Set your slow cooker and when you come home you'll be taking a trip to the tropics. Slow Cooker Macadamia Pineapple Chicken is the perfect balance of sweet and savory with a tropical flare. A delicious and easy gluten-free paleo dinner recipe.
I always tend to post "tropical-themed" recipes during the winter, intentionally. Yes, the winter is a time for comforting hearty stews and casseroles, but this time of year is also a time to give our taste buds a little tropical getaway when the winter blues set in. The doesn't mean we have to drink ice cold smoothies or raw salads; we can still make a hot and hearty meal, just with a little more zing. And maybe the best part about all this...you get to use the slow cooker!
It really is getting colder now and going outside to the grill isn't very inviting. Even though slow cookers probably aren't being used much in a tropical paradise (people are just sipping martinis and daiquiris pool-side), there's no reason to keep the flavors away. Pineapple is always the first "tropical" element and flavor to come to mind. Nothing says paradise and relaxation more, than a ripe juicy pineapple. Piná coladas, anyone? And when it comes to nuts, I'm pretty sure the #1 "tropical" nut would be the macadamia nut. Am I right? From the coasts of Australia to the shores of the Hawaiian islands, mac nuts are a decadent paradise indulgence.
I still remember the first time I ever had a macadamia nut. My mom brought home a small jar of salted mac nuts and she let my bother and I try one. They were so lovely, silky, and creamy! Too bad they were rather expensive and she didn't want my brother and I to eat them all on her. So she tucked them away in the pantry thinking we wouldn't find them. Well, I don't know about my brother, but I went on the hunt for them when my mom wasn't around. I remember sneaking one of two at a time, hoping she wouldn't notice. From then on, I always looked for mac nuts in the grocery, hoping to find them on sale and in a much bigger jar than the one my mom had gotten.
They are definitely not a nut I have often, if ever, but lucky for you and me, this recipe doesn't include expensive whole macadamia nuts, but mac milk! If you remember over the summer I shared my Golden Kiwi Muffin recipe using mac milk, and I said I had another fabulous recipe using it. Well, here it is, ready to take you on another tropical trip! The silky creaminess of mac milk and pop of pineapple is another fantastic savory/sweet slow cooker favorite of mine.
I know you all love these easy dump-and-go savory/sweet chicken recipes. This one is bound to be a new favorite as well. It emanates a sweet light pineapple smell from the slow cooker, but you can also smell the slight creaminess. That's hard to explain until you make it yourself, but you can just smell the creaminess that the mac milk brings to the chicken.
You can order mac milk right from Amazon or you can find it in select stores, but if for some sad reason you can't have macadamia nuts or just can't wait, coconut milk may not be a bad substitute! You could even make your own mac milk if you have macadamia nuts, but if you have macadamia nuts just sitting in the house...bless you!
Slow Cooker Macadamia Pineapple Chicken
Slow Cooker Macadamia Pineapple Chicken
Set your slow cooker and when you come home you'll be taking a trip to the tropics. Slow Cooker Macadamia Pineapple Chicken is the perfect balance of sweet and savory with a tropical flare. A delicious and easy gluten-free paleo dinner recipe.
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Main, Slow Cooker, Chicken
- Cuisine: Tropical
Ingredients
- 4 Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 20oz (2 ½ Cups) Crushed Pineapple
- 1 Cup Unsweetened Macadamia Milk
- 1 Tsp Dried Cilantro (or 1 TB chopped, fresh)
- ½ Tsp Ground Ginger
- ½ Tsp Onion Powder
- ½ Tsp Minced Garlic
- Chopped Scallion (topping, optional)
Instructions
- In a large slow cooker layer in the chicken and then pour in the rest of the ingredients over top, except the optional chopped scallion, and give everything a stir.
- Set on low and cook for 6-7 hours until chicken is thoroughly cooked.
- Serve with chopped scallion if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
Tropical, slow-cooked, luscious chicken, anyone? Serve it with some rice and a nice salad and you'll be "mmm-ing" in your imaginary tropical paradise after a long day of work! No more winter blues when you combine pineapple and macadamia together! Think of the slow cooker as your personal, all inclusive resort, room service 😉 It works, right?
So tell me:
+ What's your favorite meal to make when the winter blues hit you?
+ What's the first food you think of when you hear the word, "paradise"?
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Lauren
Love macadamia nuts! I bet this is delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They're great! Thanks Lauren!
