Flavorful Slow Cooker Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Sliders
These Hawaiian teriyaki chicken sliders are a sweet, tangy, and savory treat made effortlessly in a slow cooker. Perfect for parties, potlucks, or casual dinners, they offer juicy shredded chicken with a tropical twist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high)
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes (low) or 3 hours 15 minutes (high)
- Yield: 12 sliders 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 cup store-bought teriyaki sauce
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice (fresh or canned)
- 1 cup diced fresh pineapple (optional)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced for garnish
- 12 Hawaiian sweet rolls (slider buns)
- Optional toppings: sliced jalapeños, shredded lettuce, mayo
Instructions
- Pat dry the chicken thighs and place them evenly at the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together teriyaki sauce, pineapple juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and grated ginger until sugar dissolves.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken thighs in the slow cooker and add diced pineapple on top. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3-4 hours until chicken is tender.
- Remove chicken from slow cooker and shred using two forks or shredding claws.
- Pour remaining sauce over shredded chicken and mix well. Optionally, simmer in a skillet over medium heat for 5-7 minutes to thicken the sauce.
- Slice slider buns horizontally and optionally toast them in a 350°F oven for 3-5 minutes or brush with melted butter.
- Assemble sliders by piling shredded chicken on the bottom half of each bun, adding optional toppings, and capping with the top bun.
- Garnish with sliced green onions and serve warm with extra sauce on the side.
Notes
Use chicken thighs for juiciness; substitute chicken breasts for leaner meat but watch cooking time. For gluten-free, use tamari-based teriyaki sauce and gluten-free buns or lettuce wraps. Simmer shredded chicken in a skillet to thicken sauce if needed. Keep shredded chicken warm in slow cooker on ‘warm’ setting for parties.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 200250
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 18
Keywords: slow cooker, Hawaiian, teriyaki chicken, sliders, party snacks, easy recipe, chicken thighs, sweet rolls