Description
Huli Huli Chicken is a Hawaiian classic made with a sweet and tangy pineapple-soy marinade, grilled to juicy perfection, and paired with caramelized pineapple slices. Perfect for summer BBQs or family dinners—bring the taste of the islands to your table!
Ingredients
1 cup pineapple juice
2/3 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/3 cup dry sherry (or mirin for non-alcoholic)
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (8–9 small pieces)
Canola oil, for grilling
6 (1-inch-thick) fresh cored pineapple rings
Thinly sliced scallions, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Mix the marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together pineapple juice, soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, sherry, vinegar, ginger, and garlic.
- Marinate the chicken: Add the chicken to a large resealable bag, pour in 2 cups of marinade, seal, and refrigerate for 2–4 hours. Reserve 1 cup for glazing.
- Prepare the grill: Remove chicken from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking and preheat the grill to medium heat (350°F–400°F).
- Grill the chicken: Lightly oil the grill grates. Cook chicken for 3 minutes per side, flipping every 2 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 135°F.
- Glaze the chicken: Brush with reserved marinade, continuing to flip and glaze until the chicken reaches 165°–175°F.
- Rest the chicken: Transfer to a platter and let rest for 10 minutes to lock in juices.
- Grill the pineapple: Raise grill heat to medium-high (400°F–450°F) and cook pineapple slices for about 4 minutes, flipping once, until caramelized.
- Serve: Arrange the chicken and pineapple on a platter, garnish with scallions, and enjoy.
Notes
Use fresh pineapple for the best flavor.
Resting the chicken helps lock in juices.
Replace sherry with mirin or rice vinegar for a non-alcoholic version.
For a spicy kick, add red pepper flakes or a dash of Sriracha to the marinade.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (+ 2–4 hours marinating)
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece of chicken with pineapple
- Calories: 132
- Sugar: 23g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Protein: 5g