Huli Huli Chicken Recipe – Jessica Gavin

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By Ghuman

Introduction

Welcome to Jessica Gavin’s Huli Huli Chicken Recipe! This Hawaiian-style chicken dish is a delicious and easy way to bring a taste of the islands to your dinner table. The sweet and savory marinade of pineapple juice, soy sauce, and ginger is the perfect complement to the juicy, tender chicken. With just a few simple ingredients and a few minutes of prep time, you can have a delicious meal that will transport you to the tropics. So grab your ingredients and let’s get cooking!

Huli Huli Chicken Recipe – Jessica Gavin

Huli Huli Chicken is a Hawaiian classic that is perfect for summer grilling. The sweet and savory marinade is made with pineapple juice, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. The chicken is grilled to perfection and served with a tangy and slightly spicy sauce. This recipe from Jessica Gavin is sure to be a hit at your next barbecue!

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1/2 cup pineapple juice
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together pineapple juice, soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Place chicken thighs in a large resealable bag and pour marinade over the chicken. Seal the bag and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, rice vinegar, sesame oil, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, ground ginger, ground mustard, and smoked paprika. Set aside.
  3. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Remove chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade. Grill chicken for about 5 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Brush the chicken with the reserved sauce and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes per side.
  4. Serve the chicken with additional sauce, if desired.

Are you craving a Hawaiian-inspired barbecue or luau? This huli huli chicken is marinated in a sweet and savory sauce, which turns into an incredibly flavorful glaze during grilling.

Huli huli chicken served on a white plater with grilled pineapple.
Table of Contents
  1. What is huli huli chicken?
  2. Chicken selection
  3. Make the huli huli marinade
  4. Grill the chicken
  5. Check for doneness
  6. Serve this with
  7. FAQ
  8. Huli Huli Chicken Recipe

I’m a big fan of chicken marinades to maximize the flavor before sizzling the meat on a hot grill. For this recipe, I use a tomato-based marinade that combines savory soy sauce, dark brown sugar, and rice vinegar to balance the bold flavors. The flavor pop comes from finely grated fresh garlic cloves and ginger to add a spicy and aromatic taste.

Pieces of chicken thighs marinate in the huli huli sauce for at least 3 hours to get a strong coating. You can even prepare it a day ahead, so you can just fire up the grill when you’re ready to serve. The trick is to “huli” the grilled chicken, or “turn” in Hawaiian, a few times to let the sticky sauce caramelize on the surface. Serve with your favorite side dishes like potato salad, macaroni salad, or coconut rice for a complete meal.

Labeled ingredients to make Hawaiian inspired grilled chicken.

What is huli huli chicken?

This popular dish was created on the shores of Oahu by Ernest Morgado. In 1955, the Honolulu-based businessman would grill up delicious pieces of teriyaki-style chicken for local patrons. The traditional Hawaiian preparation is between two racks and turned, or “hulied” for even cooking, hence the name, huli huli. 

The sauce can be customized, but the base is ketchup, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, ginger, and garlic. You can make the recipe with big pieces of light or dark meat, bone-in chicken, or boneless for quicker cooking.

Chicken selection

I use boneless skinless chicken thighs for the recipe. The meat is fatter, which helps it stay moist and tender while being grilled, turned over, and basted several times. If you prefer more lean meat, use chicken breast. Adjust the cooking time to ensure that the texture does not dry out. 

Skin-on, bone-in light, or dark meat can be used, although you’ll need more time to cook since the bones act as an insulator.

Make the huli huli marinade

I use equal amounts of ketchup, soy sauce, and dark brown sugar for rich molasses notes. The tomato concentrate and soy naturally contain umami flavors, which enhance the savory taste of the marinade. Unseasoned rice vinegar adds a bright and tangy taste. To infuse a stronger spicy, pungent, and sulfurous taste, finely grate fresh ginger and garlic into a paste. A microplane makes the job easy! 

Add salt to make sure the meat is well seasoned, and pepper for spice. If you like the taste of sesame oil, add 1 to 2 teaspoons to the mixture. Pineapple juice is also an option to add a fruiter taste. Save a ½ cup of the sauce to use for basting. Marinate the chicken for at least 3 hours and up to 24 hours. Any longer and the chicken will get too dried out and become like jerky.

Brushing marinade on a piece of chicken while grilling.

