Hawaiian Huli Huli Chicken: An Incredible Ultimate Recipe
Hawaiian Huli Huli Chicken is a flavorful grilled dish featuring tender, marinated boneless chicken thighs infused with a sweet and tangy combination of soy sauce, brown sugar, pineapple juice, and ginger. This recipe captures the essence of classic Hawaiian barbecue with an easy-to-follow grilling method, resulting in juicy, perfectly charred chicken topped with green onions and optional sesame seeds for added texture and color.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes (including marinating)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Marinade
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup pineapple juice
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Garnish
- 1 green onion, chopped
- Sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Marinade: In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, pineapple juice, ketchup, vegetable oil, minced ginger, garlic, rice vinegar, and black pepper until well combined.
- Marinate Chicken: Place the chicken thighs in a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are coated. Seal the bag or cover the dish, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight for maximum flavor.
- Preheat Grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat to prepare for cooking.
- Remove Chicken: Take the chicken out of the marinade and allow any excess to drip off before grilling.
- Grill Chicken: Place the chicken on the grill. Cook for about 6-8 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C) and the chicken is fully cooked through, developing a nice char.
- Baste (Optional): During the last few minutes of grilling, brush the chicken with any leftover marinade to enhance flavor and moisture.
- Rest Chicken: Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
- Garnish: Sprinkle chopped green onions and optional sesame seeds over the chicken before serving for added aroma and presentation.
Notes
- For best results, marinate the chicken overnight to deepen the flavors.
- Ensure the grill is preheated properly to prevent sticking and to achieve a beautiful sear.
- Do not baste early in the grilling process to avoid flare-ups from the sugary marinade.
- If you don’t have a grill, the chicken can be cooked under a broiler or in a grill pan on the stovetop.
- Check the internal temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer to ensure safe cooking.
- Leftover marinade should not be used as a sauce unless boiled for several minutes to kill any bacteria.
Keywords: Huli Huli Chicken, Hawaiian chicken grill recipe, grilled chicken thighs, pineapple marinade chicken, BBQ chicken Hawaiian style
