Instant Pot Pulled Hawaiian BBQ Chicken

This Instant Pot Pulled Hawaiin BBQ Chicken Recipe is the savory and sweet combination to serve up for a quick weeknight meal. Hawaiin chicken offers savory and sweet, crushed pineapple, brown sugar, soy sauce, bbq sauce, and more. Shred and top your hoagie buns and dive in.

Looking for a tasty chicken recipe to make in your Instant Pot or even slow cooker? This Hawaiian chicken recipe is a home run. Or maybe you don’t want to serve with buns then do a bed of rice, cauli-rice, or eat alone.

Instant Pot Hawaiian chicken is quick to throw together, and kid friendly. You will enjoy this Hawaiian bbq recipe that is sweet and savory.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Sweet and Savory
• Quick to Make
• Versatile in terms of serving – bun, over rice, etc.
• Kid friendly
• Great to make and use for meal prepping
• Tender flavorful chicken

If you enjoy sweet and savory we think you will enjoy this Hawaiian BBQ chicken.

• Boneless Chicken
• Onion
• BBQ Sauce
• Brown Sugar
• Crushed Pineapple
• Soy Sauce
• Garlic
• Salt and Pepper

How To Make BBQ Hawaiian Chicken Sandwiches

1. Start by turning your Instant Pot on to saute, and season and sear your chicken.
2. Add in your pineapple and juice and use a wooden spoon to deglaze pot. Then toss in the remaining ingredients.
3. Pressure cook with the valve set to sealing for 12 minutes followed by 10 minutes natural release of pressure.
4. Open the Instant Pot, shred the chicken, stir well, and serve.

Full directions and steps are in the recipe card below.

Variations To Recipe

• Use fresh pineapple if you want, and then add in 1/2 cup of pineapple juice to replace the can.
• Leave out the brown sugar, if you don’t want it to be as sweet.
• Chicken tenderloins or boneless thighs can be used instead.
• Consider adding in some red peppers and sliced onions for added flavor.

Storage

Just place the leftover Instant Pot pulled chicken in an airtight container and then store it in the fridge for up to three days. Anything after it will need to be tossed out.

In terms of freezing, you can freeze any leftover chicken you have. Store in a freezer bag or airtight freezer container. Store this chicken for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then slowly reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Practical notes

Can we use frozen chicken in the Instant Pot?

If you want to make this Hawaiian bbq chicken in Instant Pot but just have frozen chicken, toss it in. Skip the searing step in the beginning. Then cook at the same time on high pressure. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eIt will just take the Instant Pot a bit longer to come to pressure, but it will still cook up your chicken the same.

When to know if chicken is done?

Chicken needs to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Use a meat thermometer to check to ensure your chicken is fully cooked. u003cbru003eIf it needs a bit longer to cook, place the lid back on your Instant Pot and cook for a few more minutes, followed by a quick release of pressure.

How to thicken sauce in Instant Pot?

This Instant Pot chicken recipe is a thick and savory and sweet sauce. If you find it is a bit watery, you can turn the saute feature on, and let it cook down for a few minutes stirring often. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eOr you can mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 3 tablespoons water to make a cornstarch slurry. Stir into the hot mixture, and stir until a thick sauce develops. If you need turn the saute feature on. Just stir often or it will burn.

What To Make With Hawaiian BBQ Chicken

• Coleslaw (great for topping your meat on the bun or eating as a side)
• Fresh Vegetable Salad
• Salty Fries or Chips
• Cowboy beans
• Potato Salad
• Rice (to serve over if you don’t want buns)

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Ingredients

Makes 8 sandwiches

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 sweet red onion - cut in half and sliced thin
• 1 large can of crushed pineapple, including juice
• 2 Tablespoons of brown sugar
• 2 Tablespoons of soy sauce
• 1 bottle of Kansas City BBQ sauce
• Garlic
• Salt
• Seasoned pepper

Equipment

• Instant Pot
• Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry Manual Portable Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel
• OXO Good Grips Meat Shredding Claws

Method

1. Start by turning the Saute setting on your Instant Pot. Add in your chicken breasts, and season with the garlic, salt, pepper, and brown both sides for around 6-7 minutes, or until a golden brown coating.
2. Once you are done sauteeing turn off the saute setting. Add in the pineapple and the juice from the can. Use a wooden spoon to deglaze the pan. Then you will add in the onion, brown sugar, bbq sauce, and soy sauce.
3. Stir the ingredients and then place the lid on Instant Pot and lock. Seal your valve, and cook on high pressure for 12 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of natural releasing. Once the 10 minutes is up, push off any remaining pressure in the Instant Pot.
4. Open the lid, and take the chicken out, and make sure its fully cooked. Shred with two forks, or meat claws, then return the meat back to the Instant Pot.
5. Stir the shredded chicken into the Hawaiin bbq sauce, and serve up the dish on bread, over rice, etc.

Kitchen notes

Slow Cooker Directions.

Sear the chicken on a skillet with a dab of oil. Season and cook the same amount of time as directed above. If using frozen chicken skip the pan-searing, and add at least 1-2 hours more to cook time. Mix up your sauce, and pour over your chicken in the slow cooker, and cook on low 6 hours or high 3-4 hours. Just make sure your chicken is cooked through, then shred like listed above.

• You can use boneless chicken thighs, tenderloins, breasts, etc.
• If your sauce is not thick enough once your done cooking then creates a cornstarch slurry. Mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch to 3 tablespoons water and stir in.
• If you find the pineapple doesn't have enough pineapple juice you can add in 1/3 cup of water to ensure you have enough liquid for the Instant Pot to come to pressure.

Look at how these sandwhiches are! Add on some fresh green onions for a bite and color, and you are golden! This is our go-to for chicken dishes lately. It has us dreaming of spring and summer. We are totally over this winter cold! <