yummy huli huli chicken on a platter with veggies and pineapple.

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Want to make something fun this summer?  A nod to a tropical Hawaiian feast, my Yummy Huli Huli Chicken recipe is sweet and spicy, colorful and a delicious way to serve up a luau style BBQ.  Add my Pineapple Shrimp bowls to the menu and some side dishes for a spread your family and guests won’t soon forget.

What to serve with the Yummy Huli Huli Chicken

If you are wondering what to serve with my yummy huli huli chicken, I recommend some or all of the following great side dishes:

Exotic Fruit Salad with honey and lime dressing

Healthy Coleslaw

Coconut and Cashew Cauliflower Ricehttps://mycuratedtastes.com/coconut-and-cashew-cauliflower-rice/

Coconut Rice

How to make Huli Huli Sauce

  • Gather all your ingredients.  I’ve used so many of my favorite ingredients in this sauce that it is no wonder its so good!  In a small pot over medium-high heat, add the ketchup, pineapple juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, grated ginger, onion and garlic and one teaspoon of Momofuku Chili Crunch.  If you like heat, feel free to use more and up to 2 tablespoons if you want to feel the burn!  I personally just want the flavor so I use just a teaspoon.  

(Note: I didn’t want to add any additional sugar to the mix, there is plenty in the ketchup and pineapple juice, so I used Swerve brown sugar substitute.  Lakanto Brown monk fruit sugar substitute is also a good choice.  Feel free to use regular brown sugar if that is your preference.) 

  • I bring everything to a boil, stirring to combine.  Turn off the heat and let it cool.
  • This is such a flavorful sauce and one you can use not only on chicken, but on pork and shrimp too.  I’ve also used it mixed into my veggies and have even added some pineapple for a tropical feel.   So good.
ingredients for huli huli sauce.

How to make the seasoning

  • To make the seasoning for the chicken, simply mix everything in a bowl and then sprinkle liberally over all the chicken on both sides.  I’ll rub it in and then let it sit in a baking dish on the kitchen counter for 30  minutes.  You can do this the night before and keep it in the fridge overnight.  I’d just let it come to room temperature before cooking (about 1/2 hour on the counter) so you get even cooking.
raw chicken with seasoning in a baking dish.

Tips for grilling the chicken indoors

Since I’m making this whole dish in the house on a grill pan, I use both my stove top and oven for cooking this and finish my chicken under the broiler.  So, prep two baking sheets by covering them with foil.  Spray with cooking spray and put them to the side.  Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Place your grill pan over a medium-high heat on the stove and get it really hot.  Spray with cooking spray.  Place your whole bell peppers right on the grill pan and let them get grill marks on all sides.  You are going to flip them around every couple of minutes.  I like to use a wide range of yellow, red and orange peppers both because of the colors and because they are sweeter than green peppers.  While they are grilling, prep your pineapple.

How to core a pineapple

For year’s I struggled cutting up a pineapple.  Cutting off both ends and then cutting away the tough exterior skin was hard enough, but how do you get that core out of the middle and get those rings you always see pre-cut in the produce department, or heaven forbid, in a can?  I could never figure that out, so I could only cut the trimmed pineapple into spears and remove the core with a knife which works great in dishes like my Malibu-Pineapple with Coconut Sorbet & Macadamia Nuts but if you want those pineapple rings, I finally found the right tool and haven’t looked back. 

The pineapple corer and slicer changed a daunting task into something fun.  Plus, I started buying fresh pineapples all the time and started using them in so many recipes like my honey & lime pineapple and mango salsa – yum!

To core a pineapple today, I simply cut off the top of the pineapple and “screw in” my pineapple corer.  It has this sharp blade that swivels into the pineapple creating a circular ring of pineapple and separating it from the core in less than 30 seconds.  Then, I can slice into rings or chunks, depending on what I’m making.  Trust me, invest in this gadget and you’ll be making everything from Pina Coladas to Pineapple and Mango Chicken Stir Fry all the time.  I like to eat it fresh in the morning…feels like I’m on vacation at a tropical resort.

For this recipe, I simply cut into rings. 

cut pineapple.

How to make finish making the huli huli chicken recipe

  • When my bell peppers are nice and charred, I move them to a cutting board and then I grill my pineapple rings.  It takes about two minutes per side to get nice grill marks.  Move the grilled pineapple to one of the baking sheets.  Slice the bell peppers in quarters and add them to the baking sheet with the pineapple.  Brush all of it with the cooled huli huli sauce and place to the side.
grilled pineapple and peppers and bowl of huli huli sauce.
  • Spray your grill pan again and grill the chicken for about five minutes per side until you have good grill marks.  The chicken will be partially cooked.  Place on the second baking sheet and brush with the huli huli sauce.  Place the chicken in the oven for about 10 minutes.  Flip the chicken and brush the second side with more sauce.  Bake for another 10 minutes.  Flip again and brush with more sauce but this time but the baking sheet under the broiler.
  • Place the tray with the pineapple and peppers in the oven to heat through while you finish the chicken under the broiler.  Baste the chicken and flip the chicken several times in two minute intervals to finish cooking the chicken and to get the chicken nice and brown and well coated with the sauce.
platter of huli huli chicken on peppers and pineapple.
  • After most or all of the sauce is gone, plate the pineapple and peppers on a large platter and top with the cooked chicken.  Sprinkle with flaky salt, chopped green onions and the sesame seeds.  Enjoy.

