Hawaiian BBQ Chicken (Huli Huli Chicken)

This Hawaiian BBQ Chicken recipe is a delicious combination of sweet pineapple, savory BBQ sauce, and tender boneless skinless chicken breasts. It's a family favorite that is perfect for a summer bbq! 

Jump to:

• What makes this recipe irresistible
• Ingredients you’ll need
• Step-by-step instructions
• Essential tools for this recipe
• Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
• Deb’s tips for the perfect dish
• Creative variations to try
• How to store leftovers
• More recipes you’ll love
• Perfect pairings: what to serve with
• Huli Huli Chicken Recipe

What makes this recipe irresistible

Dan said this is the BEST BBQ chicken recipe! And that is high praise, don't you think?!! The homemade sauce is tangy and sweet with just a hint of spice. It's the perfect combination of sweet and savory flavors. 

So just put your feet up and pretend that you've taken a trip to the islands. It's what you need for your next cookout!!

Ingredients you’ll need

Please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for the exact measurements. 

• ketchup
• brown sugar
• soy sauce
• pineapple juice
• sesame oil
• fresh garlic cloves
• fresh ginger
• rice wine vinegar
• sriracha sauce
• Chicken thighs - this is great on chicken wings, or even boneless skinless chicken breasts, even pork chops!

Step-by-step instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. For complete directions, scroll down to the bottom.

1. Combine the sauce ingredients, place in a small pot.
2. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to medium-low heat while stirring. Cook for 5 minutes.
3. Remove from the heat and allow the sauce to cool. 
4. Place chicken in a large ziplock bag, pour half the marinade over the chicken. Massage the marinade into the chicken. Reserve the remaining marinade for basting.
5. Refrigerate marinated chicken for at least six hours or overnight. 
6. When it's grilling time, remove the chicken from the sauce, shaking off excess marinade.
7. Grill until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Slathering with sauce while barbecuing.

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Essential tools for this recipe

• small saucepan
• freezer bag
• gas grill or charcoal grill

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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

• You can make the marinade a day or two in advance and store it in the fridge in an airtight container like a mason jar until you are ready to marinade the chicken. This will save you a little time on busy days. 

Creative variations to try

• If you are not a fan of spice and only want a sweet sauce you can leave the sriracha out altogether. 
• Howver, if you want to add more heat to your BBQ sauce, add more sriracha or even a bit of cayenne pepper. 
• Instead of using chicken breasts, you could also use this sauce on pork chips, chicken wings, or even boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer.

How to store leftovers

Refrigerate -  Allow the chicken to cool completely before storing the leftover chicken in an airtight container. It should be good for up to 3 days in the fridge. 

Freezing - You can also freeze this chicken for up to 3 months. Place a single layer of paper towels between each piece of chicken so they don't stick together when freezing. 

Additionally, this is a great freezer meal. Combine the marinade and chicken and place in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and grill as directed.

Reheat - Reheat in the microwave at 50% power for  2-3 minutes, or until hot. You can also reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes. Or on the stove top over medium heat in a skillet for about 5 minutes or until warm all the way through. 

More recipes you’ll love

• Do you enjoy bbq chicken? If so, add this Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs recipe to your meal plan next week. It's a simple recipe, and you won't have to worry about the weather and grilling outside. 
• The recipes for Slow-Cooker Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin and Crock-Pot Teriyaki Chicken are some of the easiest meals you can make! They're flavorful, tender, and perfect for busy nights when you need something you can dump and go. 

Perfect pairings: what to serve with

• If you ask my family, we think that you can't have huli huli chicken with a rice side dish. This Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice is one of my favorite recipes to make with this easy recipe. 
• Now if rice isn't your thing, you'll want to make Deviled Egg Potato Salad!
• Do you want to add some fresh vegetables to your meal? If so, this Pan-fried Vegetable recipe is the one you want to make. It has a delicious flavor without a lot of work involved. 
• If you are not a fan of rice, you could also serve this delicious grilled chicken with a potato side dish like this Oven Roasted Rosemary Potatoes recipe. The potatoes are tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, and full of rosemary flavor.

Isn't this meal amazing? Perfect for a great bbq with friends! Leave a comment below, I'd love to hear what you think!