Huli Huli Chicken
Grilled Huli Huli Chicken marinates chicken thighs in a sweet, savory sauce that delivers tender, juicy meat after just 10 minutes of cooking! Prep it the night before for an easy dinner option the next day!
Toss more mouthwatering chicken recipes like Spatchcock Grilled Chicken and Ranch Chicken onto the grill all summer long!
A BBQ Favorite
Set out that patio furniture, heat up your grill, and cook up this flavor-packed Huli Huli Chicken! Friends and family will come running the instant they smell it grilling!
This popular Hawaiian dish is guaranteed to please everyone’s taste buds thanks to the homemade savory, sweet marinade! Your only job is to prep it in 10 minutes, marinate the chicken, and then grill it up to perfection!
Gilled Huli Huli Chicken Ingredients
This recipe begins with preparing the Homemade Huli Huli Chicken Marinade. Once it’s made, it will combine with the chicken in a Ziploc bag and marinate in the fridge.
To make the marinade recipe you’ll need ketchup, soy sauce, chicken broth, minced ginger root, minced garlic, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Then light brown sugar is mixed in to bring out the sweet side of this delicious marinade!
I like to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this recipe! I just find the meat is much more tender and juicy! However, you can also use bone-in chicken thighs, drum sticks, or even chicken breasts!
This recipe was a family favorite! Marinade in the morning and grill for dinner, that’s all there is to it! Such great flavor as well!
– Shauna M.
How To Make Huli Huli Chicken
- Whisk together the brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, and chicken broth. Then mix in the minced ginger root, garlic, rice vinegar, and sesame oil.
- Divide this marinade, placing some in the fridge to use for basting the chicken while it’s cooking.
- Combine the chicken thighs and remaining marinade into a large freezer bag. Place the bag of chicken into the fridge to marinate.
- Grill the chicken on lightly oiled grates. Brush the marinade that you set aside earlier onto the chicken as it cooks.
How To Store Huli Huli Chicken
Place the cooked Huli Huli Chicken into an airtight container. Then store it in the fridge for up to 4 days. The leftovers can also be frozen and enjoyed for up to 3 months.
What To Serve With Huli Huli Chicken
Serve this up with white, brown, or cauliflower rice, quinoa, stir fry veggies, grilled pineapple, or an Asian salad!
More Tasty Recipes For The Grill Or Smoker:
- Warm & Spicy Smoked Turkey Breast – Tender, juicy meat that’s coated in a spicy dry rub!
- Grilled Chicken Salad – Served with a homemade creamy dressing that’s absolutely delicious!
- Smoked Queso Dip – A popular TikTok recipe that’s had mouths watering ever since it went viral!
- BBQ Baby Back Ribs – Fall-off-the-bone tender meat, starts in the oven and finishes on the grill!
- Smoked Mac and Cheese – A dish that all Mac and cheese lovers will be drooling over!
Steps
In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, and chicken broth. Then stir in the minced ginger root, garlic, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Set aside 1 cup of this marinade, cover it, and keep it in the fridge to use for basting the chicken while it is cooking.
Place the remaining marinade into a large freezer bag with the chicken thighs. Move the chicken around to spread the marinade evenly. Place this in the fridge to marinate overnight (or at least 8 hours).
When you are ready to grill the chicken, make sure to lightly oil the grill. Remove the chicken pieces from the marinade (throw out the marinade that the chicken was in). Place the chicken on the grill and let it cook for about 3 minutes on one side, brush some of the set-aside marinade on. Flip it and cook for another 3 minutes, again brush the marinade on. Repeat this process until the chicken is fully cooked. (It may take about 10 minutes depending on the heat of your grill.) Be sure to cook the chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Notes
- Storage Instructions: Leftover Huli Huli chicken may be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Or you may freeze it for up to 3 months.
- Can I use the marinade that was on the chicken for basting it? No. It is important to throw out the marinade that was on the chicken. Do not use this to baste the chicken as this will not cook it enough to make it safe to eat.
- How can I be sure the chicken is fully cooked? Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken and make sure the internal temperature is 165 degrees.
- I don’t have a grill - could I still make this chicken? Yes, you could sear the chicken in a skillet (with 1 Tablespoon of oil). Brush it with the set-aside marinade, then bake it in a 375 degree oven for about 20 minutes.
What could I serve this with? I like to serve Huli Huli chicken with white or brown rice, cauliflower rice, quinoa, stir fry veggies, Asian salad, or grilled pineapple. - Can I use other pieces of chicken? Yes, but you will need to adjust the cooking time to achieve doneness. If you choose to use bone-in chicken thighs (165 degrees) or drumsticks (170 degrees), you will have to increase the cooking time slightly. If you use chicken breasts (165 degrees), you will need to decrease the cooking time or the meat may be dry.
Nutrition
- Calories385
- Carbs25g
- Protein46g
- Fat11g
- Saturated fat3g
- Fiber1g
- Sugar22g
- Sodium1541mg
Estimates per serving, when a serving size is listed.
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