Frequently asked questions and answers about huli huli chicken

“Huli huli” means “turn turn” in Hawaiian. The name refers to the traditional cooking method where the chicken is constantly turned over an open flame or grill to ensure even cooking and prevent burning.
Traditional huli huli sauce combines soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, sometimes chicken broth, fresh ginger, garlic, and pineapple juice. Some recipes also include rice vinegar, sesame oil, or honey for additional depth of flavor. I add additional flavor with grated onion and some heat with the chili crisp.
Huli huli chicken was created in 1955 by Ernest Morgado in Oahu, Hawaii. He developed the recipe for a community fundraiser and it became so popular that it spread throughout the Hawaiian Islands and eventually to the mainland United States.
Yes, you can make huli huli chicken in the oven, slow cooker, or even on the stovetop. While grilling gives the authentic smoky flavor, baking at 375 degrees F or using a slow cooker on low heat can produce delicious results when you baste frequently with the sauce.
For best results, marinate the chicken in the seasoning for at least 20-30 minutes but overnight is even better for more intense flavors.
Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and drumsticks are traditional and work best because they stay moist during the long cooking process. Whole chickens cut into pieces are also excellent. I use strictly boneless chicken thighs because they cook quicker, I don’t want the extra fat in the skin, and thigh meat stays incredible moist. They are easy to cook and hard to mess up. You really can’t go wrong with chicken thighs. I wouldn’t use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. They require more careful attention to prevent drying out. I haven’t master that so I stick with the thigh meat.

Cook the chicken over medium or medium-low heat rather than high heat. Apply the sauce in layers during the last 15-20 minutes of cooking, and keep turning the chicken frequently. You can also create cooler zones on your grill to move the chicken if flare-ups occur.

Traditional Hawaiian sides include steamed white rice, macaroni salad, coleslaw, grilled pineapple, and Hawaiian rolls. Corn on the cob, red fruit salad, and roasted sweet potatoes also complement the sweet and savory flavors perfectly.
Absolutely. Huli huli sauce can be made up to a week in advance and stored in the refrigerator. In fact, letting it sit allows the flavors to meld together beautifully. You can also freeze it for up to three months.
While both use soy sauce and sweet elements, huli huli sauce typically includes more complex ingredients like ginger, garlic, and pineapple juice, giving it a more tropical flavor profile. Huli huli also emphasizes the specific turning cooking technique, while teriyaki focuses more on the glaze itself. If you want to try a great teriyaki recipe, see my teriyaki salmon bowls recipe.

Did you enjoy this meal?  If so, please leave a rating below along with your comments.  I’d love to hear if you tried the recipe.  If you liked this tropical twist, be sure to try some of my other favorites like:

Pork Kebabs and Pineapple Rice with Macadamia Nuts

Spicy Pineapple and Basil Coleslaw

Whipped Coconut Cream with Pineapple & Macadamia Nuts

Corn Cakes with Pineapple and Basil Salsa

Coconut Shrimp with Apricot & Horseradish Sauce

yummy huli huli chicken on a platter with veggies and pineapple.

Yummy Huli Huli Chicken

This yummy huli huli chicken recipe is sweet and spicy and packed with color and flavor.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine Hawaiian
Servings 4 Served

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

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Ingredients
  

CHICKEN, FRUIT & VEGGIES 

  • 8 Chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
  • 1 Tbsp. Kosher Salt
  • 1 Tsp. Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 Tsp. Garlic powder
  • 1 Tsp. Onion powder
  • ½ Tsp. Dried Thyme
  • 4 bell peppers, various colors
  • 1 Pineapple, peeled and cored, and cut into rings
  • Cooking spray
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 Green onion, sliced for garnish
  • 1 Tbsp. Sesame seeds, for garnish
  • Flaky salt to finish (Maldon is a favorite) 
  • Cooking spray

HULI HULI SAUCE

  • ½ Cup ketchup
  • ½ Cup pineapple juice
  • 1/3 Cup Swerve brown sugar
  • ¼ Cup soy sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. Rice vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp. Fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 Tbsp. Onion, grated
  • 1 Tbsp. Garlic, grated
  • 1 Tsp. Momofuku chili crunch

Instructions
 

  • Mix the seasoning for the chicken in a small bowl. Season the chicken on all sides. Let sit for 20 –30 minutes at room temperature or overnight in the fridge.
  • Make the Huli Huli sauce by mixing all the ingredients in a small pot. Heat over medium high heat until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined and bring to a simmer. Let cook for about 5-8 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
  • Spray a grill pan with cooking spray or use oil to wipe down the grates of an outdoor grill to help prevent the veggies, fruit and chicken from sticking. If cooking in the house, preheat your oven to 300-degrees F. Cover two baking sheets with foil for easy clean up. Spray with cooking spray and put to the side. Grill the chicken on the grill pan for about 5 minutes on each side until you have nice grill marks, flipping once. Please the semi-cooked chicken on one of the baking sheets and brush with the huli huli sauce. Place in the preheated oven.
  • Now, grill the bell peppers (whole) flipping them every couple of minutes until you have nice char marks all over the peppers. Remove them to a cutting board. Remove the stem and seeds and discard. Slice the peppers into quarters and place on the second prepared baking sheet.
  • Next, peel and core your pineapple using a pineapple corer. Place the slices of pineapple on the grill and cook on each side for about two minutes to get grill marks. Remove the pineapple from the grill pan and place on the baking sheet with the peppers. Brush the fruit and veggies with the huli huli sauce and place in the oven. Flip over the chicken and brush the second side. Let bake for about 5 more minutes.
  • To finish cooking the chicken, turn the broiler on high. Flip your chicken again, brush with more sauce and place under the broiler for a couple of minutes. Flip the chicken a second time and brush again with the huli huli sauce. You can do this several times, flipping the chicken to make sure the thighs don't burn but the sauce darkens and gets sticky on the chicken. A total of 5-7 minutes.
  • Remove the cut peppers and pineapple to a platter and top with the chicken thighs.
  • Once everything is on the platter, sprinkle with flaky sauce, the green onions and the sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Keyword dinner, hawaiian
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