Grilled Huli Huli Chicken

Perfect for cookouts, this is the BEST Grilled Huli Huli Chicken. Chicken thighs marinated in a sweet and tangy sauce then grilled until golden brown and crispy on the outside. Serve this Huli Huli chicken with grilled pineapple and rice to make it a meal!

Fire up the grill this weekend with this Huli Huli Chicken, a side of Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges, and Cucumber Avocado Salad!

Huli Huli Chicken Recipe

To me nothing says summer more than kabobs on the grill! During the summer we are all about grilling out. It keeps the heat and cooking outside and gives us the perfect char / smoke we all love from grilling. Simple, fast and so delicious, I can’t get enough of Grilled Huli Huli Chicken! The marinade is amazing! Thick, tangy, sweet and spicy all in one!

It’s so easy to throw this grilled pineapple chicken together with the marinade, you can even do this step in the morning and let the chicken marinade for a couple of hours. Then just load up the skewers and grill the chicken for 15 minutes. It’s super easy!

My favorite part of this recipe is the Huli Huli Sauce! It’s sweet, tangy, nutty, and seriously addictive. It’s kid-friendly as well making this Huli Huli Chicken a perfect recipe to take to cookouts over grilling season.

Ingredients for Huli Huli Chicken

• Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are perfect for grilling! They don’t need to be deboned, and they stay nice and juicy on the grill. You can also use chicken breast for a lighter option, just take care to not over cook it, and allow it to rest for 5-10 minutes so that the chicken breasts stay nice and juicy.
• Pineapple: This is optional but I love the taste of grilled pineapple! It’s perfect on the skewers with the Huli Huli Chicken.

Ingredients for Huli Huli Sauce

This sauce is seriously so good! It is now my go to marinade anytime I make chicken. It’s thick enough to coat the chicken and is perfectly sweet, tangy with a little kick thanks to the sriracha! Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

• Soy sauce: I used regular soy sauce in this recipe however low sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos could be substituted.
• Brown Sugar: Adds a bit of sweetness to the sauce.
• Sesame Oil: This is one of my favorite ingredients. It adds a wonderful nutty flavor to the sauce.
• Ketchup: Helps to thicken the sauce and adds flavor and tang.
• Pineapple Juice: This wouldn’t be an authentic Huli Huli Sauce without pineapple juice!
• Ginger: I prefer fresh however ground ginger could be substituted as well.
• Garlic: I always have to have garlic! Again, I prefer fresh but garlic powder would also work.
• Sriracha: I use 2 teaspoons in the sauce. It has a bit of a kick to it. If you don’t want it to be as spicy you can always add less or just skip it.

How to make Hawaiian Huli Huli Chicken

• Combine all of the sauce ingredients except the cornstarch and water in a small medium bowl. Reserve 1/2 cup of the marinade.
• Add the remaining marinade to a large ziplock bag. Add in the chicken and toss to coat. Marinade for at least 30 minutes or for up to 3-4 hours. Any longer and the chicken will become soggy and mushy.

• When you are ready to cook the chicken preheat the grill. Spray the grill with nonstick cooking spray. Cook chicken for about 5 minutes on each side or until chicken reaches 165 degrees.

• While the chicken is cooking heat the reserved 1/2 cup marinade in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. In a small bowl combine cornstarch and water.
• Slowly add the cornstarch mixture to the sauce whisking constantly. Simmer for an additional minute or until the sauce has thickened.

• Brush the thickened sauce onto the cooked chicken and serve any leftover sauce on the side.

• Serve immediately with grilled pineapple and fresh chopped parsley, if desired.

How long should I marinate chicken?

I would recommend marinating the chicken for at least 30 minutes but preferably a couple hours if you have the time! I would not recommend marinating this overnight. Believe it or not it is actually possible to marinate chicken for too long. When this happens the chicken becomes soggy and mushy (not what were going for!) The Kitchn has a great article that explains how to NOT over marinate meat.

What to serve with Huli Huli Chicken

• Cilantro Lime Brown Rice
• Basmati Rice
• Cauliflower Fried Rice
• Roasted Garlic Brussels Sprouts
• Chow Mein
• Rainbow Vegetable Noodle Stir-Fry
• Garlic Fried Rice
• Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges

How do I store Huli Huli Chicken?

Fridge: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat cook on the grill, in the microwave, or in the oven before consuming. Store the Huli Huli Sauce separately.

Here are more grilling recipes to try!

• The BEST Grilled Chicken
• Grilled Steak Kabobs
• The BEST Grilled Hawaiian Chicken Sandwich
• Grilled Asian Chicken
• Easy Grilled Chicken Caprese