The Origins of Huli Huli Chicken
Huli Huli chicken was something we were completely unfamiliar with until we went to Maui. We’ve had many a grilled BBQ chicken before, but the flavor to Huli Huli chicken is unique. We first had it on our day trip to Lanai, when we had a traditional Hawaiian BBQ. We’ve tested the recipe out several times, and what really sets it apart from other grilled chicken recipes is the pineapple juice! It adds some sweetness and a bit of citrus for balance. It may not be the perfect grilling weather just yet, but Spring is coming soon and this dish is perfect for a backyard BBQ.
Marinating and Prep
We try to marinate the chicken at least 4 hours, but if you have the time to prep it the night before, letting it sit overnight helps a lot. We prefer to use chicken thighs, as they stay more moist on the grill than chicken breasts; however, you can use boneless skinless chicken breasts or bone-in chicken, if you prefer it. We typically grill a lot of red meat on the grill, so we love adding this to the rotation to have a little break from steaks and burgers! It’s also very kid friendly. You can omit the sriracha if they don’t like spicy.
Grilling Tips
As with any grilling recipe, I recommend you get your grill nice and hot before throwing on your chicken, otherwise you won’t get a good sear. Also, a little bit of Pam spray on the grill will help prevent sticking, as the recipe does not include any oil. Try your hardest not to mess with the chicken too much! You want to let it cook at least 7-10 minutes without flipping it, to allow for the sugar and juice to caramelize. We recommend basting the chicken every 2-3 minutes with the leftover marinade, but don’t turn over the chicken until it’s had sufficient time to sear.
Sides and Pairings
We love throwing some pineapple on the grill along with the chicken. They pair great together! It also goes great with our Soba Noodle Salad recipe. You can also go with the traditional Hawaiian macaroni salad like this one. The chicken is great for sandwiches, especially on a Hawaiian roll!
Ingredients
Method
- Combine all marinade ingredients in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Then, add in chicken thighs. Tip: We add ingredients into a ziplock instead of a bowl to make it easier to store in the fridge, plus less cleanup.
- Cover and marinate for a minimum of 4 hours, or overnight.
- Heat up your grill or grill pan to high heat.
- Remove chicken from marinade, setting aside the extra. Grill for about 7-10 minutes on each side or until cooked through, basting every 2 minutes with the extra marinade.
- Serve with grilled pineapple, if desired!