Crock pot huli huli chicken is a delicious, weeknight-friendly meal that combines tender garlic ginger chicken with a sweet and savory huli huli sauce. This chicken and noodles recipe delivers all the flavor of Hawaii in a comforting, easy-to-make dish- and I've got a little trick for making it in a crock pot when you're cooking for two. Serve over noodles or rice for a simple, satisfying dinner for two with minimal cleanup.
Here's the thing - making crockpot meals when you're cooking for two can be a bit tricky. Crockpots are built for crowds, not couples. But don't worry, I've got a little trick up my sleeve: I use an oven-safe bowl inside the larger crockpot, which creates a perfectly sized small-batch cooking zone. No more overcooked chicken or soupy sauces - just perfectly tender, saucy huli huli chicken every time.
The sweet and tangy flavors of Hawaiian cooking have always appealed to me. It's a flavor combination that just works - ginger garlic chicken paired with sweet pineapple is absolute magic. That's why I love this huli huli chicken so much. It uses simple pantry ingredients to create layers of flavor in every bite.
And because I'm always thinking about practical home cooking, I've even got a little shopping hack for you: instead of buying a big bottle of pineapple juice that will haunt your refrigerator shelves for weeks, look for those single-serve cans or juice boxes. They're the perfect size for this recipe - no waste, no clutter.
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Why This Crock Pot Recipe Works for Two
Cooking in a large crockpot for just two people can be tricky, but with a few tricks, you'll have perfectly cooked chicken and noodles without wasting food:
- An important rule to follow when using a crock pot is to fill your slow cooker about two-thirds to three-quarters full. Underfilling can cause the food to cook too quickly and dry out; overfilling may require longer cooking times.
- Use an oven-safe bowl inside your large crockpot for small-batch cooking. Pyrex dishes, baking dishes, or even a 6-inch round cake pan work perfectly.
- Keep the lid on during cooking-resist peeking! Opening the crockpot can increase cooking time and change the final texture.
Chicken and Noodles with Huli Huli Sauce - Ingredient Insights
- Chicken Thighs - Tender, juicy, and perfect for soaking up the sweet-savory huli huli sauce. Thighs hold up beautifully in the slow cooker without drying out. Chicken breasts work in a pinch-just watch the cooking time, as they can dry out faster.
- Shopping Hack: Grab exactly two thighs or breasts from the meat counter. If you end up with a larger package, freeze the extras in individual portions so you thaw just what you need next time-no waste, no fuss.
- Rice Noodles The base that soaks up all that luscious sauce. Quick-cooking and perfect for a weeknight meal for two. There are many different types of rice noodles, look for the ones labeled "pad tie" or "stir-fry" noodles. If you can't find rice noodles, try egg noodles or even soba for a different twist. Rice is also a great substitution.
- Pineapple Juice - Brings natural sweetness and tang for that classic huli huli flavor.
- Shopping hack: Buy single-serving bottles to avoid waste-perfect for recipes for two and great for smoothies or marinades later.
- Ponzu - Adds a bright citrusy note to balance the sweet and savory sauce. Soy sauce works fine if you don't have ponzu on hand-just add a squeeze of lime for that citrus hint.
- Honey or Brown Sugar - Sweetens the sauce and helps it caramelize on the chicken. Adjust to taste depending on how sweet you like it.
- Ketchup - Adds depth, tang, and a touch of tomato flavor that rounds out the sauce.
- Grated Ginger & Minced Garlic - The aromatic backbone-ginger gives warmth and spice, garlic gives savory punch.
- Kitchen Hack: Grate or mince the whole ginger or garlic root, then freeze what you don't use in a small 2-ounce mason jar. Pull it out whenever you need a quick ginger flavor boost.
- Cornstarch & Water (Slurry) Thickens the sauce at the end so it clings perfectly to chicken and noodles, giving that glossy, restaurant-style finish.
See recipe card for quantities.
