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    Huli Huli Chicken

    Updated July 31, 2025 / By Natalie Mortimer

    Seasoned with a sweet and smoky sauce, this huli huli chicken recipe is the best way to channel those Hawaiian vibes directly to your kitchen.

    A plate of juicy huli huli grilled chicken served with fresh pineapple slices, a Hawaiian-style meal
    Photography by Gayle McLeod

    Huli huli chicken is simply a Hawaiian version of barbecued chicken thighs. Marinated in sweet and smoky huli huli sauce, it goes beautifully with macaroni salad and a side of simple white rice. 

    A plate of juicy huli huli grilled chicken served with fresh pineapple slices, a Hawaiian-style meal

    I especially like to serve huli huli chicken in the summer time (though it tastes delicious year round) with all of the classic Hawaiian plate lunch sides, like mac salad and scoops of white rice. 

    ingredients laid out to make grilled huli huili chicken, a hawaiian summer time meal

    The Origins of Huli Huli Chicken

    Hawaiian huli huli chicken originated in 1955, when Honolulu-based businessman Ernest Morgado whipped up a teriyaki-inspired sauce based on his mom’s recipe. Sticky, sweet and smoky, it was an instant hit. It’s called “huli huli” because huli is the Hawaiian word for “turn” and huli huli chicken thighs are traditionally turned constantly as they’re grilled. For another awesome grilled chicken recipe, try Teriyaki Chicken or  Grilled BBQ Chicken. 

    sesame oil, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, and paprika cooking in a small sauce pan
    sweet and smoky huli huli sauce cooking in a small sauce pan to make huli huli grilled chicken

    Huli Huli Chicken Sauce Ingredients 

    See the recipe card below for exact measurements. 

    • Sesame oil: Toasted sesame oil for rich nutty flavor.
    • Fresh ginger and garlic: Lots of both!
    • Soy sauce: You could use gluten free tamari, if you’d prefer.
    • Rice vinegar: Some huli huli sauce recipes use pineapple juice, but I usually have rice vinegar on hand, which is also sweet and acidic, so that’s what I use.
    • Brown sugar: I add extra brown sugar to punch up the sticky sweetness.
    • Ketchup: My forever “secret” ingredient, ketchup adds so much flavor.
    • Smoked paprika: To emphasize the smoky grilled flavors, Spanish smoked paprika is key.
    • Cornstarch: This helps the huli huli sauce thicken and stick to the chicken thighs as they grill. 
    a cornstarch being added to a small sauce pan of sweet and smoky huli huli sauce to thicken it
    raw chicken marinating in sweet and smoky huli huli sauce

    How to Make Huli Huli Chicken, Step By Step

    1. Make the huli huli marinade in a small saucepan. Sauté ginger and garlic in sesame oil, add soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, ketchup and paprika. Whisk in a cornstarch-water slurry. Simmer until the sauce coats the back of a spoon.
    2. Marinate the chicken thighs in the huli huli sauce. Marinate in the fridge for up to four hours.
    3. Grill! Remember, ‘huli huli’ means turn! Keep flipping and basting the chicken thighs until they’re done, and they’re done when you see an internal temperature of 165°F on an instant read thermometer.
    huli huli chicken being cooked on a grill and basted with extra sweet and smoky sauce

    Tips + Variations 

    • Make the huli huli sauce ahead of time: You can mix up the marinade a day or two ahead of time, if you’d like to work ahead.
    • Make it spicier! Add 2 teaspoons of sriracha or chili garlic sauce to the huli huli marinade for a spicy version of this recipe.
    • Use the huli huli sauce on a different meat: Huli huli marinade works great on grilled pork chops or tenderloin or other chicken varieties.
    • No grill? Bake the huli huli chicken thighs in the oven! Bake at 425°F for 25-30 minutes, basting every 10 minutes.
    sweet and smoky grilled huli huli chicken resting on a baking sheet, the perfect hawaiian summer meal

    What To Serve With Huli Huli Chicken

    A plate of juicy huli huli grilled chicken served with fresh pineapple slices, a Hawaiian-style meal

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    Huli Huli Chicken Recipe

    Updated July 31, 2025

    By Natalie Mortimer

    • Serves:  6
    • Prep Time:  15 min
    • Cook Time:  25 min
    • Calories:  220
    Print Recipe
    Related Recipes

    Description

    Seasoned with a sweet and smoky sauce, this huli huli chicken recipe is the best way to channel those Hawaiian vibes directly to your kitchen.

    Ingredients

    • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
    • 1 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger
    • 2 garlic cloves, minced
    • ⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
    • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
    • ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
    • ¼ cup ketchup
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
    • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
    • Vegetable oil, for grill grates

    Method

    1. Make the huli huli sauce. Heat the sesame oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once the oil is glistening, add the ginger and garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, and paprika until combined.

      sweet and smoky huli huli sauce cooking in a small sauce pan to make huli huli grilled chicken

    2. In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch with ¼ cup cool water to form a slurry. Add the cornstarch mixture to the saucepan, and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat.

      a cornstarch being added to a small sauce pan of sweet and smoky huli huli sauce to thicken it

    3. Transfer ½ cup of the sauce to a small bowl and set aside for basting. Transfer the remaining marinade to a large bowl and let cool for 5 minutes. Add the chicken thighs and toss to coat. 

