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up close image of huli huli chicken on plate
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4.48 from 136 votes

Huli Huli Chicken Recipe

This easy huli huli chicken recipe is a summertime staple! Marinated chicken is grilled to perfection using the "huli huli" method, and coated in a Hawaiian BBQ style sauce.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Marinate2 hours
Total Time2 hours 30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, hawaiian
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 627kcal
Author: Becky Hardin

Equipment

  • Grill or Indoor Grill Pan

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs *
  • chopped fresh cilantro optional, for serving
  • chopped green onions optional, for serving
  • pineapple slices optional, for serving**

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

Instructions

Marinate:

  • Whisk together the brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, and garlic together in a resealable plastic bag or large dish.
    ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup ketchup, ½ cup soy sauce, ⅓ cup rice vinegar, 1 small knob fresh ginger, 3 cloves garlic
    Whisking huli huli sauce in a bowl.
  • Reserve ½ cup of the marinade to use as a basting sauce.
    Reserving huli huli marinade for grilling.
  • Place the chicken in the marinade. Make sure it is fully submerged/coated.
    4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
    Tossing chicken thighs in huli huli marinade.
  • Marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or overnight for the best flavor.
    Marinating chicken thighs in a bowl.

Grill:

  • Oil the racks of the grill to prevent sticking. Heat the grill to medium (350-375℉).
    Brushing grill grates with olive oil.
  • Place the chicken on the grill, cooking for 20-25 minutes total.
    Marinated chicken thighs on a grill.
  • Every 5 minutes, flip the chicken and baste with the reserved marinade.
    Basting chicken thighs with huli huli sauce as they cook on the grill.
  • The chicken is finished once the internal temperature of the thickest part of the thigh or breast reaches 165°F.
    Flipping chicken as it cooks on the grill.
  • Finish with a sprinkling of chopped cilantro and green onions. Serve with grilled pineapple if desired.
    chopped fresh cilantro, chopped green onions, pineapple slices
    Grilled huli huli chicken served in a bowl with rice, grilled pineapple, and zucchini.

Video

Notes

*I created and tested this recipe using boneless chicken thighs. But you can use bone-in thighs, chicken breasts, legs/drumsticks, or any cut you like. Adjust cooking time as needed.
**Fresh or canned pineapple slices are great for serving. Simply grill them for a couple of minutes to give them a nice char.
Becky's Top Tips:
  • Marinate chicken overnight for ultra-tender, juicy meat. 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.
  • Be sure to reserve a portion of the marinade before adding raw chicken to avoid cross-contamination. This portion will be used as a sauce for basting later.
  • 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.
  • For tender meat, cook chicken thighs to an internal temp of 175℉.
Baking Instructions: Preheat your oven to 350°F. While the oven heats, I recommend searing each piece of chicken for 2-3 a side in a skillet. Place the chicken in a covered baking dish and bake for 30 minutes. Brush the chicken with the reserved sauce and then bake uncovered for another 5-10 minutes.
Storage: 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.

Nutrition

Calories: 627kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 163mg | Sodium: 2053mg | Potassium: 613mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 459IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 3mg