Huli Huli Chicken Recipe

Get ready to take your tastebuds on a tropical adventure with this Huli Huli Chicken Recipe! Famous for its sweet and tangy flavor, tender meat, and irresistible caramelized sauce, this is the Hawaiian BBQ experience you can bring straight to your own backyard. Juicy grilled chicken, a vibrant pineapple-teriyaki glaze, and a kiss of island flair — this dish is perfect for family cookouts, summer parties, or just brightening up a weekday dinner.

Ingredients You’ll Need

What makes this Huli Huli Chicken Recipe unforgettable is how a handful of simple ingredients come together to create layers of bold, irresistible flavor. Each one plays an important role in creating that perfect balance of sweet, smoky, tangy, and savory — it’s like a luau for your mouth!

• Chicken Thighs: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs deliver maximum juiciness and soak up the marinade beautifully.
• Packed Light Brown Sugar: Adds the signature sweetness and helps caramelize the sauce on the grill.
• Ketchup: Gives body, a hint of tang, and that gorgeous red color to your sauce.
• Light Soy Sauce: Brings in salty umami that grounds the sweetness — go for low-sodium to keep it balanced.
• Pineapple Juice: The not-so-secret Hawaiian twist; this adds tang and tenderizes the chicken.
• Ginger Paste or Minced Ginger: Supplies a punch of fresh, zesty warmth that sets real Huli Huli chicken apart.
• Garlic Paste or Minced Garlic: Infuses deep savoriness and rounds out the flavors.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Provides zing and helps brighten up the whole dish.
• Cumin: Just a hint brings out smoky notes in the grilled chicken.
• Coarse Black Pepper: Adds sharpness and a little heat for balance.
• Paprika (Smoked or Sweet): Smoked paprika ups the BBQ vibe while sweet paprika keeps the flavor mellow.
• Pineapple Rings: Whether you use fresh or canned, grilling them lends juicy, tropical sweetness that’s irresistible.
• Sliced Green Onions: Just a sprinkle for garnish delivers color and fresh crunch to the final plate.

How to Make Huli Huli Chicken Recipe

Step 1: Prep and Dry the Chicken

Begin by rinsing your chicken thighs and giving them a good pat dry with paper towels. This step helps the marinade stick better and gives you that beautiful grilled sear. Aim for chicken thighs, but feel free to use your favorite cut (just adjust the cooking time for bone-in pieces).

Step 2: Make the Marinade

In a large bowl, or a giant zip-top bag if you’re a fan of mess-free marinating, combine brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, pineapple juice, ginger, garlic, apple cider vinegar, cumin, black pepper, and paprika. Give everything a really good mix so the sugar dissolves and the flavors meld together — this is the secret sauce for that classic Huli Huli Chicken Recipe flavor!

Step 3: Reserve Some Sauce

Before you add the chicken, scoop out about half a cup of this glorious marinade and set it aside. Trust me — you’ll use this later for basting and glazing once the chicken is cooked, which is key for gloss and flavor.

Step 4: Marinate the Chicken

Add your chicken thighs to the bowl or bag with the marinade. Work gently but thoroughly to ensure each piece is coated on all sides. Seal it up and pop it in the fridge. Marinate for at least 4 hours (overnight is even better) so the chicken drinks up all those tropical flavors.

Step 5: Heat the Grill

When you’re ready to cook, preheat your grill to medium-high (about 400°F). Give the grates a quick scrub and a light brush of oil to prevent sticking and flare-ups. Clean grates really do make a difference for this Huli Huli Chicken Recipe — fewer flames, more flavor!

Step 6: Grill the Chicken

Take the chicken out of the marinade, letting the excess drip off (too much marinade on the grill can cause burning). Place chicken on the hot grates and cook undisturbed for around 10 minutes. Flip each piece and grill for another 10 minutes, or until the thickest part reaches 165°F. Discard any marinade the chicken was sitting in — food safety first!

Step 7: Grill the Pineapple Rings

While the chicken finishes, add your pineapple rings to the grill. Cook until you see gorgeous golden grill marks and the fruit starts to caramelize. These rings get irresistibly juicy and add the ultimate finishing touch to your Huli Huli Chicken Recipe.

Step 8: Glaze and Serve

Once the chicken is off the grill, brush it generously with the reserved marinade. For extra gloss and sticky-sweet flavor, you can heat the sauce on the stove or broil the chicken for a couple of minutes. Finish with sliced green onions, and get ready to dig in!

How to Serve Huli Huli Chicken Recipe

Garnishes

No Huli Huli Chicken Recipe is complete without a festive sprinkle of thinly sliced green onions or scallions. For a truly tropical touch, try a quick scatter of toasted sesame seeds or a little fresh cilantro. The pop of green brings balance and a beautiful finish to your plate.

Side Dishes

Go full Hawaiian with sides like steamed jasmine rice, mac salad, or a simple green salad with a bright citrus vinaigrette. Grilled corn, roasted sweet potatoes, or even a classic coleslaw also taste fantastic with the sweet-savory chicken and pineapple.

Creative Ways to Present

For a true luau feel, serve the chicken and grilled pineapple on a bed of coconut rice or atop a platter lined with banana leaves. Make sliders on Hawaiian rolls with a dab of extra sauce, or skewer the chicken and pineapple for fun, hand-held party bites. This Huli Huli Chicken Recipe easily goes from backyard barbecue to festive feast!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you’re lucky enough to have extra Huli Huli Chicken Recipe left, tuck it into an airtight container as soon as possible. It will keep best in the fridge for 1 to 2 days, staying juicy and flavorful. Try to store the chicken separate from the grilled pineapple to keep textures fresh.

Freezing

You can freeze leftovers for up to a month, as long as your chicken wasn’t made from previously frozen meat. Wrap portions tightly and use freezer-safe bags or containers. When you crave a taste of Hawaii, it’ll be ready to enjoy at a moment’s notice!

Reheating

To revive your Huli Huli Chicken Recipe, gently reheat it in a covered dish in the oven at 300°F, or in a skillet with a splash of water or extra sauce to keep things moist. Be cautious microwaving — you don’t want to dry out that tender, flavor-packed chicken!

FAQs

Can I use chicken breasts or drumsticks instead of thighs?

Absolutely! This Huli Huli Chicken Recipe is just as delicious with bone-in thighs, drumsticks, or even breasts. Keep in mind that bone-in cuts may need a little extra grill time, so always check that your chicken reaches 165°F for food safety.

Is it okay to marinate the chicken for more than one night?

While 4 hours is the minimum for good flavor, marinating overnight will give you the best results. Any longer than 24 hours, though, and the acid from the pineapple juice can start to affect the texture of the chicken — so try not to let it go too far.

Can I bake the Huli Huli Chicken Recipe instead of grilling?

You sure can! For oven preparation, arrange the marinated chicken on a lined baking sheet and bake at 400°F, turning once, until cooked through. Finish under the broiler for a few minutes to caramelize the sauce and get those irresistible crispy edges.

What can I do if I want the sauce sweeter or spicier?

It’s easy to tweak the sauce to suit your taste! Add a little extra brown sugar for more sweetness or toss in a pinch of red pepper flakes for some heat. Give the reserved sauce a tiny taste before glazing to customize it just how you like.

Can this recipe be doubled for a crowd?

Definitely — this is the ultimate party dish! Just double all the ingredients (including the marinade and sauce) and grill in batches if needed. Everyone will be lining up for your Huli Huli Chicken Recipe, and there’s never any left over at my gatherings.

Final Thoughts

This Huli Huli Chicken Recipe is pure island sunshine on a plate — bold, juicy, and so unbelievably easy to pull off. It’s the kind of crowd-pleaser that leaves everyone asking for the recipe. Fire up the grill, serve it with a cold drink, and let those Hawaii vibes roll in. You simply have to give it a try!

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