Description
Huli Huli Chicken – a sweet and savory grilled dish that brings the taste of Hawaii to your table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (240ml) pineapple juice
- ½ cup (120ml) low-sodium soy sauce
- ½ cup (120ml) packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup (60ml) rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) fresh ginger, grated or minced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) toasted sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) sriracha or other hot sauce (optional)
- ½ teaspoon (2.5g) black pepper, freshly ground
- 3–4 pounds (1.3-1.8kg) bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces (mix of thighs and drumsticks recommended)
- Salt, to taste (optional)
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste (optional)
- Toasted sesame seeds (for garnish, optional)
- Fresh green onions or scallions, thinly sliced (for garnish, optional)
- Fresh pineapple slices, grilled (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, sriracha, and black pepper. Whisk until well combined. Reserve ½ to ¾ cup for basting.
- Pat chicken pieces dry. Optionally, make shallow slits in thicker pieces for flavor penetration. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
- Place chicken in a bowl or resealable bag. Pour remaining marinade over chicken, ensuring every piece is coated. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat (400-450°F / 200-230°C). Clean and lightly oil the grates.
- Place chicken skin-side down over direct heat. Sear for 4-5 minutes until golden brown. Flip and move to indirect heat.
- Retrieve reserved marinade. After 10-15 minutes of indirect cooking, brush chicken with glaze. Flip and baste every 5-7 minutes.
- Grill for 25-40 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F (74°C). Optionally, sear over direct heat for 1-2 minutes per side for extra crispiness.
- Transfer chicken to a board and let rest for 5-10 minutes. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions. Serve with rice, macaroni salad, or green salad.
Notes
- For best flavor, marinate chicken overnight.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is fully cooked.
- Adjust spice level by varying the amount of sriracha.
- Prep Time: 4 hours
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Keywords: Huli Huli Chicken, Hawaiian BBQ, Grilled Chicken, Sweet Chicken