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Weeknight-style Hawaiian inspired Chicken Tacos with Jalapeño Pineapple Salsa. Shredded crispy chicken in a tangy Hawaiian-inspired Hula Sauce with pickled ginger, pineapple, and sriracha. Cooked quickly in the instant pot, or use the oven or slow cooker – use the method that works best for you. Serve each crispy chicken taco with homemade creamy basil ranch dressing and fresh jalapeño pineapple salsa. These fun summery pineapple chicken tacos are the perfect weeknight dinner. Use the leftover chicken for sandwiches and salads.
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I’ve been making these tacos, or a variation, since the early days of creating recipes. Over the years I’ve shared them in the form shrimp and salmon tacos, but now for the original shredded chicken variation. My brothers are obsessed with these. Especially my older brother, Trevor, who is constantly telling me to make more Hawaiian-inspired recipes.
We love anything with a spicy, sweet, and tangy flavors. And any dinner that’s ready in less than an hour is an immediate yes during the summer.
Here are details
You can make these tacos in 1 of 3 ways. The instant pot, the oven, or the crockpot. I always use the instant pot or the oven. I never plan ahead enough for the crockpot.
Basically, we’re seasoning the chicken, cooking it, shredding it, then throwing the saucy chicken under the broiler to get crispy. For the chicken, I love to toss it together with garlic, shallots, and pickled sushi-style ginger. In my opinion, using sushi-style ginger is the secret here. It caramelizes so wonderfully and adds such a yummy, spicy bite.
Then, I do tamari, sriracha, and fresh pineapple chunks. Let the chicken cook in the sauce, then shred. Cooking the chicken in the sauce ensures that it doesn’t dry out.
Once the chicken is shredded, I add 1 or 2 whole jalapeños. Broil together until the jalapeños roast and the chicken becomes caramelized, watch carefully.
While the chicken is cooking, I make my current go-to sauce, jalapeño basil ranch. It’s a mix of yogurt, mayo, lemon, Worcestershire, fresh basil, fresh cilantro, chives, and lots of pepper in a bowl. Now this is when I toss in the roasted jalapeños from above. I leave everything in, seeds and all, but you do what works for you!
Then toss the remaining pineapple with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice. Put everything together in the tacos.
I assemble as follows: charred flour tortillas-you could also use corn tortillas, smashed avocado, lettuce, ranch, and a few spoonfuls of chicken. Finish with the pineapple chunks and ranch!
Hawaiian inspired Chicken Tacos – simple to make, but so yummy and fun for spring and summer nights. My family loves these, spicy, tangy tacos. The ranch is a must, so don’t skip it!
Looking for more simple weeknight recipes? Here are a few favorites:
One Pan Lemon Pepper Yogurt Chicken and Rice
Crispy Jalapeño Cream Cheese Buffalo Chicken Taquitos
Sheet Pan Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Healthier Homemade Crunchwrap Supreme
Crispy Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Lime Ranch
Lastly, if you make these Hawaiian inspired Chicken Tacos with Jalapeño Pineapple Salsa, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Hawaiian Chicken Tacos with Jalapeño Pineapple Salsa
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts or thighs
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 shallots, chopped
- 1/3 cup pickled ginger
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1/3 cup soy sauce or tamari
- 1-3 tablespoons sriracha
- 3 cups fresh pineapple chunks
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1-2 jalapeños
- warm tortillas, shredded lettuce, and avocado for serving
Jalapeño Basil Ranch
- 1/2 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 1/3 cup mayo
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire
- 1 cup fresh basil
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
- kosher salt and black pepper
Instructions
- 1. In the instant pot combine the chicken, garlic, shallots, ginger, chili powder tamari, sriracha, and 2 cups pineapple. Cook 10 minutes on high pressure. 2. Preheat the broiler to high. When finished cooking, shred the meat and toss with the sauce. Spoon the chicken and sauce onto a greased baking sheet. Add the jalapeños. Broil 10-15 minutes, until charring, watch closely. 3. Meanwhile, toss 1 cup of pineapple with the cilantro.4. To make the Jalapeño Ranch. Combine all ingredients in a blender. Add 1 roasted jalapeño, seeded if desired. Blend until creamy. Season with salt.5. Stuff the chicken and pineapple chunks into charred tortillas. Serve with ranch.
Oven
- 1. Preheat the oven to 425°. In a baking dish, mix the chicken, garlic, shallots, ginger, chili powder, tamari, sriracha, and 2 cups pineapple. Roast 30 minutes, until tender and falling apart. Finish as directed above through step 2.
Crockpot
- 1. In the crockpot, combine the chicken, garlic, shallots, ginger, chili powder tamari, sriracha, and 2 cups pineapple. Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours or on HIGH for 2 hours. Finish as directed above through step 2.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
My goodness! I made this for my family last night. This recipe is simply bursting with flavor from the first bite to the last! I don’t have an Instantpot, so I improvised by simmering the chicken in all the ingredients until it was fork tender. It worked out well time wise because I had separated the pomegranate seeds earlier, so it gave my time to finish the salsa during the simmer time. My husband commented that it was restaurant quality. He said it’s one of those dishes you get on a warm vacation and all you can say while eating it is “Wow! This tastes so fresh and delicious. It’s a home run!” It will be a repeat for the rest of our lives! Thank you!
Hey Cindy,
Wonderful! I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, love to hear it was enjoyed!🎄
These were incredible! Me & my husband LOVED them!
Hi Paige,
Happy Friday! I appreciate you making this recipe and your feedback, love to hear it was enjoyed!
I created an account just to review this.
OMG, IT’S SO DELICIOUS!!!!
So happy I decided to try this! Quickly became a favorite. Not only did I love it, but my husband did, too! And getting him to eat anything besides pizza rolls is like pulling teeth. Thank you so much for sharing this!!
Hey Brittney,
Yay!! Happy Friday! Love to hear you enjoyed this recipe, thanks a bunch for making it! xx
These are so good and so easy
I usually skip the broiler part and just thicken the sauce with some corn starch!
Hi Leah,
Fantastic! Love to hear this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it! xT
This was really good!
Thanks so much, Christine! Love to hear this recipe was enjoyed. Have a great day! xx
I made these tonight and I am so impressed! Talk about flavor town!! My friend accidentally put the jalapeño in the instant pot with the chicken instead of saving it for the sauce but it worked out. I also added a fresh pineapple salsa on top (pineapple, jalapeño, cilantro, red onion, red bell pepper, lime juice) and all the flavors together were just incredible! Definitely will save and make again! Thanks for sharing!
Hey Peggy,
Wonderful! Thank you so much for trying this recipe and your feedback, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xx
does this recipe double well? do i just double everything?
You bet, that will work nicely for you!
do you think a mango salsa would be good with this instead of the pineapple?
Hi Nora,
Totally mango would be delicious! Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
Fantastic recipe. Made a side of Mexican potato salad. Incredible together. I rarely save a recipe but I’m saving this one!
Thanks so much, Jonathan! So glad to hear your family enjoyed this recipe! Happy Sunday! xT
I haven’t tried this yet, but wanted to ask if it needs some liquid for the instant pot? I’m always getting burn notices!
Hey Leah,
I’ve never had that issue here, but you could certainly add some broth or water if needed. Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT