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Home » Grilling » Huli Huli Chicken

July 6, 2019 By Sara 23 Comments

Huli Huli Chicken

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Huli Huli Chicken Recipe | Hawaiian Chicken | Grilled Chicken Thighs #chicken #pineapple #grilling #dinner #dinneratthezoo

This huli huli chicken is chicken thighs marinated in a mixture of pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar and spices, then grilled to tender perfection. A tropical meal that’s easy to make and is sure to please any crowd!

You can never go wrong with chicken and pineapple – it’s a sweet and savory combination that’s always a winner. When I’m craving an island style dinner, I make pineapple chicken, Hawaiian chicken or this easy huli huli chicken.

Huli Huli Chicken Recipe | Hawaiian Chicken | Grilled Chicken Thighs #chicken #pineapple #grilling #dinner #dinneratthezoo Huli Huli Chicken Recipe | Hawaiian Chicken | Grilled Chicken Thighs #chicken #pineapple #grilling #dinner #dinneratthezoo

A plate full of huli huli chicken and grilled pineapple.

When the weather is nice, I find myself spending a lot of time outdoors at the grill. This huli huli chicken is one of my all time favorite grilling recipes. The marinade takes just minutes to make, and the end result is the most tender and juicy chicken you’ll ever eat!

What is huli huli chicken?

Huli huli chicken is a Hawaiian dish that consists of marinated chicken that’s grilled and basted with sauce. In Hawaii, you can often find whole chickens cooking on spits over the grill, but in this case we’re using boneless chicken thighs to simplify things a bit.

Chicken thighs in a bowl of marinade.

How do you make huli huli chicken?

This recipe starts with creating a marinade by whisking together pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup and sesame oil. Next, you will add garlic and ginger to the marinade. Place the chicken thighs into the marinade and refrigerate for at least one hour. Remove the chicken from the marinade, then grill it for 6-8 minutes per side or until cooked through. Baste the chicken with reserved marinade while it’s on the grill. After the chicken is done, it’s time to add sliced pineapple to the grill. Finally, plate the chicken and pineapple and garnish with green onions before serving.

Chicken thighs and pineapple slices on a grill pan.

Tips for Huli huli chicken

  • Don’t have an outdoor grill? You can cook this chicken on a stove top grill pan or in the broiler.
  • I typically use boneless skinless chicken thighs for this recipe, but chicken breasts will also work just fine.
  • I like to serve my chicken over steamed rice with a steamed vegetable on the side.
  • You can freeze your uncooked chicken in a bag of marinade for up to 2 months. Thaw the bag overnight in the refrigerator, then grill as directed.
  • Make sure to purchase sliced pineapple that’s packed in juice, not the type that’s packed in heavy syrup.

A plate of grilled huli huli chicken and pineapple.

HOW LONG DO YOU MARINATE CHICKEN?

The chicken needs to marinate for at least 1 hour, but I like to leave the chicken in the marinade for up to 24 hours if I have the time. You don’t want to go past 24 hours as the acid in the pineapple juice will eventually break down the chicken.

Huli huli chicken and pineapple served over rice.

WHAT TEMPERATURE SHOULD CHICKEN BE COOKED TO?

Chicken thighs should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. The easiest way to gauge if your chicken is done is to insert a digital thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken. Once you’ve reached the correct temperature, remove the chicken from the heat and let it rest for 3 minutes before you slice it.

I love to serve this chicken for parties – it’s always a big hit and I get tons of requests for the recipe!

More great chicken dinners

  • Chicken and Green Beans
  • Mongolian Chicken
  • Coconut Chicken
  • Korean Fried Chicken
  • Sweet Chili Chicken
A plate full of huli huli chicken and grilled pineapple.
Print Pin
5 from 10 votes

Huli Huli Chicken

This huli huli chicken is chicken thighs marinated in a mixture of pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar and spices, then grilled to tender perfection. A tropical meal that's easy to make and is sure to please any crowd!
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword huli huli chicken
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Marinating Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 332kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 20 ounce can sliced pineapple
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons fresh ginger minced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh garlic minced
  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 1/4 cup green onions sliced

Instructions

  • Drain the pineapple, reserving 1 cup of the pineapple juice. Save the pineapple slices for later use.
  • Place the pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup and sesame oil in a large bowl. Whisk to combine.
  • Reserve 2 tablespoons of the marinade in the refrigerator in a small bowl. This will be used later on to baste the chicken.
  • Stir the garlic and ginger into the large bowl of marinade. Add the chicken thighs and toss to coat.
  • Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least one hour, or up to 24 hours.
  • Preheat an outdoor grill or grill pan to medium heat.
  • Remove the chicken from the marinade and place on the grill. Cook for 6-8 minutes per side or until chicken is done, basting occasionally with the reserved marinade.
  • Place the pineapple slices on the grill. Cook for 2 minutes per side.
  • Place the pineapple and chicken on a plate. Sprinkle with green onions, then serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 332kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 144mg | Sodium: 741mg | Potassium: 598mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 195IU | Vitamin C: 10.2mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 2.1mg

Filed Under: Dinner, Grilling Tagged With: Chicken, Pineapple

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Comments

  1. Lisa Rupena says

    April 12, 2021 at 8:07 am

    Has anyone tried this in an airfryer? If so, time/temp?

