Description
Sizzling Huli Huli Chicken from Hawaii brings tropical flavors straight to your dinner table with a tangy-sweet marinade that makes taste buds dance. Grilled to perfection and packed with island-inspired zest, this chicken will become your new favorite weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 pounds chicken thighs
Sauce Base:
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
Instructions
- Whisk together ½ cup soy sauce, ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup ketchup, ¼ cup rice vinegar, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and 1 tablespoon sesame oil in a large mixing bowl until completely blended.
- Submerge 2 pounds of chicken thighs in the marinade, ensuring each piece gets thoroughly coated. Refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes to allow flavors to penetrate the meat.
- Heat your grill to 400°F, creating a medium-high temperature zone for even cooking.
- Place marinated chicken thighs directly on the grill grates, positioning them to avoid direct flame contact.
- Cook chicken for 6-7 minutes on the first side, watching for beautiful caramelization and golden-brown edges.
- Flip the chicken and baste with reserved marinade. Continue grilling for another 6-7 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Remove chicken from the grill and let it rest on a clean cutting board for 3-4 minutes to redistribute internal juices.
- Slice chicken against the grain and serve immediately while still warm and juicy.
Notes
- Marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours or overnight for deeper flavor penetration.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature for safe consumption.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute tamari for soy sauce and use coconut aminos.
- If grilling isn’t an option, bake the chicken in a 400°F oven for 25-30 minutes, turning once and basting with marinade.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 395 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 1050 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg