A simple and delicious Instant Pot chicken recipe for busy weeknights, this Instant Pot Hawaiian Chicken is only 5 ingredients and comes together in 20 minutes – perfect for busy weeknights and better than take-out!

Instant Pot Hawaiian Chicken Recipe

My favorite memories from our family’s Hawaiian vacation are split equally between lazy beach days and all that gorgeous food.

Hawaiian food is often stereotyped to just be super sweet, pineapple-laden pork dishes – but real Hawaiian food is a foodie’s dream. Poke bowls. Kalua pig. Salmon salsa (lomi salmon). Coconut and mochi desserts. Acai breakfast bowls. 

Hawaii’s multicultural melting pot also means that Asian, Portuguese and traditional American flavors often come together to create dishes that could only be conceived of in Hawaii.

This Hawaiian Chicken (or Pollo Hawaiiano) incorporates some traditional Asian aromatics along with pineapple to create a sweet and salty chicken that tastes just like take-out.

I often serve it with some quickly sautéed onions and red bell peppers, and top with some macadamia nuts for crunch.

Hawaiian Chicken is traditionally served with rice, but you can serve with cauliflower rice, sautéed or grilled green vegetables (like bok choy or asparagus), or load onto some Hawaiian dinner rolls for a pulled Hawaiian Chicken sandwich. (And of course, you can serve it with our Hawaiian Macaroni Salad.)

How can I spice up Hawaiian Chicken? Add some sriracha, crushed ginger, or red chile flakes to spice up this dish.

Do I have to use cooked rice? No, I just always have either rice or cauliflower rice in my fridge because I pair it with everything. I also don’t like the texture of the rice when cooked with the rest of this recipe (it gets very soft), however you can use the Pot-in-Pot Instant Pot method for cooking the rice in a separate container (in the Instant Pot) while cooking the rest of the recipe. (You can find directions for that here.)

Can this Instant Pot Hawaiian Chicken be made in the crockpot? Yes, you would follow the same cooking method outlined below but increase the cooking time to 4-5 hours on low, or 1-2 hours on high.

Looking for more Instant Pot Recipes? Check out our full collection here!

Now, this recipe video is a little different from my recipe. My friend Jessica made the video for me and swapped out some of the ingredients to make it more kid-friendly. I’ll share her Instant Pot Pineapple Chicken recipe separately soon – but the process of cooking my recipe and hers is the same. Check it out and then don’t forget to scroll down to grab your free printable recipe:

Instant Pot Hawaiian Chicken Ingredients

• Chicken breasts
• Cooked rice*
• Pineapple juice
• Chicken broth
• Minced garlic
• Soy sauce <– I often use tamari in place of soy sauce, it’s a gluten-free alternative and I also usually find it less salty
• Minced ginger, optional
• Crushed pineapple, for serving
• Green onions, for serving
• BBQ Sauce, for serving, optional

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: after cooking, you can sprinkle some crushed macadamia nuts on top for added texture.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

• Instant Pot <– I’m so excited to upgrade to this one with air fryer capacities soon! (You can also just buy the lid which adds the air fryer capacity to your standard IP.)
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Spoon or spatula <–I like these spatulas because they are one solid piece and don’t have removable heads for bacteria to get trapped underneath. Plus they are heat-resistant and have a lifetime warranty.

How to Make Hawaiian Chicken in the Instant Pot

Place the chicken breasts in the Instant Pot.

In a measuring cup, stir together the pineapple juice, broth, garlic and soy sauce.

Pour the mixture over the chicken breasts.

If cooking from frozen, cook 10 minutes. If not frozen, 5 minutes on the Poultry setting. Natural release for at least 10 minutes.

Spoon the sauce over the chicken and serve on a bed of rice. Garnish with crushed pineapple and green onions.

*To cook rice in your instant pot, use 2 cups of rice and 3 cups of water. Use the rice button on Instant Pot and do a 10-minute natural pressure release.

Pin this Instant Pot Hawaiian Chicken recipe:

Grab your free printable recipe card for our Instant Pot Hawaiian Chicken recipe:

I hope your family loves this super simple Instant Pot Hawaiian Chicken recipe as much as mine did.

Check out some of our other Instant Pot Chicken recipes, like our Instant Pot Chicken Paprika stew or our Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken.