Description
Huli Huli Chicken brings Hawaiian grilling magic right to your backyard barbecue, where sweet and tangy sauce caramelizes perfectly over juicy chicken. Marinated in a delightful blend of pineapple juice, soy sauce, and brown sugar, this dish delivers tropical flavor that makes your taste buds dance with excitement.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 pounds chicken
Supporting Liquids:
- 1 cup soy sauce
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 green onions
- Fresh pineapple slices
Instructions
- Blend 1 cup soy sauce, 1 cup pineapple juice, ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup ketchup, ¼ cup rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon minced ginger, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes in a bowl until sugar dissolves completely.
- Submerge 4 pounds of chicken pieces in the marinade, coating every surface thoroughly. Seal in a plastic bag and refrigerate for 2-8 hours.
- Remove chicken from refrigerator 30 minutes before grilling. Heat outdoor grill to 400°F.
- Drain chicken, discarding the used marinade. Place chicken skin-side down on grill, cooking 5-7 minutes until golden and crisp.
- Flip chicken pieces, reducing grill temperature to 350°F. Continue grilling 15-20 minutes, rotating occasionally until meat reaches 165°F internal temperature.
- Grill fresh pineapple slices during final 5 minutes of cooking for extra caramelization.
- Set aside a small portion of fresh marinade for final basting, carefully applying only to cooked surfaces.
- Transfer grilled chicken to a serving platter. Let rest 5 minutes to redistribute juices.
- Garnish with chopped green onions and grilled pineapple slices before serving.
Notes
- Marinate the chicken overnight for maximum flavor penetration and tenderness.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches exactly 165F/75C for safe, juicy results.
- When grilling, start skin-side down to create a crisp, caramelized exterior that seals in moisture.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular soy sauce with tamari and confirm all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-32 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 314 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 1038 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg