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Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Recipe

Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Recipe
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★★★★★

4.9 from 24 reviews

This Hawaiian BBQ Chicken recipe features tender, juicy chicken thighs marinated in a flavorful blend of pineapple juice, soy sauce, and aromatic spices, grilled to perfection and garnished with fresh cilantro and green onions. Served with grilled pineapple rings and accompanied by rice or your favorite sides, it delivers a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and smoky flavors for a delicious tropical meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Marinade

  • 2 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts, or a mix)
  • 20 oz can pineapple rings with ¾ cup juice
  • ⅓ cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp sesame oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 tsp garlic powder)
  • 1 Tbsp fresh ginger, minced
  • 3 Tbsp brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup ketchup
  • 2 tsp tomato paste
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp chili powder

Garnishes and Sides

  • 3 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 3 green onions, chopped
  • Long grain white rice, cooked
  • Avocado slices

Instructions

  1. Prepare the marinade: In a bowl, whisk together the pineapple juice from the can, soy sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic, fresh ginger, brown sugar, ketchup, tomato paste, red pepper flakes, nutmeg, and chili powder until well combined. Set aside.
  2. Marinate the chicken: Pat the chicken dry and place it into a large ziplock bag or deep bowl. Pour half of the prepared marinade over the chicken and toss or massage to coat evenly. Seal and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, or up to 24 hours for deeper flavor. Keep the remaining marinade refrigerated.
  3. Preheat the grill: When ready to cook, heat your grill to medium heat and clean and lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking.
  4. Simmer leftover marinade: Pour the reserved marinade into a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Let it simmer for 5 to 10 minutes until slightly reduced and thickened, stirring occasionally. Set aside for basting.
  5. Grill the chicken: Remove the chicken from the marinade (discard marinade used on raw chicken). Place chicken on the hot grill and cook about 3 minutes per side initially. Continue turning and grilling, basting liberally with the thickened marinade on both sides, until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF, about 8-10 minutes per side total.
  6. Grill the pineapple rings: Add pineapple rings to the grill during the last 4 minutes of cooking, turning once until warm and slightly caramelized.
  7. Rest and serve: Remove chicken and pineapple from the grill and let chicken rest for 5 minutes. Serve over cooked long grain white rice, topped with avocado slices and garnished with chopped fresh cilantro and green onions for a vibrant, tropical plate.
  8. Air fryer option: Place chicken in the air fryer basket in batches if necessary. Cook at 350ºF for 15-18 minutes, stopping halfway through to baste with simmered marinade. Ensure chicken reaches 165ºF internal temperature. Warm pineapple on stove with 1 tsp oil, or serve at room temp. Pour remaining marinade over chicken when serving.
  9. Oven method: Preheat oven to 375ºF. Place chicken on a non-stick baking sheet and bake for 16-18 minutes, basting with simmered marinade halfway through. Confirm chicken is cooked to 165ºF. Warm pineapple in a skillet with 1 tsp oil or serve at room temperature alongside.

Notes

  • For best flavor, marinate the chicken for at least 1 hour, up to 24 hours.
  • Use low sodium soy sauce to control salt content.
  • Chicken breasts can be used in place of thighs but may require less cooking time.
  • Always cook chicken to an internal temperature of 165ºF for safety.
  • Leftover marinade must be simmered before using as a sauce or baste to kill bacteria.
  • Grilled pineapple adds a sweet caramelized contrast to the smoky chicken.
  • Serve with steamed rice and avocado for a complete Hawaiian-inspired meal.

Nutrition

Keywords: Hawaiian BBQ chicken, grilled chicken recipe, pineapple chicken, tropical chicken marinade, bbq chicken thighs

Find it online: https://servedbynora.com/hawaiian-bbq-chicken-recipe/