Huli Huli Chicken Recipe with Pineapple Soy Marinade

4.8 from 6 votes

Huli Huli Chicken is a recipe I’ve cooked again and again, perfecting the balance of sweet and savory so every bite comes out tender and flavorful. Tested in my own home kitchen and shared live with thousands of viewers, this recipe has been refined with both hands-on practice and trusted techniques, so you can feel confident recreating it for your family.

This recipe can be cooked on the stove top or even grilled. And in a pinch you can even bake this sweet pineapple chicken in the oven. I've found they are all wonderful and quick ways to prepare this recipe. Although I do prefer the grill or stove top method personally.

Anyway you decide to cook Huli Huli Chicken, it’s quick, easy, juicy and delicious, why not serve Pistachio Salad along side for a fun treat. It's an easy fun salad recipe.

No more dry or unflavored chicken. This Huli Huli chicken will become a family favorite in no time. Try Chicken Thighs too. Oh you will thank me. I personally enjoy the boneless skinless thighs but bone in works too.

This Hawaiian Chicken Recipe goes great with a wide range of side dishes! Add a side of coleslaw or a side of my Hawaiian Mac Salad and you’re good to go! Maybe you want to try Air Fryer Spam a fun and tasty side too or even Teriyaki Noodles.

Ingredients for Huli Huli Chicken

Chicken. I've used boneless skinless chicken breasts for this recipe, but boneless skinless chicken thighs (or bone-in) would work well too.
Brown Sugar. Adds sweetness and a caramelized flavor to the dish. Light or Dark Brown Sugar
Ketchup. Use your favorite brand here for a sweet and tangy tomato marinade base. It adds a depth of flavor to the recipe
Soy Sauce. Low-Sodium Soy Sauce is best here either light or regular, so you can control the saltiness of your dish. You can use coconut aminos instead if you prefer.
Broth. Use Chicken Broth or Sherry to add an extra depth of flavor to your dish.
Pineapple Juice. Use fresh pineapple juice for the best flavor, but canned or frozen can also be used.
Ginger. Freshly minced ginger gives you the classic spiced punch to this sweet and sour dish.
Garlic. Fresh garlic that you can mince yourself will give you the best flavor. You can use garlic powder in a pinch, but you will need a bit less.

The Must Haves

Mixing Bowls - use to combine marinade for easy prep
Knife - Butterflying chicken breasts to make them an even thickness is ideal
Non-Stick Pan - I love Circulon pans and use often as they can go from stovetop to oven easily!
Baking Dishes - from 8x8 to 9x13, these baking dishes are a mush have in your kitchen

How to Make Huli Huli Chicken

In a bowl whisk together the Brown Sugar, Ketchup, Soy Sauce, Sherry (or chicken broth), Pineapple Juice, ginger, and garlic. Stir the ingredients to combine. reserve about ¼ cup to use later to baste.
Slicing the chicken breasts in half turning them into thin cutlets is my preferred method. This ensures the chicken breasts are a more even thickness. It also allows the chicken to cook faster and not dry out while cooking.
Pour marinade over the raw chicken breasts and toss chicken to coat. I use a ziplock bag as it makes the marinade process quick and easy.
Marinate the chicken for 4-6 hours. Four hours is the minimum 'sweet spot' for marinading.

Cooking Directions:

Heat a Frying Pan over medium on the stove.
Add 2 tbs of olive oil to the heated pan.
Place the chicken breasts in pan and then cook for 3-4 minutes per side.
Flip the chicken and then cook on the other side until chicken has reached 165 degrees internal temperature. The excess marinade will caramelize and burn if the heat is too high.
Baste the chicken with the additional marinade that you reserved.
Serve hot.

Huli Huli Chicken Oven Baked Directions:

Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees
On a cookie sheet, place marinated chicken breasts side by side
Bake for 20-23 minutes
Turn chicken over and baste half way through
Bake until chicken reached 165 degrees internal temperature at it's thickest point
Remove from oven and baste with marinade

Kitchen Q&A's for Huli-Huli Chicken

What does Huli Huli Chicken mean?

In Hawaiian, the word “Huli” means to turn, flip, rotate, reverse, etc.

Huli Huli chicken gets its name from the traditional cooking method used for the chicken. It's cooked slow and turned over and over to create a moist full of flavor Hawaiin chicken recipe

Usually, this dish is cooked Rotisserie style or on the grill. In those methods, it has to be turned over a few times to lock in the juices.

Can I use Chicken Thighs instead of Breasts

Yes, Chicken Thighs are moist and delicious and absorb the marinade flavors beautifully. Chicken lights will typically cook in less time so you will need to adjust accordingly.

What Is Huli Huli Chicken?

Huli Huli Chicken is a sweet savory Hawaiian chicken recipe made with soy sauce, pineapple juice, and garlic.

Video Tutorial

What is Hawaiian BBQ Chicken?

Hawaiian BBQ chicken can mean anything. Most of the time you’ll find it to mean a grilled or rotisserie style chicken with a sweet and tangy sauce.

Hawaiian BBQ chicken is delicious!

How long should I marinate Chicken?

If you’re in a hurry and cannot wait the full recommended time to marinate the chicken then do 4 hours.

At bare minimum of 4 hours should help to flavor the chicken.

That said, 6 hours or even overnight is always better. It gives a better flavor and makes the chicken nice and juicy

Fridge & Freezer Magic

Store leftover Huli Chicken in an airtight or sealed container in the fridge. Chicken should always be kept in the fridge for food safety reasons and should be enjoyed within 3-4 days of cooking.

To reheat use an Air fryer at 350 for 2-3 minutes, Microwave, or in oven. Heat to desired temperature.

Can I Marinate and freeze raw chicken to use later?

Absolutely. You can marinate and then freeze your raw chicken for a future meal.

Simply thaw and cook like normal when you’re ready. This also helps to get a better flavor out of the chicken without much effort.

Kitchen Secrets for Huli Huli Recipe

Huli Huli Chicken Marinade contains sugar and will burn easily with heat. By cooking at a medium temperature and turning often you can help prevent burning. If you noticing burning, turn the heat down slightly.
Serve leftovers in a variety of ways, cold in salads, heated on slider rolls, or heat with your other favorite sides.
Make this ahead of time! This recipe is easy to make the day before and allow chicken to marinate over night.
Choosing either Chicken Breasts or Thighs makes this recipe not only versatile but perfect for those who light or dark meat too

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4.84 from 6 votes