Grill the chicken

What makes this technique different from your typical grilled chicken is the frequent turning and brushing with the sauce. The technique allows the meat to cook evenly on both sides and prevents the sauce from burning. I do a similar method for making chicken yakitori. Grill the chicken over medium-high heat, between 375 to 400ºF (191 to 204ºC). This temperature helps develop the initial light char marks on both sides. 

I like to cook the meat for 5 minutes to get a nice sear, then flip and baste with the reserved marinade. Repeat the flipping and basting at least two more times to get a beautifully caramelized surface and fully cooked pieces. The sauce contains sugar, so it will burn if not monitored. Move the chicken to the indirect heat side if you see the surface charring too quickly.

Check for doneness

For boneless chicken thighs, target between 165 to 170ºF (74 to 77) in the thickest part of the meat. This process will take about 15 minutes, depending on the thickness, and longer for bone-in pieces.

For boneless chicken breast, target between 160 to 165ºF (71 to 74ºF) for breasts so that it doesn’t dry out. It will take about 3 to 8 minutes per side, depending on if it’s cut into thinner cutlets or longer with the bone.

Huli huli chicken served with macaroni salad and white rice.

Serve this with

FAQ

Can you use chicken breast or bone-in pieces?

Yes! You can substitute chicken breast for chicken thighs if you prefer light meat. The chicken will cook faster and is leaner, so keep an eye out for doneness a few minutes earlier. Bone-in pieces will take longer to cook.

Can you make huli huli chicken spicy?

Add red pepper flakes, chili oil, sriracha, or other types of chili sauce to the marinade. Start with ⅛ teaspoon, increasing the amount to the desired heat level.

Can I use the huli huli marinade just as a sauce?

I recommend simmering the ingredients on the stovetop over medium-low heat for about 5 to 10 minutes before using it as just a sauce. This process will help evaporate some moisture, making a thicker, stickier consistency. Cooking also helps to mellow the spice from the grated ginger and garlic, which is a little harsh eaten raw.

Close up of a plate of grilled huli huli chicken.

To substitute ketchup in the sauce

Mix ¼ cup of tomato paste with ½ cup of water or pineapple juice. Measure out ½ cup of the mixture and add it to the sauce. If you’d like, add ½ teaspoon of onion powder. Ketchup is simply tomato paste diluted to a pourable consistency and flavored with sugar, distilled vinegar, salt, onion powder, and other proprietary seasonings.

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  • Make the marinade – In a bowl, whisk together the ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, salt, and pepper. Reserve a ½ cup for basting, and refrigerate until ready to use.

  • Marinate the Chicken – Add the chicken to a baking dish or resealable plastic bag. Pour in the marinade and turn the pieces to coat evenly. Tightly cover or reseal and transfer to the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or up to 24 hours.

  • Preheat the Grill – Preheat the grill over medium-high heat between 375 to 400ºF (191 to 204ºC). Clean and carefully grease the cooking grates with the oil.

  • Grill the Chicken – Place the meat on the grill and close the lid. Cook for 5 minutes then flip and baste with the reserved sauce. Cook covered for about 5 minutes then flip and baste. Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes then flip, baste, cover, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.Cook until the internal temperature reaches about 165 to 170ºF (74 to 77ºC). If browning quickly, move the chicken to the indirect heat side of the grill to finish.
  • To Serve – Cover the chicken with foil to keep warm. Rest for 5 minutes before slicing or serving. Garnish with green onions.

  • Servings: About 12 smaller pieces, varies by brand
  • Marinade: Makes 1 ½ cups
  • Storing: Store chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Store marinade for up to 2 days in the refrigerator.
  • Reheating: Cover and microwave the chicken on high heat in 15 to 30-second increments until hot.
  • Ketchup Substitute: Combine ¼ cup tomato paste and ½ cup water or pineapple juice. Add ½ cup of the mixture to the sauce. If desired, add ½ teaspoon onion powder.
  • Make it Gluten-Free: Substitute soy sauce with gluten-free tamari or coconut aminos.

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Nutrition Facts

Huli Huli Chicken

Amount Per Serving

Calories 302
Calories from Fat 171

% Daily Value*

Fat 19g29%

Saturated Fat 5g25%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 4g

Monounsaturated Fat 8g

Cholesterol 111mg37%

Sodium 818mg34%

Potassium 300mg9%

Carbohydrates 13g4%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 11g12%

Protein 20g40%

Vitamin A 145IU3%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 22mg2%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tried this recipe?

Tag @jessica_gavin on Instagram. I’d love to see how it turns out!

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