This grilled Huli Huli Chicken recipe is marinated in a delicious, sweet Hawaiian marinade and includes fresh grilled pineapple too.
About Huli Huli Chicken
Huli Huli chicken is a traditional Hawaiian dish that features grilled chicken marinated in a sweet and savory sauce. The name “huli huli” means “turn turn” in Hawaiian, referring to the method of cooking where the chicken is continually rotated or turned while grilling to ensure even cooking and flavor distribution.
🛒 Ingredients Needed:
- brown sugar
- ketchup
- reduced-sodium soy sauce
- chicken broth
- fresh ginger
- garlic
- boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- fresh pineapple
- butter
✏️ How to Make Huli Huli Chicken:
*The full, printable recipe is at the end of this post.
- In a small bowl, combine all ingredients (except chicken). Reserve ¾ cup for basting; cover and refrigerate. Pour the rest of the marinade in a large zip bag. Add the chicken to the bag, and refrigerate to let marinate overnight.
- Drain the chicken; discard the marinade.
- Grill the chicken, covered on indirect heat until done. Baste occasionally with the reserved marinade during the last 5 minutes.
- Grill the pineapple slices, basted with butter and brown sugar too, if desired.
➡️ Tips and Substitutions:
- Substitute brown sugar with honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, or even molasses for sweetness. Keep in mind that the flavor profile may vary slightly depending on the substitute used.
- Fresh ginger and garlic will provide the best flavor. Grate or finely mince them rather than using powdered versions for a more vibrant taste.
- Substitute brown sugar with honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, or even molasses for sweetness. Keep in mind that the flavor profile may vary slightly depending on the substitute used.
✔️Make Ahead Freezing Tip:
If you’re not planning to grill the chicken right away, you can freeze it in the marinade. Place the chicken and marinade in a freezer-safe container or sealable bag, remove excess air, and freeze. Thaw the chicken in the refrigerator overnight before grilling.
❤️ What I Love About This Recipe:
- The delicious marinade not only adds flavor but also helps tenderize the chicken, resulting in juicy and tender meat with every bite.
- I love that this chicken is great served on its own, but it’s also good served in sandwiches, salads and tacos!
- It’s so easy to make. I love that you can let it marinate overnight.
Favorite Grilling Recipes:
Grilled Huli Huli Chicken
Ingredients
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- fresh pineapple slices basted with butter and brown sugar, optional
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine all ingredients (except chicken). Reserve ¾ cup for basting; cover and refrigerate. Pour the rest of the marinade in a large zip bag. Add the chicken to the bag, and refrigerate to let marinate overnight.
- Drain the chicken; discard the marinade.
- Grill the chicken, covered on indirect heat until done. Baste occasionally with the reserved marinade during the last 5 minutes.
- Grill the pineapple slices, basted with butter and brown sugar too, if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
