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Baked Huli Huli Chicken Recipe

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 featured by top Hawaii blog, Hawaii Travel with Kids.

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 featured by top Hawaii blog, Hawaii Travel with Kids.

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 featured by top Hawaii blog, Hawaii Travel with Kids. | huli huli chicken recipe oven

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 featured by top Hawaii blog, Hawaii Travel with Kids.

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 Hawaiian Chicken Recipe - Huli Huli Chicken

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 Time 1 hour
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 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.

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