I learned this one at a beach cookout where the grill smoked and everyone hovered with plates. We waited, we laughed, and we kept sneaking bites. Huli Huli chicken turns a plain weeknight into a small party. Sweet pineapple hugs garlic and ginger. Soy brings that deep savor. The meat stays juicy and it smells like vacation. We love outdoor cooks, but this works inside too. Our grill sees action for Grilling Recipes all season. Friends ask for seconds and then ask for the recipe. We chat about BBQ chicken legs crockpot. We compare baked chicken with juicy grill marks. Someone mentions baked chicken breast recipes. Another friend swears by the best grill recipes. We pass a plate and talk barbecue recipes and bacon wrapped chicken bites. Then we take one more bite and nod like yes that hits. You can mix the sauce in one bowl and move on with your day. The chicken soaks. You flip and baste and let the sugars kiss the heat. I keep a slice of pineapple near the cook. That slice keeps me happy and keeps me from poking the meat. When it shines with a lacquered finish, we eat.
Table of Contents
- 1) Key Takeaways
- 2) Easy Huli Huli Chicken Recipe
- 3) Ingredients for Huli Huli Chicken
- 4) How to Make Huli Huli Chicken
- 5) Tips for Making Huli Huli Chicken
- 6) Making Huli Huli Chicken Ahead of Time
- 7) Storing Leftover Huli Huli Chicken
- 8) Try these Main Course next
- 9) Huli Huli Chicken
- 10) Nutrition
1) Key Takeaways
We grill for flavor and for fun. This chicken brings both. Pineapple meets soy and garlic. Heat meets sugar and makes a glossy coat. The meat stays tender and the skin turns crisp. We baste and flip. We get that shine that people chase at cookouts.
The cook stays simple and steady. Medium heat works. A thermometer gives clear answers. We aim for one number. The number reads 165 F. Then we rest the meat and eat. No fuss. No drama.
I write as Lila for Lila Cooks at https://www.lilacooks.com. We keep things real and friendly. We cook with what we have and we test with care. This dish fits right in. It sits near our best grill ideas and our easy weeknight wins.
2) Easy Huli Huli Chicken Recipe
We lean on Grilling Recipes here and we do it twice for good reason. Grilling Recipes help on busy nights and on slow weekends. Smoke drifts and people drift closer. I baste and joke that the glaze pays the rent. Friends nod and reach for a plate. The sauce hits sweet and salty. Ginger pops. Garlic rounds it out. The bite feels juicy and warm. The grill gives light char and keeps the meat soft.
I learned a few tricks on a breezy beach cook. Keep a clean grate. Oil it with a towel. Set a cool zone for safety. A quick move saves dinner. I like a slice of grilled pineapple on the side for the cook. It keeps me from poking the chicken. It also tastes like a small break. Two birds one move.
This piece also speaks to best grill recipes fans. It nods to barbecue recipes lovers. It plays nice with baked chicken folks and even the baked chicken breast recipes crowd who seek lean but tender. If your table leans toward bacon wrapped chicken bites as a starter, this main sits right beside it and smiles.
3) Ingredients for Huli Huli Chicken
Pineapple juice bright juice sets the sweet base and helps the meat caramelize over steady heat
Soy sauce deep savory flavor seasons the meat and balances the fruit
Brown sugar gentle sweetness helps with that shiny finish that people love
Ketchup a small amount adds body and a friendly tomato note
Rice vinegar light acid wakes up the mix and keeps the sauce lively
Fresh ginger grated ginger brings warm bite and a clean aroma
Garlic minced cloves bring round flavor that sticks with the glaze
Neutral oil a splash helps the baste spread and guards against sticking
Chili flakes optional heat for those who like a little spark
Chicken thighs and drums bone in and skin on for juicy meat and crisp skin
Pineapple rings slices grill fast and add smoky fruit to the plate
Scallions chopped greens give fresh snap at the end
Sesame seeds a light sprinkle adds nutty crunch
4) How to Make Huli Huli Chicken
Mix the marinade whisk pineapple juice soy brown sugar ketchup rice vinegar ginger garlic and oil until smooth and glossy
Reserve a portion pour out a half cup for basting so the glaze stays clean
Soak the chicken coat the pieces and chill for two to eight hours and turn once during the soak
Heat the grill set medium heat and clean the grates and wipe with an oiled towel
Sear the skin lay pieces skin side down and cook until the skin browns and pulls easy from the grate
Flip and baste brush with the clean glaze and keep the lid closed between turns
Cook to temp aim for 165 F at the thickest part and rest the meat for five minutes
Grill the fruit mark the pineapple rings for smoky sweet slices
Plate and serve scatter scallions and seeds and bring rice to the table
5) Tips for Making Huli Huli Chicken
Use thighs for the most forgiving cook. Drums work great too. Boneless cooks faster and needs a close eye. A small zone with lower heat saves you when sugar starts to darken. Move the meat and breathe. You are in charge here.
