Slow Cooker Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken – a simple and flavor packed chicken inspired by the island plate lunch favorite.
Slow Cooker Hawaiian Shoyu (Soy Sauce) Chicken
This slow cooker recipe is a simple and savory Hawaiian style chicken you can pair with Secret Ingredient Hawaiian Macaroni Salad and fluffy white rice to recreate your favorite homemade plate lunches. Shoyu Chicken is a Hawaiian-style chicken that is traditionally braised in Japanese style soy sauce (like Kikkoman) and brown sugar with a variety of add-ins depending on the recipe and family tradition. Shoyu is the Japanese word for soy sauce. Similar to teriyaki chicken, but with more umami and a deeper more soy sauce forward flavor. For my slow cooker version, inspired by our favorite plate lunches in Hawaii, I’ve kept the recipe simple with an option to thicken the sauce with cornstarch at the end, if preferred.
Ingredients for Slow Cooker Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken
- Chicken Thighs – boneless skinless chicken thighs are affordable and cook up perfectly in the slow cooker.
- Soy Sauce (Shoyu) – for this recipe I used low-sodium Kikkoman soy sauce.
- Brown Sugar – golden brown sugar or dark brown sugar.
- Water
- Garlic – whole peeled cloves, use one teaspoon of garlic powder to substitute.
- Ginger – a one inch piece of fresh ginger peeled, use 1/4 teaspoon of powdered ginger to substitute.
- Black Pepper – freshly ground, the soy sauce provides the salt so additional salt isn’t needed.
- Green Onions – for cooking and garnish.
- Cornstarch – optional is you want a thicker sauce.
- Toasted Sesame Seeds – for garnish.
How to Make Slow Cooker Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken
Please scroll to the bottom of the post for full recipe ingredients and instructions.
- In a slow cooker, stir together the soy sauce, brown sugar, water, garlic, ginger, black pepper, and green onions.
- Add chicken thighs to slow cooker and cook as directed in recipe. Thicken sauce as preferred.
- Serve with Hawaiian Macaroni Salad and white rice for a traditional Hawaiian Plate Lunch or Dinner.
Recipe Tips
- Chicken thighs work really well in the slow cooker and can be cooked on high or low heat.
- Low-sodium soy sauce is recommended.
- Use ginger Powder and/or garlic powder if you don’t have fresh.
More Hawaiian Inspired Recipes
Slow Cooker Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup water
- 4 cloves garlic peeled
- fresh ginger about 1 inch peeled
- 1/4 cup green onions diced
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch optional
- toasted sesame seeds garnish
Instructions
- In slow cooker, stir together soy sauce, brown sugar, water, whole garlic cloves, fresh ginger, green onions, and black pepper. Add chicken thighs. Cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or on LOW for 4-5 hours or until chicken thighs reach an internal temperature of between 175℉ and 195℉. NOTE: Cooking times will vary depending on slow cooker. Newer slow cookers cook at a higher heat than older models and are done earlier.
- Served chicken thighs whole or shredded. Sprinkle with fresh green onions and toasted sesame seeds.
- For a thicker sauce, whisk together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water and stir into slow cooker in the last 30 minutes of cooking. Keep slow cooker covered until sauce has thickened. If cooking on low, increase slow cooker heat to high to help thicken sauce.
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