Baked Huli Huli Chicken Recipe | Hawaii Travel with Kids (2024)

Are you looking for a super easy, but delicious baked Hawaiian chicken recipe? Try this Huli Huli Chicken recipe. It’s sure to delight your whole family! Scroll down for the full recipe!
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Baked Hawaiian Chicken: Huli Huli Chicken Recipe

This baked Hawaiian chicken smothered with homemade BBQ sauce is a dream come true! Super juicy on the inside and with a crunchy, crackly skin this is the most flavorful piece of chicken you’ll ever have. Best of all? You can grill it or bake it, both options are just as delicious.

Huli huli chicken is one of those things that really represent Hawaii and that’s honestly so delicious I just can’t believe it’s not any more popular everywhere else.

If you’ve never heard about it before, it’s chicken that’s marinated in Hawaiian BBQ sauce (which is just a mix between teriyaki sauce and traditional BBQ sauce) and then grilled turning it every so often so it’s evenly cooked and evenly crispy and delicious.

Actually, huli means turn in Hawaiian, so it’s turn turn chicken!

However, I’m not a huge fan of grilling, I honestly don’t feel that confident about my grilling skills just yet, so I’ve been looking for a way to make it using the oven and let me tell you it’s totally possible and just as delicious.

So, let’s take a look at my Hawaiian style oven baked chicken recipe!

Baked Huli Huli Chicken Recipe | Hawaii Travel with Kids (1)

How to Make Hawaiian BBQ Sauce

The most important about this recipe and the thing that makes it so flavorful and juicy and that makes the chicken skin so crispy is this huli huli sauce.

It’s also incredibly easy to make sauce and it goes amazing with any other thing you would normally use BBQ sauce for. I actually love to make a large batch and keep it refrigerated for around 3 weeks so you can have it on hand at all times.

Baked Huli Huli Chicken Recipe | Hawaii Travel with Kids (2)

To make it you need:

  • Ketchup
  • Soy sauce
  • Pineapple juice
  • Lemon juice
  • Garlic powder
  • Brown sugar
  • Ginger

You can also add some chili flakes if you like to make things a little bit more spicy.

Once you have all those ingredients on hand just simmer for a bit until reduced and thickened and you are all set. Your sauce it’s ready to make any meal better.

Baked Huli Huli Chicken Recipe | Hawaii Travel with Kids (3)

Baked Hawaiian Chicken Recipe: Huli Huli Chicken

Ingredients for your Huli Huli Chicken Recipe:

For the Hawaiian BBQ sauce:

  • ½ Cup ketchup
  • ½ Cup brown sugar
  • ⅓ Cup soy sauce
  • ⅓ Cup pineapple juice
  • 2 Tsps garlic powder
  • 1 Tsp ginger
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice

For the chicken:

  • 2 Pounds skin on chicken pieces
  • 4 Tbsp vegetable oil or sesame oil
Baked Huli Huli Chicken Recipe | Hawaii Travel with Kids (4)

How to Make Baked Huli Huli Chicken

In a small saucepan over medium heat mix all the sauce ingredients and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for around 15 minutes or until the sauce has reduced and it has thickened a bit. Remove from heat and let cool.

Place the chicken pieces into a bowl and cover with ½ the BBQ sauce. Massage and toss so everything is well coated and let it marinate for 30 minutes for up to 12 hours.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Grease a baking pan with vegetable oil or sesame oil and transfer the chicken pieces to it.

Take to the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Turn the chicken, brush with more Hawaiian BBQ sauce and bake for 10 more minutes. Turn it once more and brush with more sauce and bake for 15 more minutes or until done.

Yield: 4 Servings

Baked Hawaiian Chicken Recipe - Huli Huli Chicken

Baked Huli Huli Chicken Recipe | Hawaii Travel with Kids (5)

This baked Hawaiian chicken smothered with homemade BBQ sauce is a dream come true! Super juicy on the inside and with a crunchy, crackly skin this is the most flavorful piece of chicken you’ll ever have. Best of all? You can grill it or bake it, both options are just as delicious.

