Authentic Grilled Hawaiian Huli Huli Chicken with Sweet Pineapple Glaze
Make this authentic Hawaiian Huli Huli Chicken on your grill for a sweet, smoky, and tropical dinner. The simple marinade creates incredibly juicy chicken perfect for your next backyard barbecue favorite.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Total Time: 45 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 lbs chicken pieces (thighs or breasts)
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup pineapple preserves or jam (for basting)
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (for basting)
- Fresh pineapple rings for grilling (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, grated ginger, minced garlic, sesame oil, and black pepper in a bowl. Whisk until the sugar dissolves. This is your Huli Huli Sauce Recipe base.
- Place the chicken pieces in a large, sealable bag or shallow dish. Pour half of the marinade over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are coated. Reserve the remaining half of the marinade for basting later.
- Refrigerate the chicken for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, to absorb the flavor. This creates the best marinade for Huli Huli.
- About 30 minutes before grilling, prepare your grill for medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade, discarding the used marinade.
- Grill the chicken for 6 to 8 minutes per side, turning frequently (this is the ‘huli’ or turn).
- While the chicken cooks, mix the reserved pineapple preserves/jam and rice vinegar in a small saucepan over low heat until smooth. This is your glaze.
- During the last 5 minutes of cooking, brush the chicken generously with the pineapple glaze every time you turn it. Continue grilling until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit and the chicken has a nice caramelized char.
- If using, grill the pineapple rings alongside the chicken for 2-3 minutes per side until lightly charred.
- Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve with grilled pineapple, white rice, and Hawaiian mac salad for a complete Island Style Chicken Dinner.
Notes
- For extra flavor, use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. They stay juicier on the grill.
- If you prefer baking over grilling, you can bake this at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-35 minutes, basting frequently with the glaze during the last 10 minutes.
- This recipe works well for making Chicken and Pineapple kabobs.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 oz cooked chicken
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 22
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 9
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 35
- Cholesterol: 110