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

Who invented Huli Huli chicken? ›

Ernest Morgado

What island is Mike's Huli Huli chicken on? ›

They're only in Kahuku now.

How many calories are in a huli huli chicken? ›

What are Nutritionix Track app users eating from Hawaiian Bros?
Product NameCalories
Honolulu Chicken, Small Low Carb 1 Serving310
Huli Huli Chicken, Classic 1 Serving1270
Huli Huli Chicken, Classic Low Carb 1 Serving410
Huli Huli Chicken, Large 1 Serving2130
11 more rows

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.

What to eat with huli huli chicken? ›

Huli Huli Chicken is a Hawaiian-inspired BBQ Chicken. It's sweet and savory and smoky and ABSOLUTELY delicious. Kids can even help whip the marinade and it's something my family all loves. For a great meal with Hawaiian vibes, we love to serve it with a classic island combo of white rice and macaroni salad!

What are chickens called in Hawaiian? ›

It is the chicken that the Polynesian voyagers carried with them. In Hawaiian the bird is called moa, which is similar to the word for cooked, moa, hinting at a relationship with the imu, the underground oven.

Where did Guy Fieri eat in Hawaii? ›

At Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill on the Big Island, fresh fish abounds. The menu covers everything from poke to fish tacos to a grilled fresh catch of the day. But the dish that got Fieri all fired up was the Next Level Lau Lau — panko-fried lau lau served over fried rice with gravy and a tempura poached egg.

Who owns Mike's Huli chicken? ›

Mike Fuse is the owner of Mike's Huli Huli Chicken on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii.

Are there feral chickens on all Hawaiian Islands? ›

Chickens are everywhere in Hawaii. They run free on the roadside, roost in trees, and scratch at the doorsteps of homes. While they may seem harmless, these ubiquitous birds can cause serious problems. Their loud crowing can be a nuisance, and their sharp claws can devastate native plants.

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 is Hawaiian Bros. Dole Whip made of? ›

The dairy-free dessert is made from a pineapple-flavored dry mix (dried pineapple juice and the key to all silky smooth soft serve: stabilizers) that's combined with water and pumped out of a soft-serve machine.

How many carbs are in huli huli chicken? ›

Amount/Serving%DV*Amount/Serving
Total Fat 5.9g15%Tot. Carb. 4.8g
Sat. Fat 1.3g5%Dietary Fiber 0g
Trans Fat 0gSugars 4.8g
Cholesterol 136.5mgProtein 29.1g
2 more rows

Is huli huli sauce good? ›

Huli Huli sauce is like lightened-up pineapple flavored Teriyaki Sauce. It is not thick or too sweet sauce but has right balance of sweet, sour and heat. The thin consistency and pineapple flavor make this the perfect stir-fry sauce and marinade.

What is Hawaiian sauce made of? ›

In a sauce pot combine pineapple juice, orange juice, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, mustard and brown sugar.

What is Hawaiian chicken sauce made of? ›

To make this Hawaiian chicken recipe, simply whisk together pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, Asian sweet chili sauce, ginger and garlic, marinate then grill – that's it!

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