tropical flavors don’t always have pineapple, but it is better to use it here than on pizza.

• Ginger – Ginger adds some freshness to the flavor. The ginger will be subtle, but noticeable, so go fresh.
• Garlic – There aren’t many recipes out there that don’t utilize garlic. Garlic adds nutritional value and flavor and should always be freshly minced.
• Apple Cider Vinegar – This is where much of the recipe’s acidity comes from. This ingredient balances out the sweetness with the seasonings, creating a delicious bite.
• Cornstarch – The cornstarch is used to thicken the sauce. Best to use this gradually so you can be sure to get the thickness you want.
• Scallions – Top everything off with some scallions for that picture-perfect plate of Hawaiian chicken.
• Hot Sauce – You can add a kick with some hot sauce if you’d like. The sweet and savory nature of Hawaiian food sets the stage perfectly for some heat.
• Salt and Pepper – Season your food, always. Gordon Ramsey is always watching us all. He knows when you’ve been salting, he knows when you haven’t. 

Hawaiian Chicken Directions

• Spray the inside of your slow cooker with a nonstick spray (optional).
• Rinse and pat the chicken breasts dry. Then place them in the slow cooker.
• In a medium bowl, combine the brown sugar, coconut aminos, honey, tomato paste, pineapple, ginger, garlic, vinegar, and lime juice. Whisk until smooth with just pineapple chunks.
• Pour the sauce over the chicken in the slow cooker. 

• Sprinkle the lime zest over the top.
• Turn your slow cooker to low and cook for 8-10 hours.
• Once the chicken is cooked, remove the breasts from the sauce and place them in a large bowl.
• Shred the chicken with 2 forks until it has an even consistency.

• OPTIONAL: In the meantime, turn the slow cooker to high heat and combine the cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl or cup. Slowly add it to the sauce over high heat, stirring constantly to combine and thicken. Cook for about 10 minutes.  
• When the chicken is shredded and the sauce has thickened to your liking, place the chicken back in the Crock-Pot and combine it with the sauce. Turn the slow cooker off or warm.  
• To keep the meal gluten-free, serve the Hawaiian Chicken with rice or over cabbage slaw.  
• Top with scallions and hot sauce, I use Sriracha, for a little extra kick!

More Dairy Free Recipes

Crock Pot Dairy Free Beef Stroganoff with Coconut Milk | One of the first things people do when they switch to dairy-free living is to find alternatives like coconut milk. 

Slow Cooker Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole | Dairy Free Crock Pot Recipe | Of course, not every recipe is one that requires you to find alternatives when cooking. 

Shredded Chicken Tacos Crockpot Recipe (Dairy Free & Ketogenic) | Some recipes are already dairy free; you just need to make sure they stay that way. 

Three Ingredient Crock Pot Beef Roast with Vegetables {Dairy Free} | You will learn that dairy is in a lot of unhealthy foods but not in healthy ones. 

Dairy Free Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas Recipe | Or in recipes that we already love to enjoy.