A grill recipe idea I love places a tray near the cook. The tray holds glaze tongs towel and a thermometer. With the tools close the cook feels calm and smooth. This sits right with folks who chase grill recipe ideas that keep stress low.
This dish also speaks to the BBQ chicken legs crockpot crowd who want sweet and sticky flavor. It meets baked chicken plans with a sheet pan option at 425 F. It welcomes baked chicken breast recipes seekers who crave lean meat with char and shine. That range keeps guests happy.
6) Making Huli Huli Chicken Ahead of Time
Marinate early. Two hours gives a light kiss. Eight hours gives a deeper note. Past that the texture can shift. I keep it in a zip bag set inside a bowl for tidy storage. The bag flips easy. The bowl catches drips. Small wins add up.
If rain hits the plan stays firm. This works in the oven on a rack. Roast until the meat reads 165 F and then broil for color. The sauce still clings and the bite still sings. Many Grilling Recipes move indoors like this for calm weeknights.
For a party plan a mixed grill menu. Pair with bacon wrapped chicken bites as a snack. Add corn and a green salad. Keep a small cutting board near the grill for quick trims. These backyard grilling tips keep the cook steady and the table full.
7) Storing Leftover Huli Huli Chicken
Cool the meat and move it to a lidded box. Add the grilled pineapple in a second box so the juice stays separate. In the fridge it keeps for three days. For the freezer wrap the pieces and label the date. Future you will thank present you.
Reheat in a warm oven until the center reads hot. Brush with a spoon of saved glaze or a splash of pineapple juice. The shine wakes up. The meat tastes fresh again. Leftovers love a rice bowl with cucumber and herbs. A squeeze of lime helps.
Fans of barbecue recipes often make extra on purpose. That plan works here. Slice the cold meat for sandwiches. Fold it into fried rice. Toss it with greens and a light dressing. Grilling Recipes stretch like that and keep lunch easy.
8) Try these Main Course next
9) Huli Huli Chicken
Grilling Recipes Huli Huli Chicken With Pineapple Glaze
Ingredients
For the Marinade
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes optional
For the Chicken
- 3 pounds bone in skin on chicken thighs and drumsticks
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil for grates
- Pineapple rings for grilling
- Chopped scallions for garnish
- Sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
Marinate
- Whisk pineapple juice soy sauce brown sugar ketchup rice vinegar ginger garlic and oil in a bowl.
- Set aside a half cup for basting.
- Add chicken to a bag or bowl and pour the remaining marinade over it.
- Chill for 2 to 8 hours. Turn once during the soak.
Grill
- Heat grill to medium. Clean and oil the grates.
- Pat chicken dry. Place skin side down. Close the lid and cook 6 to 8 minutes until the skin browns.
- Flip. Cook 6 to 8 minutes more. Brush with the reserved marinade. Flip again and baste.
- Keep flipping and basting until an instant read thermometer reads 165 F at the thickest part.
Finish
- Grill pineapple rings until charred.
- Rest chicken for 5 minutes. Top with scallions and sesame seeds.
- Serve with rice and a wedge of lime.
10) Nutrition
A typical plate holds one thigh with glaze and a slice of pineapple. That serving gives about 385 calories with thirty grams of protein. Fat sits near eighteen grams. Sugar reads about eighteen grams. Sodium lands near nine hundred forty milligrams. Use low sodium soy and the number drops. Use boneless and the calories shift a little.
The sauce brings carbs from fruit and sugar. A scoop of rice adds more. If you watch carbs try roasted cabbage or a crisp salad on the side. The dish still sings and the plate still feels full. Water or iced tea pairs well and keeps the meal light.
We cook for joy and for health. I test this recipe with a thermometer and with happy faces. Both matter. I write as Lila for Lila Cooks at https://www.lilacooks.com. I keep notes and I fix little things over time. Tell me what you try. We learn and we grow one cook at a time.
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