      raw chicken marinating in sweet and smoky huli huli sauce

    4. Heat a gas grill or grill pan to medium-high. Brush the grates with vegetable oil to prevent sticking. Remove the chicken from the marinade, discarding the used marinade. Place the chicken on the grill and cook for 4 to 6 minutes per side.

      huli huli chicken being cooked on a grill and basted with extra sweet and smoky sauce

    5. Brush the chicken with half of the reserved sauce, then flip and cook for 2 minutes. Brush with the remaining sauce and cook for 2 more minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer and the exterior is caramelized and charred in spots. 

      sweet and smoky grilled huli huli chicken resting on a baking sheet, the perfect hawaiian summer meal

    6. Transfer the chicken to a large platter, and serve warm.

      A plate of juicy huli huli grilled chicken served with fresh pineapple slices, a Hawaiian-style meal

    Notes

    For even more flavor, marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 4 hours before grilling. The longer it sits, the more the flavors penetrate the meat.

    Nutrition Info

    • Per Serving
    • Amount
    • Calories 220
    • Protein 27 g
    • Carbohydrates 14 g
    • Total Fat 10 g
    • Dietary Fiber 0 g
    • Cholesterol 0 mg
    • Sodium 624 mg
    • Total Sugars 11 g

    Huli Huli Chicken

    Questions & Reviews

    Rated 5 stars by 17 readers

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    • Kelly

      I just made this and it was fantastic. Do you think if I made a big batch of the sauce that it would freeze well?

      We haven't tested it but we think it would work ok. IF it separates you would need to whisk it over a simmer to bring it back together. Hope this helps.

    • Heather

      Ive made this recipe a couple times and were BIG fans! What adjustments would you recommend if using bone-in thighs?

      Thanks Heather, so glad you love it! They will take much longer to cook, usually almost twice as long so make sure that your internal temp is at 165F before you finish cooking them.

    • Carol

      Can this be cooked in an air fryer? Directions?

      We have not tested this in an air fryer yet.

    • Carla

      Would toasted sesame oil be okay?

      Yes! Hope you enjoy Carla!

    • Gisellea

      Hej! Can I make this with tofu and grill/bake it in the oven too ?

      We haven't tried it like this but we'd love to hear if you try it out!

    • Bree

      I love this recipe, I’ve used it a few times now! I see you suggest 30 mins to 4 hours to marinade, is it possible to marinade the chicken over night?

      yes overnight should be ok, but we don't recommend longer than 24 hours. Hope you enjoy!

    • Ellie

      Hello! Thank you for this great recipe. When it comes to rice vinegar in this, do you use seasoned or unseasoned??

      Unseasoned. Hope you enjoy!

    • Haley

      If I were to pre-make the sauce, how long can it be stored in an airtight container for?

      You could definitely make it ahead of time! 3-5 days.

    • Sue

      This recipe sounds good.
      Since Im the only one in my family that will eat dark meat, can this be made with boneless breast or bone in white meat?

      Yes!

    • Aliya

      This sounds amazing! Can you make this in the oven or on the stove?

      Yes! I would make it by following our method for our "Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs" Oven 425°F. Prepare a rimmed baking sheet by lining it with foil and set a metal wire cooling rack inside it. Make the Huli Huli sauce. Reserve some sauce in a small bowl, coat the chicken etc. follow the steps in that other recipe.

    • Betsy

      5-star rating

      Made this for the first time for a large group of people with varying food pickiness and it was a RAVE from everyone!

      YAY! Thanks Betsy, glad it was a hit all around!

    • Erin

      5-star rating

      Ive made this several times and its delicious!

      Thanks Erin! We are so glad you love it!

    • Kayleen

      5-star rating

      Make this recipe all the time- love it!

      YAY! Thanks Kayleen!

    • Laila

      5-star rating

      Whole family LOVED this recipe! So easy and so delicious! Thank you!

      YAY! So happy to hear that, thanks Laila!

    • Chelsea

      5-star rating

      Followed the recipe as written, and it turned out great! Will make again.

      Thanks Cehlsea, so happy you loved it!

    • Leslie

      5-star rating

      Made this for a crowd tonight. So easy and so good! Rave reviews and all requested the link. Thank you!

      Thanks Leslie, so happy to hear that!

    • Leslie

      5-star rating

      Made this for a crowd tonight. So easy and RAVE reviews. Thank you!

      YAY! Thanks Leslie, glad everyone loved it!

    • Kerry

      5-star rating

      This is a wonderfully flavourful marinade and paired with chicken thighs, it’s perfection! A real crowd pleaser. I doubled the recipe and so glad I get to enjoy leftovers! Will definitely make this again. Served with brown rice and broccoli.

      Thanks Kerry, we are so glad everyone loved it!

    • Jennifer

      5-star rating

      SO delicious, thanks for the great recipe! Next time I’ll serve it with macaroni salad to take us right back to Hawaii!

      Thanks Jennifer, we are so happy you enjoyed it!

    • Gillian

      5-star rating

      This was an amazing recipe to cook! Served it with salad and potato salad, just a basic summer meal. The ginger gives it a powerful and satisfying zest. Definitely staying on my chicken rotation!

      Thanks Gillian, we are so glad you loved it!

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