Huli Huli Chicken is a mouthwatering chicken dish soaked in a heavenly marinade that gives it delicious flavor and a beautiful golden brown color. The sweet and savory Huli Huli sauce has met its perfect match with this easy chicken recipe. This flavorsome marinated chicken topped with pineapple slices will make you feel like you’re on a vacation to Hawaii without having to leave your kitchen.
You’re guaranteed to impress anyone and everyone with this amazing and popular Hawaiian dish. Plus, who doesn’t love a recipe where the majority of the work is done by letting the chicken sit and marinate?
Reasons You’ll Love This Huli Huli Chicken Recipe
Quick Prep and Cook Time – Not counting the marinating time, prepping and cooking the chicken and sauce will only take 20 minutes!
Make Inside or Out – Make on the grill, or in the oven, whichever works for you!
Delicious Chicken Recipe – This Hawaiian Huli Huli sauce is jam packed with those classic tropical flavor notes and aromatics, it makes such a tasty, juicy chicken that the whole family will love.
Different Dinner Choice – I guarantee you this isn’t your everyday chicken dinner, switch it up with something different and try this great recipe!
Pairs Well with Anything! – You can serve this dish with whatever you want! I recommend white or brown rice, cauliflower rice, quinoa, stir fry veggies, asian salad or grilled pineapple.
This is an overview of some of the ingredients you will need to make this delicious Huli Huli Chicken recipe. Important notes and substitutions for certain ingredients are discussed. The full printable recipe, with amounts and specific details, can be found at the bottom of the page.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Chicken Thighs – Boneless, skinless chicken thigh meat works best for this recipe, but you can use a different cut. If you do that make sure you change the cooking time to achieve the proper doneness.
- Ketchup – It may sound like an interesting ingredient to put in a marinade, but I promise it’s well worth it! You’ll find it gives it a lovely tangy and sweet taste.
- Soy Sauce – I find that the reduced sodium soy sauce works the best with this recipe, especially if you are sensitive to salt.
- Ginger Root – Fresh ginger is great with this recipe, but make sure it’s minced! The frozen crushed ginger also works well.
How To Make Huli Huli Chicken
- In a medium bowl, whisk the brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, and chicken broth. Next, combine the minced ginger root, garlic, rice vinegar, and sesame oil.
- Before pouring it on the chicken, save 1 cup of the marinade, cover it and store in the fridge for basting the chicken later on.
- Next place your chicken thighs in a large freezer bag. Pour the remainder of the soy sauce mixture over the chicken in the bag. Close the resealable bag and move the chicken around to spread the marinade evenly. Let the chicken marinate in the fridge for at least 8 hours, or overnight.
- When you are ready to grill the chicken, be sure to put a little bit of oil on the grill. Remove chicken from the bag and put the thighs on the grill grates. Make sure to throw out the leftover marinade that the chicken was soaking in. Let them cook for about 3 minutes on one side.
- While the chicken cooks, brush some of the remaining marinade from the fridge on top of the chicken pieces. After 3 minutes flip the chicken over and cook the other side for another 3 minutes. Brush more marinade on the chicken.
- Repeat this process until the chicken is cooked thoroughly. It usually takes about 10 minutes, but it depends on the temperature of your grill. You’ll know it’s ready when the internal temperature of the tender chicken thighs reaches 165 degrees. If desired, grill some pineapple to enjoy with your Huli Huli Chicken.
Recipe Tips and Advice
No Grill? No Problem: If you aren’t able to grill chicken, you can still make this indoors. To make Huli-Huli Chicken without a grill sear the chicken in a skillet, with 1 tablespoon of oil, on medium-high heat. Brush it with the set-aside marinade, then bake it in a 375 degree oven for about 20 minutes.
Other Pieces Of Chicken: You can use other cuts of chicken if desired, but you will need to adjust the cooking time to achieve doneness. If you choose to use bone-in chicken thighs (cook to 165 degrees) or drumsticks (cook to 170 degrees), you will have to increase the cooking time slightly. If you use chicken breasts (cook to 165 degrees), you will need to decrease the cooking time or the meat may be dry.
Storage: The cooked chicken will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container, the perfect recipe for a weekly meal prep! You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.
Recipe FAQs
Chicken is a great source of protein, but ultimately it is up to you to figure out what fits in your diet!
Because of cross contamination with raw meat, using the chicken marinade would not be safe to eat. It is important to throw out the marinade that was on the chicken.
More Great Chicken Recipes
What To Serve With Huli Huli Chicken
Make it a full “Hawaiian” style meal with some White Rice, Grilled Pineapple and Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad. Or make it a barbeque night with some Hawaiian Macaroni Salad, Baked Potatoes and Air Fryer Corn on the Cob on the side. Finish the meal with a homemade Disney Dole Whip or Pineapple Upside Down Cake!
If you like this recipe, make sure to also try my Easy Teriyaki Chicken and Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken!
Huli Huli Chicken
Equipment
- BBQ Grill Can also be made in the oven.
Ingredients
- 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs approximately 2-3 pounds
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup soy sauce low sodium
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger root minced or grated
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- optional: green onions and pineapple for garnish
Instructions
Marinade
- In a medium bowl, whisk the brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, and chicken broth. Next, combine the minced ginger root, garlic, rice vinegar, and sesame oil.
- Before pouring it on the chicken, save 1 cup of the marinade, cover it and store in the fridge for basting the chicken later on.
- Next place your chicken thighs in a large freezer bag. Pour the remainder of the soy sauce mixture over the chicken in the bag. Close the resealable bag and move the chicken around to spread the marinade evenly. Let the chicken marinate in the fridge for at least 8 hours, or overnight.
Chicken
- When you are ready to grill the chicken, be sure to put a little bit of oil on the grill grates, and preheat the grill. Remove chicken from the bag and put the thighs on the grill grates. Make sure to throw out the leftover marinade that the chicken was soaking in. Let chicken cook for about 3 minutes on one side.
- While the chicken cooks, brush some of the reserved marinade from the fridge on top of the chicken pieces. After 3 minutes flip the chicken over and cook the other side for another 3 minutes. Brush more marinade on the chicken.
- Repeat this process until the chicken is cooked thoroughly. It usually takes about 10 minutes, but it depends on the temperature of your grill. You’ll know it’s ready when the internal temperature of the tender chicken thighs reaches 165 degrees. If desired, grill some pineapple to enjoy with your Huli Huli Chicken.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Donna says
I am not a sauce on my meat kinda person but “jimmy crack corn” this was the best. I will definitely make it again and again
Super easy. Super tasty
Lynda says
How would I convert this recipe for a crockpot? Thank you.
Pat Stafford says
Can I use a rotisserie chicken?
LC says
Love this marinade. I made it with legs and thighs (b/c my girls love the legs). A great grilling dinner and served with your Hawaiian Macaroni salad. Highly recommend.