• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About
  • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Dinner at the Zoo

  • All Recipes
  • Dinner
  • Appetizers
  • Dessert
  • One Pot Meals
  • Slow Cooker
  • Asian Food

Home » Grilling » Huli Huli Chicken

Published: July 6, 2019 Last Modified: July 6, 2019 By Sara 33 Comments

Huli Huli Chicken

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
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 13 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
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
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @DinnerAtTheZoo or tag #dinneratthezoo!
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Filed Under: Dinner, Grilling

FREE TOOLKIT: 5 Secrets to Meal Planning

Learn my 5 Meal Planning Secrets & get my Meal Planning Toolkit...FREE!

    ​
    ​

    Still hungry? Follow Dinner at the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for more great recipe ideas!

    « Grilled Pork Tenderloin
    Chicken Lo Mein »

    Comments

    1. Sarah says

      May 29, 2022 at 5:00 pm

      Yummy! Just made this for dinner and my family loved it! I will be putting this in our dinner rotation.

      Reply
    2. Tracey Mitchell says

      July 13, 2021 at 12:24 pm

      I ran out of fresh garlic and ginger. Can I use ground ginger and garlic powder? Also can I use crushed pineapple.

      Reply
      • Sara says

        July 13, 2021 at 6:30 pm

        Yes use 1/3 of the amount of dried ginger and garlic!

        Reply
    3. Maribel says

      May 10, 2021 at 10:36 am

      when cooking it in the oven so i put the pineapple and chicken together and it cooks together?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        May 10, 2021 at 6:54 pm

        Yes add it during the last 5-7 minutes of the cooking time.

        Reply
    4. Lisa Rupena says

      April 12, 2021 at 8:07 am

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

      Reply
    5. 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
    6. Sophie says

      July 19, 2020 at 7:12 pm

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

      Reply
    7. 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
    8. 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
    9. 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
    10. 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
    11. 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
    12. Sandra | A Dash of Sanity says

      July 19, 2019 at 9:34 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a great weeknight meal!

      Reply
    13. 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
    14. 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
    15. 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
    16. Krista says

      July 11, 2019 at 7:41 am

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

      Reply
    17. Taylor says

      July 11, 2019 at 5:27 am

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

      Reply
    18. 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
    19. 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
    20. 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
    Newer Comments »

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating





    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

    Game Day Snacks

    A stack of chicken taquitos with a drizzle of sour cream and pico de gallo topping.

    Chicken Taquitos (Baked or Fried)

    A sheet pan of fried green beans garnished with chopped parsley.

    Fried Green Beans

    This recipe for cilantro lime shrimp with mango avocado salsa is a quick yet impressive dinner or appetizer that's full of flavor and color. Best of all, it's ready in just 20 minutes!

    Cilantro Lime Shrimp with Mango Salsa

    A pile of crispy coconut shrimp on a sheet pan with cilantro leaves for garnish.

    Coconut Shrimp

    Maryland crab cakes on a serving plate with lemon wedges.

    Maryland Crab Cakes

    A bowl of crockpot little smokies with a fork in it.

    Crockpot Little Smokies

    More Posts from this Category

    Featured Recipes

    A spoon serving up a portion of hamburger casserole made with pasta and melted cheese.

    Hamburger Casserole

    These oven baked beef tacos are filled with beans, meat and melted cheese, then topped off with shredded lettuce and fresh salsa. The best way to make tacos for a crowd!

    Baked Beef Tacos

    Sliced grilled chicken breast garnished with herbs and lemon.

    Grilled Chicken Breast

    This one pot chicken with cheddar broccoli rice combines classic flavors for a quick and easy dinner. Chicken thighs are cooked with a creamy cheesy broccoli cheddar rice for a complete meal without all the cleanup.

    Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole

    FREE TOOLKIT: 5 Secrets to Meal Planning

    Learn my 5 Meal Planning Secrets & get my Meal Planning Toolkit...FREE!

      ​
      ​

      Categories

      Sites I am featured In
      PRIVACY POLICY ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT © Sara Welch and Dinner at the Zoo® LLC, 2015-2022.
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest
      • RSS
      • Twitter
      • About Me
      • Contact Me
      • All Recipes
      • Dinner
      • Appetizers
      • Dessert
      • One Pot Meals
      • Slow Cooker
      • Asian Food