Description
Huli Huli Chicken is a classic Hawaiian grilled chicken dish featuring a flavorful marinade made with soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, honey, rice vinegar, pineapple juice, and aromatic sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. The chicken is marinated to absorb the sweet and tangy flavors, then grilled to juicy perfection and brushed with a reduced glaze of the marinade, making it a delicious and easy-to-make meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Marinade Ingredients
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup pineapple juice
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Main Ingredient
- 4 chicken breasts
Instructions
- Prepare Marinade: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, honey, rice vinegar, pineapple juice, and sesame oil.
- Mix Marinade: Whisk the ingredients together until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is smooth.
- Add Aromatics and Spice: Add the minced garlic, grated ginger, and ground black pepper to the bowl and whisk again until everything is well incorporated.
- Marinate Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in a shallow dish or resealable plastic bag.
- Add Marinade to Chicken: Pour the marinade mixture over the chicken breasts, making sure they are evenly coated.
- Refrigerate to Marinate: Seal the dish or bag and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, preferably 2 to 4 hours, to allow the chicken to marinate.
- Preheat Grill: Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
- Remove Chicken from Marinade: Remove the chicken breasts from the marinade, reserving the marinade for later use.
- Grill Chicken: Place the chicken breasts on the grill and cook for about 6 to 7 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C).
- Simmer Reserved Marinade: While the chicken is grilling, pour the reserved marinade into a small saucepan.
- Reduce Marinade: Bring the marinade to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- Thicken Sauce: Let the marinade simmer for about 5 minutes, allowing it to reduce and thicken slightly.
- Rest Chicken: Once the chicken is cooked through, remove it from the grill and let it rest for a few minutes.
- Glaze Chicken: Brush the cooked chicken with the thickened marinade before serving.
- Serve: Serve the Huli Huli Chicken hot, optionally garnished with chopped green onions or sesame seeds for added flavor and presentation.
Notes
- For best flavor, marinate the chicken for 2 to 4 hours, though 30 minutes is the minimum.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165°F (75°C).
- Reserve the marinade to make a glaze but always simmer it before using to eliminate raw chicken bacteria.
- Optional garnishes like chopped green onions or sesame seeds add color and extra flavor.
- If you do not have a grill, a grill pan or broiler can be used as alternatives.
