This grilled huli huli chicken is one of my favorite summertime recipes. I marinate chicken thighs in a sweet and tangy huli huli marinade made with soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, ginger, and garlic. Cooked to juicy perfection, this Hawaiian BBQ chicken is bursting with island-inspired flavor. For the full experience, I serve it with grilled pineapple slices, which help tenderize the meat and take the dish over the top.
Top Reader Reviews
This was delicious! Followed the recipe exactly.
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We made this the first time with bone in, skin on chicken thighs. Took longer to grill, of course…But…Holy cow it was incredible! The skin crisped up well and held so much flavor in it. We have made it again with chicken breasts and boneless skinless chicken thighs, and it’s nearly just as good! Served with grilled pineapple (a must), macaroni salad, Hawaiian style white rice, and a little teriyaki bbq sauce for a full Hawaiian plate dinner. This has become one of our favorite meals. Thanks!
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Hawaiian BBQ Grilled Chicken
Huli-huli chicken is a popular Hawaiian dish featuring an amazing BBQ style sauce. The name refers to a specific cooking method that makes this chicken irresistible! The trick to this recipe is continuously flipping and basting the chicken while grilling, so that it cooks perfectly and the sauce caramelizes in the process.
This method turns basic grilled chicken into an easy tropical dinner that tastes like a backyard luau. I love serving this grilled Huli Huli chicken with classic BBQ sides, or tucked into a Hawaiian chicken sandwich.
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Huli Huli Sauce
The huli huli sauce and marinade is the star of the show in this simple grilled chicken recipe. Brown sugar adds a rich sweetness, and helps caramelize the meat. Ketchup, soy sauce, and rice vinegar create a balanced, tangy-sweet flavor. While fresh ginger and garlic bring a bold kick.
Grilled Huli Huli Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- Grill or Indoor Grill Pan
Ingredients
- 4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (*)
For the Marinade/Sauce:
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup ketchup
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ⅓ cup rice vinegar
- 1 small knob fresh ginger (minced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
For Serving (Optional):
- chopped fresh cilantro
- chopped green onions
Instructions
Marinate:
- To make the marinade, whisk together the brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, and garlic together in a sealable plastic bag or large dish. Reserve ½ cup of the marinade for cooking.½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup ketchup, ½ cup soy sauce, ⅓ cup rice vinegar, 1 small knob fresh ginger, 3 cloves garlic
- Place the chicken in the marinade and let it marinate overnight for the best flavor or at least 2 hours.4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Grill:
- Oil the racks of the grill. Heat the grill to medium. Place the chicken on the grill, cooking for 20-25 minutes. Every 5 minutes, flip the chicken and baste with the reserved marinade. The chicken is finished once the internal temperature of the thickest part of the thigh or breast reaches 165°F.
- Finish with a sprinkling of chopped cilantro and green onions. Serve with grilled pineapple if desired.chopped fresh cilantro, chopped green onions
Notes
- Rub a little oil onto the (clean and preheated) grates right before cooking so the chicken doesn’t stick.
- To make this a gluten-free chicken recipe, use GF soy sauce.
Note: Water, salt, pepper, oil, and broth are not counted as ingredients on this site.
Marinate Overnight
For the most tender, juicy chicken, I always recommend marinating the meat overnight. While 2 hours will add plenty of flavor, a full overnight soak in the huli huli marinade allows the sweet and tangy flavors to really penetrate the chicken before grilling.
How to Grill Huli Huli Chicken Step by Step
Make the Huli Huli Marinade: Whisk together ½ cup of brown sugar, ½ cup of ketchup, ½ cup of soy sauce, ⅓ cup of rice vinegar, 1 grated small knob of fresh ginger, and 3 minced cloves of garlic together in a sealable plastic bag or large dish. Reserve ½ cup of the marinade to use as a basting sauce while cooking.
Marinate the Chicken: Place 4 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts, legs, or drumsticks) in the marinade, and let it marinate overnight for the best flavor (or at least 2 hours).
Grill the Chicken: Oil the racks of a grill or grill pan, then heat it to medium. Place the marinated chicken on the grill, cooking for 20-25 minutes. Flip and baste the chicken with the huli huli sauce every 5 minutes (this is key!).
Serve the Chicken: Finish with a sprinkling of chopped cilantro and green onions. Serve Hawaiian BBQ chicken with grilled pineapple if desired.
How to Store and Reheat
Store Huli Huli chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating in the microwave in 30-second increments, or in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes.
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