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Delicious Huli Huli Chicken Recipe

Delicious Huli Huli Chicken Recipe

This Delicious Huli Huli Chicken Recipe brings the vibrant, sweet, and smoky flavors of Hawaiian grilling to your kitchen. Featuring a balanced blend of pineapple juice, soy sauce, and ginger, it delivers tender, juicy chicken with a caramelized glaze perfect for grilling, baking, or pan-searing. Easy to prepare and family-friendly, this dish is ideal for summer cookouts, cozy dinners, and casual gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 46 boneless, skin-on chicken thighs or breasts

Marinade and Glaze

  • 1 cup pineapple juice
  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup or tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, grated ginger, rice vinegar, ketchup, sesame oil, and optional red pepper flakes until the sugar dissolves fully to create a smooth marinade.
  2. Marinate the Chicken: Place the chicken thighs or breasts in a large resealable bag or shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken, making sure every piece is well coated. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, ideally overnight, to allow flavors to infuse deeply.
  3. Preheat Your Grill or Oven: If grilling, preheat to medium-high heat. For oven cooking, preheat to 400°F (200°C). Lightly oil the grill grates or a baking sheet to prevent sticking.
  4. Cook the Chicken: Remove the chicken from the marinade (reserve the marinade). Grill the chicken for about 6–8 minutes per side or bake in the oven for 20–25 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the chicken develops a caramelized color.
  5. Glaze and Finish: Meanwhile, bring the reserved marinade to a boil in a small saucepan and cook for 5 minutes to kill any raw chicken bacteria. In the last few minutes of cooking, brush the thickened glaze onto the chicken for a sticky, flavorful coating.

Notes

  • Use dark meat like chicken thighs for juicier, more flavorful results.
  • Marinate the chicken overnight for deeper flavor penetration.
  • Don’t skip boiling and brushing the reserved marinade to achieve an authentic sticky glaze.
  • Maintain medium heat during cooking to prevent burning the sugars and to get perfect caramelization.
  • Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes after cooking for juicy, tender results.

Nutrition

Keywords: Huli Huli Chicken, Hawaiian Chicken, Grilled Chicken, Sweet and Smoky Chicken, Pineapple Chicken, Summer Cookout