This recipe for Hawaiian chicken is chicken thighs that are flavored with a tropical coconut marinade then grilled to perfection. An easy dinner option that’s perfect for entertaining.
I love pairing pineapple with chicken for a tropical flavored meal and this Hawaiian chicken is no exception. If you’re a fan of this flavor combination, be sure to try pineapple chicken and Hawaiian chicken kabobs.
My girls are just a bit obsessed with Hawaii right now, mainly due to the movie Lilo & Stitch but also because one of my daughters has developed a fascination with volcanoes. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve watched videos of lava flow over the past month. I knew that if I served them this recipe for Hawaiian chicken they’d be willing to try it just because of the Hawaii factor. And really, who doesn’t want to feel like they’ve been transported to the tropics?
How do you make Hawaiian chicken?
This recipe is all about the marinade – it’s a combination of soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, sesame oil and coconut milk. I am a huge fan of marinades, mostly because they’re so easy to put together the night before – your meat will flavor itself as you go about your day and then can be simply cooked at dinner time without a lot of extra fanfare. You can cook this chicken on an outdoor grill or inside on a grill pan.
I really prefer to use chicken thighs for this dish because they’re less likely to dry out on the grill and they have a richer flavor. If you’re not a fan of chicken thighs, you can use chicken breasts or chicken breast tenders instead.
How long do you marinate chicken?
This Hawaiian chicken needs to marinate for at least 2 hours, but I like to leave the chicken in the marinade for up to 24 hours if I have the time.
How long do you grill chicken thighs?
You’ll want to grill your chicken thighs for about 6-7 minutes per side, depending on the size and thickness of your chicken pieces. If you’re not sure if your chicken is cooked through, use a meat thermometer to check the temperature. The temperature of the thickest part of the chicken should be at least 165 degrees F.
Pineapple and coconut is a wonderfully popular flavor combination, and I took this one step further by serving this Hawaiian chicken on a bed of coconut rice. You’re going to cook your rice as usual, except instead of water the rice simmers in coconut milk. I add a touch of brown sugar at the end, it doesn’t make the rice sweet at all, it just enhances the flavor of the coconut.
What sides go with Hawaiian chicken?
I like to serve this Hawaiian chicken with a side of coconut rice and grilled pineapple. Other great options for side dishes are
- Tropical Fruit Salad
- Veggie Fried Rice
- Grilled Asparagus in Foil
- Asian Cucumber Salad
- Ramen Noodle Salad
The next time you’re wishing you were on a tropical island (or watching Lilo & Stitch with your kids!), make some of this Hawaiian chicken. It won’t transport you to an exotic vacation destination but it’s the next best thing!
Still hungry? Follow Dinner at the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for more great recipe ideas!
More delicious chicken recipes
- Mango Chicken
- Grilled Chicken Kabobs
- Slow Cooker Orange Chicken
- Grilled Chicken Tenders
- Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry
Hawaiian Chicken
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 cup light coconut milk
- 1/4 cup pineapple juice
- 1 cup pineapple slices fresh or canned
For the coconut rice
- 1 cup white rice I prefer short grain for this recipe
- 1 1/4 cup light coconut milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- cilantro leaves and lime wedges for garnish optional
Instructions
- For the chicken: Combine the soy sauce, water, brown sugar, garlic, sesame oil, coconut milk and pineapple juice, then pour into a container or resealable bag.
- Add the chicken and marinate anywhere from 2-24 hours.
- Heat the grill to medium. Remove the chicken from the marinade and grill for 6-7 minutes on each side or until chicken is cooked through.
- Add the pineapple to the grill and cook for 2-3 minutes per side. Arrange the pineapple and chicken on a serving plate.
- For the rice: Bring the coconut milk and water to a boil. Add in the salt and rice. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 18 minutes. Stir in the brown sugar.
- Serve the chicken and pineapple with the coconut rice. Garnish with lime wedges and cilantro if desired.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on June 14, 2015 and was updated on May 5, 2019 with new content.
This dish looks amazing! How fun your for kids too!
That pineapple salsa is calling my name!
I can’t wait to give this recipe a try! I’m going to give it a while with coconut aminos instead of the soy sauce.
This seems like the perfect summer recipe! I can’t wait to try that salsa!!
This sounds like the perfect summer time meal!
Love anything with pineapple! This chicken sounds great!
Holy Moly, this looks beautiful!! A meal both my sister and my husband will love! So excited for this one!
I feel like I was just transported to the tropics, then I looked around and was still in my office – boo! Great post/recipe, was a fun one:)
This looks entirely amazing!
Hawaii sounds like the perfect vacation. We love to make food that feels like you are traveling somewhere else. My family would love this one.
Your photos are gorgeous and it makes the fish even more appetizing than your description does! Just amazing 🙂
This looks so delicious! I am definitely pinning!
I love everything about this recipe! I just overcame my fear of operating the grill and am all about it now. I’ve never put coconut milk in marinade, but I love the idea of it. Also, that salsa sounds so fresh and amazing. Pinned this for later!
This is delish!!! All of these flavors are my favorites and of course this is so perfect for summer!
I’ve been transported to Hawaii looking at this beautiful and tasty chicken dish. I love pineapple salsa.
This will have to be my island vacation for the summer!
Oh my my MY! This looks FANTASTIC! Everything about this just catches my eye! The photography is wonderful, and anything with Chicken and Pineapple is an instant win in MY book! This page is DEFINITELY bookmarked for later use!! ;P
Meagan
http://www.LoneStarBlogger.com
This looks delicious!
Funny thing we have a chocolate lab named “O’Hana”!!! I also, live in Japan. You should have your daughter look up the volcanic activity we have been having lately. We just received a broadcast saying that the large earthquakes we have been having are due in part to recent volcanic activity!! So neat. She just might enjoy reading up on it! But your post images are just beyond beautiful. I can’t wait to see what other Hawaiian themed meals you’ll be posting! Thanks for sharing.
This looks amazing! I love pineapple salsa and the chicken marinade is one that I’ll be trying!