Sarah Walker Caron (Sarah's Cucina Bella)
I love the idea of using tropical flavors in the wintertime -- And this chicken sounds delightful.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I'm all about the tropical SUMMER flavors right now!
Jennifer A Stewart
I am currently doing a Whole30 and this recipe will be welcome in my kitchen anytime! I need a trip to paradise while it's cold and something different to eat that is nor a salad!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
This will definitely be a great change up for the palate 😉
Laura @MotherWouldKnow
What great flavors! And so funny that you mentioned the price of macademia nuts - that's what has kept me from experimenting with them. But now that I have a sure fire recipe ... 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes! This is worth it...and cheaper 😉
Gwen @SimplyHealthyFamily
I make a variation of this but yours looks amazing!!! Putting this on next weeks menu!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks Gwen!
Alisa @ Go Dairy Free
Ooh, I need more slow cooker recipes!! It's hard for me to believe how young you are as you're so adventurous with flavors Rebecca!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I was eating the spiciest foods, brussels sprouts, you name it since I was a wee little one!
Marye
This looks amazing! I don't use macadamia nuts often enough.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Nor do I, haha! But they are so fantastic!
Petra @ CrumblesAndKale
What a great recipe with so interesting flavors! And I sure need som tropical-something right now looking out on snow and -20 degrees!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Exactly!!! I need everything tropical!
Marie
This looks delicious! I'm a sucker for a good slow cooker meal.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
We all are! Thanks Marie!
Sandy Sandmeyer
This looks like a wonderful recipe for guests or just a regular dinner at home.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes, it is!
Emily @ The Benson Street
This looks so light and yummy.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks Emily!
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish
This sounds so good! I love that flavor combo.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It's fantastic!
Alison
Great recipe! Looks delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Deanna @ The Live Fit Girls
Wow this looks and SOUNDS delicious!! I love macadamia nuts too, but I've never tried macadamia nut milk before! I must find it! haha Thanks for the inspiration for something new!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It's so sweet and creamy! It's a fantastic nut milk!
Anita
This recipe looks so delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Lisa - Four Walls, Rainy Days
Yet another recipe persuading me to bite the bullet and get a slow cooker - this looks delicious and quite easy to do! I've not tried Macadamia milk but I'll see if I can find it in my local stores! Great post!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Crazy that you don't have one!
Katey
I scheduled your post to share on my FB 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table
I love that you're slow cooker crazy too. I'm obsessed.
Macadamia milk sounds fantastic. I'm not sure I've seen it, but I bet I can find it now that I know to look! Have you had cashew milk? I bet that would work well in here too.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes, of course I have! But definitely not the tropical vibe!
Wendy @ Wholistic Woman
I adore pineapple, this looks like a great January pick me up recipe!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That's exactly what it is!
Elaine
I wish I was somewhere tropical! I hate Winter…this looks Yummy!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Same 😛
Alison
I really must try this. Always looking for new slow cooker recipes
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Please do! Gotta share the slow cooker love!
Nikki Frank-Hamilton
I love this! A cold weather version of a luau or chicken and pineapple kabobs on the grill! And I can use my crockpot???? Win all the way around. I think I need to find myself an umbrella for my beverage, with the scents of an island paradise from the chicken I might be able to fool myself into believing it's not really winter out there! LOL
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, yes! This would be a perfect meal with a cocktail umbrella drink!
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine
I'm totally with you on the tropical flavors in the winter time! I used to buy mangoes during the winter when I lived int he States and would get depressed waiting for summer... now, living in the tropics, I love the stews and casseroles and baked apple cinnamon smells and flavors-- trick myself into believing it's actually winter!
This looks delicious-- and I love slow cooker recipes! Pinning for later 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
My grocery is so good with the mangos! $1 so I stock up every week! I feel like they're better quality in the winter too...weird!
Thank you! xoxo
Katherines Corner
oh my goodness, yes please. Thank you for sharing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, thanks!
Miz Helen
We would just love your Macadamia Pineapple Chicken!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I bet!
Amberjane
Sounds amazing and I love slow cooker recipes!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
We all do!
Easy Peasy Life Matters
What a fun twist on chicken! Yum
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Kathleen
That is one awesome looking recipe. I am going to make that for sure. Thanks for the inspiration. I know what I am cooking tonight.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Exciting! Let me know how you like it, dear! 🙂
Jess @hellotofit
the first time I ever had a macadamia nut was a chocolate covered one from hawaii haha. So good!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well now that's a given 😉 Ultimate bliss!