    Reply
  2. Kelsey says

    September 28, 2020 at 5:08 pm

    Hi. I love this recipe and make it a lot. Can you tell me how many ounces of chicken is one serving?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      September 28, 2020 at 7:21 pm

      It should be 4 ounces!

      Reply
  3. Sophie says

    July 19, 2020 at 7:12 pm

    5 stars
    Perfect amount of savory and sweet! The marinade was very flavorful

    Reply
  4. Gladys Davila says

    June 16, 2020 at 4:53 pm

    5 stars
    This was absolutely delicious! I did add a 1 tbsp of rice wine vinegar to the marinade as I had seen it was part of the original recipe from the Hawaiian chef. Thank you so much for sharing! We ate it all up with Coconut Jasmine Rice and Grilled Asparagus.

    Reply
  5. Alicia says

    June 6, 2020 at 6:08 pm

    So incredibly delicious and tender! The only thing I left out where the green onions. Total crowd pleaser!

    Reply
  6. Peg says

    May 24, 2020 at 4:48 am

    5 stars
    We made this last night for dinner and it was delicious. My husband grilled it. So happy a friend shared this recipe with me. Will definitely be making it again and again.

    Reply
  7. Deb says

    November 20, 2019 at 4:17 pm

    5 stars
    We loved the grilled pineapple that went with the chicken! Really comes out nice and it was easy to make!

    Reply
  8. Kelly says

    July 20, 2019 at 1:05 pm

    If cooking in an oven, what temp & for how long?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      July 20, 2019 at 3:54 pm

      400 degrees F for 20-30 minutes!

      Reply
    • Max says

      February 21, 2020 at 5:41 pm

      Dumb question….. do you bake it on a cookie tray? Or in a pan? Do you spray the cookie tray or pan before baking in the oven?

      Thank you

      Reply
      • Sara says

        February 22, 2020 at 9:27 pm

        You can make it on a sheet pan coated with cooking spray.

        Reply
  9. Sandra | A Dash of Sanity says

    July 19, 2019 at 9:34 pm

    5 stars
    This is such a great weeknight meal!

    Reply
  10. Jacque Hooper says

    July 17, 2019 at 7:33 am

    What a great mixture of sweet and smokey! My kids love pineapple; I am looking forward to making this for them! Sounds amazing!

    Reply
  11. Noreen says

    July 16, 2019 at 6:45 am

    I’m having a party for a crowd. Can I make this ahead and then just heat it up slightly ahead of time? What are your suggestions? Thank you 🙂

    Reply
    • Sara says

      July 16, 2019 at 8:49 pm

      That should work just fine, I’d bake it covered at 325 until warmed through!

      Reply
  12. Beth Pierce says

    July 11, 2019 at 8:58 am

    5 stars
    Love the perfect balance of sweet and savory with this meal! You have me dreaming of a tropical vacation, indeed! Delicious!

    Reply
  13. Krista says

    July 11, 2019 at 7:41 am

    5 stars
    That sauce and that grilled pineapple…YUM! Well done!

    Reply
  14. Taylor says

    July 11, 2019 at 5:27 am

    5 stars
    This chicken is calling my name!! That marinade looks absolutely delicious!

    Reply
  15. Catalina says

    July 11, 2019 at 1:59 am

    5 stars
    I am drooling over this chicken dish! I love all these flavors! So delish!

    Reply
  16. Michelle says

    July 10, 2019 at 9:20 am

    There is a new Hawaiian restaurant here and I LOVE their Huli Huli chicken! I can’t wait to try this at home and see how it goes!

    Reply
  17. Roxi says

    July 8, 2019 at 6:22 am

    5 stars
    What do you serve with this? Need help!

    Reply
    • Sara says

      July 8, 2019 at 8:45 am

      Serve with rice and a green veggie such as asparagus or broccoli!

      Reply

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With 3 young kids, dinner can feel like feeding time at the zoo! I'm a mom on a mission to create easy, healthy and family friendly recipes ...Read More
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