Crockpot Chicken and Noodles Recipe for Two
- Place a small oven-safe bowl inside your large crockpot bowl for small-batch cooking. If you are looking for a oven safe dish to use with your slow cooker, I use this CorningWare round dish or a 6-inch round cake pan worked for me! Now, nestle the chicken in your oven-safe baking dish.
How to make Huli Huli Chicken Sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together pineapple juice, apple cider vinegar, sesame oil, ponzu sauce, honey (or brown sugar), ketchup, garlic, and ginger.
Tip: Double the sauce for extra drizzle over your noodles-it really elevates every bite!
Crock pot huli huli chicken
I went with chicken thighs in this recipe, but if you're not a fan, you can easily swap them out for chicken breasts. Pour the huli huli chicken sauce over the chicken in the crockpot.
Cover and cook for 3-4 hours on high or low for 6-7 hours.
To thicken the huli huli sauce add a cornstarch slurry. Do this by mixing ¼ cup water with two tablespoons of cornstarch in a small bowl.
Now, Remove the garlic ginger chicken from the crockpot and set on a cutting board. Add the cornstarch slurry to the sauce and give it a good stir until well combined. Continue to heat (about 15 minutes) until desired consistency is reached. Repeat with more slurry if you want a thicker sauce.
You can either add the garlic ginger chicken back into the crock pot whole or shred it with two forks before adding it back in to heat it through. Now it's time to cook the noodles.
How to Cook Rice Noodles for Two
Use about 4 ounces of dried rice noodles. Rice noodles will expand when soaked; 4 ounces is ideal for two people without leftovers.
- While the huli huli chicken sauce thickens, bring a pot of water to a boil, then turn off the heat.
- Add the rice noodles to the hot water. Soak for 6 to 10 minutes, until al dente - tender but still chewy and not overly soft. I usually find that 7 minutes is about right.
- Rinse under cold water, drain, and set aside.
Chicken and Noodles Finishing Touches
Once the garlic ginger chicken is warmed through and the sauce has reached desired consistency. Divide the noodles between two serving bowls. Ladle the crockpot huli huli chicken over the noodles and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds, if desired.
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Common questions about this recipe
You've got questions... I've got answers! If you have a question about this recipe that isn't answered below, feel free to leave it in the comments, and I'll jump in there to help you out.
Absolutely! Adjust cooking times slightly; breasts may cook faster and dry out if overcooked.
Mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoon water and stir into the sauce. Repeat until desired thickness.
Yes! Use an oven-safe insert or smaller dish inside the large crockpot, keeping the lid on and cooking times the same. Read the section on why this recipe works for two
Yes! Jasmine or sticky rice works well, especially for soaking up extra huli huli sauce.
Always soak rice noodles in hot water off the heat and rinse under cold water immediately to stop cooking.
Related
Looking for other small crockpot meals for two? Try these:
Crock Pot Chicken and Noodles with Huli Huli Sauce
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Equipment
- Medium mixing bowl for sauce
- Two forks for shredding chicken
Ingredients
Chicken and noodles:
- .75 to 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs (trim excess fat)
- 4 oz dried rice noodles Pad Thai or stir-fry style
Huli huli sauce:
- ½ cup pineapple juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 3 tablespoon ponzu or soy sauce
- 3 tablespoon honey or brown sugar
- 3 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch + 2 tablespoon water
Garnishes (optional):
- 2 green onions thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- If using a 6 quart or larger sized slow cooker, place a small oven proof baking dish inside the large slow cooker bowl. Nestle the chicken into the small baking dish
Huli Huli Chicken Sauce
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the huli huli sauce. Pour huli huli sauce over the chicken.
Crock pot huli huli chicken
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-7 hours.
- Remove chicken; thicken sauce with cornstarch slurry. See note below.
- Add chicken back (whole or shredded) and cook for 15 minutes until sauce thickens.
Cook the noodles
- Bring a pot of water to a boil, then turn off the heat. Add noodles and soak for 6-10 minutes, until al dente (7 minutes is usually perfect). Rinse under cold water, drain, and set aside.
- Divide noodles into two bowls; top with chicken and sauce. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
Notes
Your Notes, Tips and Tricks
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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