Huli Huli Chicken Recipe

5 from 7 votes

Huli Huli Chicken is a popular Hawaiian dish known for its sweet and savory tropical flavor, easy to make and perfect for grilling, a local favorite.

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Marinating1

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chicken thighs, ketchup, soy sauce

Servings:

Calories: 428kcal

Author: Mike Hultquist

Ingredients

½ cup ketchup
½ cup soy sauce shoyu
½ cup brown sugar
1/2 cup canned pineapple juice* do not use fresh
¼ cup rice vinegar apple cider vinegar is good, too
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1-2 tablespoon hot sauce or sriracha optional, for a spicy kick
4 cloves garlic minced
1 tablespoon minced ginger
3 pounds chicken thighs boneless, skinless
Oil for the grill

Instructions

Whisk together the ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar, pineapple juice, vinegar, sesame oil, hot sauce, garlic, and ginger together in a large bowl until well combined. Reserve ½ cup of the marinade.
Add the chicken to the bowl and cover, or pour it all into a large sealable bag. Rub the marinade into the meat. Marinate at least 1 hour in the refrigerator, or overnight for more flavor penetration.
Heat your grill to medium heat and lightly oil the grates. Remove chicken from marinade and shake off excess moisture. Discard used marinade*.
Grill the chicken 5-6 minutes per side, basting with reserved marinade as you go. Chicken is done when it reaches 165 degrees F (74C) internally.
Serve and enjoy.

Notes

Serve with your favorite sides like macaroni salad, sticky rice or pineapple fried rice, grilled pineapple.

*Do not use fresh pineapple in the marinade. It contains a natural chemical (bromelain) that tenderizes chicken and can give it an unpleasant mushy texture.

*The used marinade can be used as a serving sauce, but it must be cooked. To do so, transfer the used marinade to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. It will reduce and thicken. You can swirl in 1 tablespoon cornstarch slurry (cornstarch + water) to thicken more, if desired.

Nutrition