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Homemade Huli Huli Chicken recipe photo

Huli Huli Chicken

Grilled Huli Huli-style chicken thighs marinated in a sweet-savory pineapple-soy glaze and basted with reserved, cooked marinade.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • ?1/2 cup 12 mlpineapple juicenot fresh
  • ?1/2 cup 115 gtomato ketchup
  • ?1/2 cup 100 glight brown sugar
  • ?1/4 cup 60 mlsoy sauce
  • ?2 tablespoons 30 mlunseasoned rice vinegar
  • ?1 tablespoon 15 mlsesame oilnot toasted sesame oil
  • ?1-2 teaspoonsSrirachaadjust to taste
  • ?3 clovesgarlicminced
  • ?1 tablespoonfresh gingergrated
  • ?2 pounds 900 gboneless skinless chicken thighs

Instructions

Instructions

  • In a large bowl or jug, combine 1/2 cup (12 ml) pineapple juice (not fresh), 1/2 cup (115 g) tomato ketchup, 1/2 cup (100 g) light brown sugar, 1/4 cup (60 ml) soy sauce, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) unseasoned rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) sesame oil (not toasted sesame oil), 1–2 teaspoons Sriracha (adjust to taste), 3 cloves garlic (minced), and 1 tablespoon fresh ginger (grated). Whisk until the sugar is mostly dissolved and the mixture is uniform.
  • Pour half of the marinade into a clean, heatproof bowl or container and set it aside for basting.
  • Add the 2 pounds (900 g) boneless skinless chicken thighs to the remaining marinade, toss to coat thoroughly, then cover the bowl (or seal the chicken and marinade in a zip-top bag) and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours.
  • When ready to cook, preheat the grill to medium-high. Clean and oil the grill grates.
  • While the grill preheats, place the reserved marinade in a small saucepan, bring it to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 1–2 minutes. Remove from heat and keep warm—this cooks the reserved marinade so it’s safe to use for basting.
  • Remove the chicken from the marinade and let any excess drip off. Discard the marinade that was in contact with the raw chicken.
  • Place the chicken on the preheated grill. Grill, turning and brushing with the cooked reserved marinade every 2–3 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). For boneless skinless thighs this typically takes about 10–15 minutes total—start with 3–5 minutes per side, then continue turning and basting until fully cooked.
  • Transfer the cooked chicken to a cutting board, let rest 5 minutes, then slice and serve.

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowl
  • Outdoor grill or grill pan

Notes

Remember to split up the marinade.Half of the pineapple juice mixture is for marinating the chicken, and the other half will be for adding while you’re grilling. To avoid cross-contamination reserve half of the mixture before adding the chicken to it.
Chicken is fully cookedwhen it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C. Chicken thighs cook fairly quickly on a hot grill, so be sure to keep an eye on them.
Keep turning!The key to deliciously caramelized chicken is to baste the chicken with the marinade several times, turning over after each application.
Let it rest:For juicy chicken, allow it to rest for about 5 minutes before cutting into it. This gives all of the juices a chance to reabsorb into the meat.
Grill some pineapple:Pineapple slices or spears only take a few minutes on the grill, so you can grill them after the chicken comes off the grill, while it’s resting.
To Store:Leftovers can be stored for up to four days in the fridge or frozen for up to three months.