Farrah
Yay for tropical themes, and oh em gee, this recipe amplifies my want to go to Hawai'i, haha. *-* I love that you can make this in a slow cooker! I'll have to try it out when I'm back in WV (my slow cooker's chillin' over there right now ._.)!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Post-medial school celebration vacation plans? 😉 (But take me with you!)
Tara | Treble in the Kitchen
Pineapple and macadamia nut!? Sign me up!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Heck yes!
Marla
Hi Rebecca,
I love chicken and pineapple so this recipe sounds fabulous.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Fantastic!!! Must make!
OneDizzyBee
I am so making this. OMG does it look good. I've also pinned and stumbled it because wow 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Fantastic!!! Let me know how it comes out!
Sam @ Startup Housewife
I definitely think of pineapple when I think about paradise. This looks delicious! Yum!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
One of the best tropical picks I'd say!
Sharon @ What The Fork Food Blog
I love tropical dishes in the winter, it makes it feel like it's not 9 degrees outside haha.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Exactly 😉 Hahaha! Much better!
Elle @ Only Taste Matters
I'm obsessed with the slow cooker. Thank you for giving me another great recipe to add to my collection! Keep them coming!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I've got tons of slow cooker recipes up my sleeve! Thanks Elle!
Jenna
Never heard of mac milk! But I do love macadamia nuts! Sounds great!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Then you'll love it!!
Megan
I love pineapple and chicken together. Great idea!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It's fantastic! Thanks Megan!
Katie
This looks delish, my boys love anything w pineapple, pinning!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Fantastic! They will love this!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
I so need a slow cooker. But seeing as I only just got my spiralizer for Christmas, I think I'd be pushing it! 🙂
Chicken and pineapple now that's a combination I'd love to try.
This looks delicious! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You got a spiralizer before a slow cooker!? You are skipping foodie stepping stones! Hahaha!
Sweet and savory all the way my friend!
Diana
Anything crockpot and pineapple and I'm sold. This looks delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Diana!
Laura @PetiteAllergyTreats
This just sounds so divine with the macadamia milk. Those were one of my favorite nuts of all time. This meal would please just about anyone!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They are some fantastic little gems!! Thank you so much Laura xoxo
Mary
I purchased a slow cooker last month and made a killer beef stew, this looks like a great recipe to try. I love pineapple but I've never had pineapple chicken, I guess there is a first time for everything. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Time to get slow cooker crazy!!!! Sweet savory chicken recipes are my favorite! Chicken just goes so well with fruits!
Nadia's Healthy Kitchen
i seriously need to get a slow cooker! This looks and sounds delicious 😀
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You don't have a slow cooker!? :O
Gluten Free With Emily
Pretty much anything with pineapple in it and I'm sold, but add macadamia- oh my! yes!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Agreed! Pineapple everything is fantastic!
Natalie | Feasting on Fruit
You are really REALLY making me want to go to Hawaii right now! And the first food I think of would have to be coconut. Followed by pineapple. Followed by mango. All of the good things <3
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Coconut is a given and we can even say it spans both the nut and fruit category 😉 Mango yes, but since I eat them ALL the time I just feel like they are a normal NJ fruit for me...although they always say "product from Brazil or Mexico" so some sort 😛 Hahahahahaha!
Sam @ PancakeWarriors
Rebecca seriously this is a recipe I'm swooning over and I don't even eat chicken! Dave is going to love it. And I'm the same with mac nuts.. they are seriously so good 🙂 pinning!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahahahaha! Well I hope he loves 😉
Mac nuts were made for turning into milk too. I mean...just sooo creamy!
Michele @ paleorunningmomma
I'm all for tropical food basically whenever! Love the simplicity of this and also that it's slow cooker - I need more slow cooker recipes and I'm not the most creative with them, so thanks!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha! I feel like you would be a big slow cooker person though! Get that bad boy our and whip up some goodness!
Charlotte
This sounds like an interesting combo - I love the idea of tropical dishes in winter - cheers me up!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Exactly! I know I need them!
Chrissa - Physical Kitchness
This looks amazing Rebecca! I love pineapple/chicken combo! And the fact that you can make it in a slow cooker is a huge win! Great recipe once again.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Slow cooker love!!! Makes any chicken recipe amazing! Thanks dear xoxo
Mother of 3
Sounds intriguing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks! It's tasty!