Prep Time1 hour

Cook Time40 minutes

Total Time1 hour 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • For the Hawaiian BBQ sauce:
  • ½ Cup ketchup
  • ½ Cup brown sugar
  • ⅓ Cup soy sauce
  • ⅓ Cup pineapple juice
  • 2 Tsps garlic powder
  • 1 Tsp ginger
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  • For the chicken:
  • 2 Pounds skin on chicken pieces
  • 4 Tbsp vegetable oil or sesame oil

Instructions

  1. In a small saucepan over medium heat mix all the sauce ingredients and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for around 15 minutes or until the sauce has reduced and it has thickened a bit. Remove from heat and let cool.
  2. Place the chicken pieces into a bowl and cover with ½ the BBQ sauce. Massage and toss so everything is well coated nad let it marinate for 30 minutes for up to 12 hours.
  3. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
  4. Grease a baking pan with vegetable oil or sesame oil and transfer the chicken pieces to it.
  5. Take to the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Turn the chicken, brush with more Hawaiian BBQ sauce and bake for 10 more minutes. Turn it once more and brush with more sauce and bake for 15 more minutes or until done.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 841Total Fat: 41gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 29gCholesterol: 286mgSodium: 2056mgCarbohydrates: 47gFiber: 1gSugar: 40gProtein: 70g

I told you this Huli Huli Chicken recipe was super easy and tasty!

Huli Huli Chicken FAQs

What does “huli huli” mean?

The term “huli huli” means “to turn” in the Hawaiian language. Traditionally, huli huli chicken is turned on a spit over a fire or barbecue.

Where is huli huli chicken from?

Huli huli chicken originated in Hawaii. You’ll find it on many roadside stands, at Hawaiian festivals, and served in many local restaurants.

How do you pronounce Huli Huli Chicken?

It’s pronounced HOO-lee HOO-lee CHIK-en.

Hope you enjoyed this Baked Hawaiian BBQ Chicken recipe! Click here for more of our DELICIOUS Hawaiian recipes!
Baked Huli Huli Chicken Recipe | Hawaii Travel with Kids (2024)

FAQs

What to serve with huli huli chicken? ›

If you're outside and not planning on doing any indoor cooking, serve Huli Huli chicken with some cool salads like a classic potato salad or this cucumber salad. Otherwise, it's perfect with some basmati rice or mashed potatoes with a side salad. A cool refreshing beer alongside is not a bad idea either!

Who invented Huli Huli chicken? ›

Ernest Morgado

What is the difference between teriyaki and Huli Huli? ›

Teriyaki sauce typically consists of soy sauce, sugar, mirin (rice wine), and sake. It has a well-balanced, sweet, and salty taste. On the other hand, huli huli sauce features pineapple juice, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger, offering a sweeter, fruitier, and more aromatic flavor.

Why is it called Huli Huli chicken? ›

It's called “huli huli” because huli is the Hawaiian word for “turn” and huli huli chicken is turned constantly as it is cooked. Our recipe just calls for frequently turning the huli huli chicken pieces as you grill them, and is a way to add major flavor to our basic grilled chicken thighs.

What island is Huli Huli chicken on? ›

The Best Huli Huli Chicken On The Big Island.

What is Hawaiian chicken sauce made of? ›

soy sauce, pineapple juice and brown sugar (been there, tried that, left wanting), but instead is also laced with Asian sweet chili sauce, Asian chili sauce, ground ginger, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper so it avoids the trap of monotony and instead makes your taste buds want to do the hula.

What are chickens called in Hawaiian? ›

moa — Wehe²wiki² Hawaiian Language Dictionaries.

What is an Aloha chicken? ›

Meet your new favorite dish: Aloha Chicken! Tender and delicious chicken in a savory marinade with sweet grilled pineapple slices. It's super easy to make ahead and throw on the grill on a busy weeknight, and the whole family will love it!

What does huli mean? ›

Huli in Hawaiian means “turn.”

Does pineapple tenderize chicken? ›

Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Rebecca Jurkevich. Bromelain, the group of enzymes in fresh pineapple, is excellent at breaking down the connective tissues in thick, fibrous chicken breasts.

What is the history of Huli Huli Chicken Hawaii? ›

'Huli Huli Chicken' (turn, turn) was invented by Ernest Morgado when he cooked teriyaki chicken for a group of farmers in 1955. This has been a Hawaiian staple with sticky rice ever since.

What is the popular sauce in Hawaii? ›

Shoyu Sauce Shoyu — is used widely in Hawaii cuisine in marinades and sauces. It is most notably known for its use in Shoyu Chicken, Shoyu Pork, and Shoyu Hot Dog.

What is Hawaiian wing sauce made of? ›

Combine undrained crushed pineapple, ketchup, brown sugar and soy sauce in small bowl. Spoon half of sauce over wings. Bake 15 minutes more or until chicken is no longer pink in center. Serve warm.

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