Hawaiian BBQ Chicken

This Hawaiian BBQ Chicken recipe is full of big tropical barbecue flavors and perfect for summertime grilling!

If you're super fans of tropical flavors like my family is, then you will love this traditional Hawaiian BBQ Chicken recipe!

Bursting with island-inspired ingredients and flavors, this dish is sure to transport you to the beautiful beaches of Hawaii with every bite. We've been traveling to Hawaii for family vacations for several years, and I wanted to create a chicken recipe that captured the essence of the aloha spirit. From the sweet tang of pineapple to the charred smoky flavor of the grill to the umami of the marinade, this is a summer BBQ recipe bursting with vibrant flavors of the Pacific.

At the heart of this recipe is the succulent chicken, marinated to perfection in a blend of sweet and tangy BBQ flavors. Pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, and a hint of garlic and ginger come together to create a marinade that is the perfect combination of sweet and sour. It tenderizes the chicken and infuses the meat with delicious flavors.

So fire up the grill, pour a glass of your favorite wine, and let the flavors of the tropics transport you to paradise.

🌟 Why this recipe works

This Hawaiian barbecue chicken dish is a winner that you'll want to add to your regular summer meal rotation.

• Easy - This is a great recipe that is easy enough for beginning home cooks to make at home for simple weeknight dinners. I've included step-by-step photos below to help you out.
• Simple - This easy chicken recipe only needs nine ingredients that are easy to find at any local grocery store.
• Versatile - Keeping with the recipe base, you can easily make this your own with a few substitutions and adjustments. See the Ingredient Notes section below for ideas.
• Flavorful - This Hawaiian chicken recipe is BIG on flavor. You've got the umami from the marinade, double the pineapple flavors from pineapple juice and pineapple slices, and lots of great aromatics like garlic and ginger infused throughout.

🛒 Ingredient notes

• Chicken - I use boneless skinless chicken thighs. I find thighs have the best flavor.
• Marinade ingredients - To make the marinade, you'll need BBQ sauce (your favorite BBQ sauce, a Hawaiian style BBQ sauce, or use our Sweet Homemade BBQ sauce recipe), soy sauce, minced fresh garlic, minced fresh ginger, pineapple juice, and sesame oil.
• Garnish - You'll need sliced pineapples and sliced green onions.
• Vegetable oil - Use vegetable oil or canola oil to brush on the grill pan or grill to cook the chicken.

Substitutions:

• You can use boneless skinless chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs.
• Substitute coconut aminos for soy sauce for a gluten-free, low sodium option.
• Add chopped fresh parsley or fresh cilantro as an additional garnish or instead of green onions.
• Note that the recipe calls for canned pineapple juice and pineapple slices to keep it pantry friendly, but you can use fresh pineapple if you prefer.

✅ Step-by-step instructions

Find the full list of ingredients with measurements and more detailed instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here are some step-by-step photos to help you make this easy recipe!

1. Add marinade ingredients to a large bowl or large container.
2. Whisk the ingredients together to make the marinade.
3. Reserve half of the marinade for later in a separate container; set aside.

4. Pour the remaining half of the marinade sauce into the large bowl or container and add the chicken. Toss to coat, then refrigerate for at least two hours.
5. When ready, heat an outdoor grill or indoor grill pan to medium-high heat. Brush with vegetable oil.
6. Add the marinated chicken to the grill or grill pan. Grill chicken for 5-7 minutes on each side. Baste with most of the reserved marinade (save about a tablespoon for the pineapples) during the last five minutes. Transfer cooked chicken to a plate and set aside.

💡TIP: Chicken is considered cooked fully when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat, without touching bone, reads an internal temperature of 165°F.

8. Brush the pineapple rings with the remaining tablespoon of marinade. Add the pineapple slices to the grill or grill pan.
9. Grill for about 2 minutes on each side, just until the pineapple starts to brown lightly. Remove the grilled pineapple and serve with the chicken.

Garnish the Hawaiian BBQ chicken and pineapple with sliced green onions, chopped parsley or cilanrtro.

👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

🍽 Serving ideas

This Hawaiian BBQ chicken is perfect for summer parties and al fresco dinners! Serve it with white rice at your next backyard barbecue, picnic, or family gathering.

There are plenty more delicious sides that complement the flavors of this chicken dish perfectly. It would go so well with this delicious cornbread recipe along with a Simple Summer Fruit Salad.

Or try serving this Hawaiian barbecue chicken with Instant Pot Basmati Rice or Garlic Rice, Air Fryer Pineapple Slices, Filipino Macaroni Salad, Pineapple Mango Salsa, or Asian Carrot Cucumber Salad.

🍷 🥂 Wine pairings

A crisp Sauvignon Blanc has citrus notes that cut through the richness of the BBQ sauce, leaving a clean, palate-cleansing finish.

You can also pair this chicken dish with a dry Rosé. The hints of berries and floral undertones of a rosé wine can help bring out the tropical flavors of the dish even more.

🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment

Ready to make this recipe? Here are the kitchen tools and equipment you'll need:

• Grill - You can make this chicken either on an outdoor grill or indoor grill pan.
• Basting brush - A large basting brush is great for basting the chicken on the grill.
• Large bowl or container - Use a large bowl or one of these glass containers to marinate the chicken.
• Tongs - Kitchen tongs make it easier to flip the chicken onto the other side while grilling.

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Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!