Description
Sizzling Huli Huli Chicken from Hawaii brings tropical flavors right to your backyard grill. Marinated in a sweet and tangy sauce, this chicken turns your weeknight dinner into a delicious island-style feast.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 pounds chicken thighs or breasts, boneless and skinless
Sauce Base:
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 green onion, chopped
- Cooked white rice
- Grilled pineapple slices
Instructions
- Combine 1 cup pineapple juice, ½ cup soy sauce, ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup ketchup, ¼ cup rice vinegar, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon grated ginger, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, and ½ teaspoon black pepper in a large mixing bowl.
- Submerge 2 pounds of chicken thighs or breasts completely in the marinade. Seal the container and refrigerate for exactly 2 hours to ensure deep flavor penetration.
- Heat your outdoor grill to 400°F with medium-high direct heat zones. Remove chicken from marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip off.
- Position chicken pieces onto hot grill grates. Cook for 6-7 minutes on the first side, creating beautiful caramelized marks.
- Flip chicken carefully and continue grilling for another 6-7 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Check doneness with a meat thermometer.
- Transfer grilled chicken to a clean cutting board. Let meat rest for 5 minutes to redistribute internal juices.
- Slice chicken against the grain into diagonal strips. Sprinkle 1 chopped green onion over the top for fresh garnish.
- Plate alongside fluffy white rice and optional grilled pineapple slices for an authentic Hawaiian presentation.
Notes
- Marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours, but overnight works even better for deeper flavor absorption.
- Keep the grill at a steady medium-high heat to get those perfect caramelized grill marks without burning the chicken.
- Reserve some marinade before adding raw chicken to use as a basting sauce during grilling for extra moisture and flavor.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular soy sauce with tamari and make sure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-14 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 to 6
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg