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? ›

The best side dishes to serve with Huli Huli chicken are Mexican rice, crispy green beans, charro beans, lentil salad, brown rice and vegetables, quinoa salad, feta pasta, pizza pasta, rosemary bread, onion rings, spinach salad, creamy apple slaw, pineapple salsa, Hawaiian rolls, potato mac and salad, and grilled ...

What does Huli Huli mean? ›

It was such a hit that he decided to market it with the name “huli huli.” Huli means “turn” in Hawaiian and refers to how it's prepared: grilled between two racks and turned halfway through cooking. This simplified version calls for chicken pieces and a standard grill.

What is the history of Huli Huli chicken? ›

Huli Huli chicken is by all accounts the circa 1955 invention of a businessman living in Hawaii. Ernest Morgado created the marinade (essentially soy sauce sweetened up with brown sugar and pineapple juice) for a lunch event, and the chicken's been on every party menu in Hawaii since then.

Is Huli Huli the same as teriyaki? ›

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 is huli in chinese? ›

Huli jing (Chinese: 狐狸精) are Chinese mythological creatures usually capable of shapeshifting, who may either be benevolent or malevolent spirits. In Chinese mythology and folklore, the fox spirit takes variant forms with different meanings, powers, characteristics, and shapes, including huxian (Chinese: 狐仙; lit.

What is Huli in Hawaii? ›

Huli Huli Chicken is grilled on a specialized chicken. flipper grill, not rotisserie style, but flipped over and. over and over.

What does Kahu mean in Hawaiian? ›

'Protector' - so much more beautiful than 'owner'.

Who invented Huli Huli chicken? ›

Ernest Morgado

What is the difference between teriyaki chicken and Huli Huli chicken? ›

What is the difference between huli huli chicken and teriyaki chicken? Both marinades make use of soy sauce, brown sugar, and ginger. However, teriyaki sauce includes rice wine, while huli huli sauce includes pineapple juice, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, and garlic.

What is a chicken called in Hawaii? ›

Chicken, red jungle chicken (Gallus gallus), fowl, as brought to Hawaiʻi by Polynesians; for some people, an ʻaumakua. ʻO luna, ʻo lalo, ʻo uka, ʻo kai, ʻo ka moa kona ame Kākuhihewa (For. 4:510), above, below, inland, seaward, the chicken is his and Kākuhihewa's [moa here probably represents supreme rule; Cf.

What are Huli famous for? ›

These tribesmen are world famous for the highly decorative wigs that they produce, from their own hair, and wear in elaborate initiation rites. Tari and the surrounding region are changing significantly at the moment and the Huli culture, although still very much alive, is greatly threatened by local mining projects.

What is the Huli traditions? ›

Young Huli adolescent males are separated from their mothers and sisters due to the belief that the Huli women are dangerous witches who suck away a Huli man's masculinity. Young Huli boys join the Haroli bachelor cult and live in seclusion hidden in a secret place deep in the Papua New Guinean Jungles.

What can you eat with Southern fried chicken? ›

  • 02 of 21. Grilled Corn on the Cob. Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley. ...
  • 05 of 21. Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal. ...
  • 08 of 21. Homemade Mashed Potatoes. ...
  • 11 of 21. Arugula Salad with Bacony Croutons and Sherry Vinaigrette. ...
  • 14 of 21. Buttermilk Biscuits. ...
  • 17 of 21. Spicy Pineapple Slaw.
Dec 20, 2023

What do you serve with chicken tacos? ›

The best side dishes to serve with chicken tacos are guacamole, pineapple salsa, refried beans, pico de gallo, Spanish rice, lazy enchiladas, churros, tostilocos, chicken tortilla soup, homemade salsa, sweet corn salad, black bean salad, cilantro lime rice, chili con queso, fried plantains, shrimp ceviche, and avocado ...

What else to eat with chicken fried rice? ›

The best side dishes to serve with chicken fried rice are bok choy, Ling Ling Potstickers, steamed dumplings, egg rolls, balsamic chicken, pizza pasta, beef stew, BBQ chicken wings, shredded pork, tomato basil soup, fried egg, honey stir fry vegetables, Maple Hoisin tofu, prawn curry, kimchi soup, Kung Pao Brussels ...

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