Baked Huli Huli Chicken
Baked Huli Huli chicken is a tried and true recipe now made in the oven! Tender chicken baked in a sweet and savory sauce. This easy one-pan dinner is full of Hawaiian-inspired flavors!
Huli Huli chicken has been a favorite recipe on the blog for years! It all started with this delicious grilled version then followed by my easy crockpot version. Serve it on some rice with sweet grilled pineapple and your family will be in heaven!
Reasons to Make Baked Huli Huli Chicken
One Pan Dinner: Who doesn’t love a one pan dinner? Less clean up and easy to serve.
Family Favorite: Huli Huli chicken is family favorite recipe and this baked version might be the best one yet!
Easy: It only takes 10 minutes to prep making this SO easy to assemble.
Baked Huli Huli Chicken
I am so excited to share this baked Huli Huli chicken recipe with you! I had a follower tell me that my Huli Huli Chicken recipe was their favorite, but they didn’t have a grill. So I knew I had to develop this baked version and it turned out even better than I imagined! The oven slowly bakes the chicken in the famous Huli Huli sauce and caramelizes to perfection. The chicken turns out just as tender and it’s bursting with sweet and tangy flavors. You’ll also love that it’s made in one-pan making the assembly and cleanup a breeze!
Everyone goes crazy over the tropical flavors in this dish! It’s the perfect balance of sweet and savory. For more tropical recipes, try my Hawaiian fried rice, grilled Hawaiian skewers, or this pineapple fluff for dessert.
Ingredients You’ll Need
It only takes a handful of simple ingredients to make the marinade for this baked Huli Huli chicken. Everyone will love its signature mouthwatering flavor. Exact measurements can be found below in the recipe card.
Pineapple Juice: Adds a tangy and subtly sweet flavor to the Huli Huli chicken marinade. Feel free to use sweetened or unsweetened pineapple juice, either will work! I often use the juice from the canned pineapple rings.
Soy Sauce: Adds depth and richness to the sauce, giving the chicken that savory and slightly salty goodness.
Brown Sugar: To sweeten and caramelize the sauce as it bakes.
Ketchup: This classic and versatile condiment adds a tomato flavor and a touch of acidity to the sauce. A lot of tasty Hawaiian recipes call for ketchup.
Ground Ginger: Ginger adds a zesty and slightly spicy kick to the dish.
Minced Garlic: Fresh garlic is a must because it’s a flavor powerhouse!
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs: The star of the show! The marinade works its magic, infusing the chicken with its sweet, tangy, and savory flavor. You can also use boneless skinless chicken breasts if you prefer.
Cornstarch: Cornstarch is the thickening agent that helps create a luscious, glossy sauce for your crockpot huli huli chicken. Don’t skip adding it in!
Pineapple Rings: Canned pineapple rings are easy and ready to use.
Green Onion: Sliced for garnish and color!
How to Make Baked Huli Huli Chicken
Ready to make this easy one-pan dinner? Let’s get started! It’s so simple, that you’ll want to whip up this chicken dish all the time.
Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Add the Chicken to the Baking Dish: Place the chicken thighs in a single layer into a 13×9-inch baking dish.
Make the Sauce: In a medium saucepan, whisk together your pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, ginger, garlic, and cornstarch. Heat over medium heat until it starts to thicken. Remove from the heat and reserve 1/4 cup of the marinade for later.
Pour the Sauce Over the Chicken: Pour the remaining sauce mixture over the top of chicken thighs.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Add the Pineapple Slices and Brush on the Reserved Marinade: Arrange the pineapple slices on top of the chicken. Brush the reserved marinade on top of the pineapple rings and chicken thighs.
Broil: Adjust the oven to broil then broil the chicken for 3-5 minutes. Watch it closely and remove it once the chicken is golden and caramelized.
Serve: Enjoy the chicken thighs whole or shredded over rice. Garnish with green onion and enjoy!
Make the sauce and reserve 1/4 cup for later.
Place the chicken thighs in the baking dish.
Pour the sauce over the chicken and bake.
Layer on the pineapple rings and brush with reserved sauce. Broil until caramelized.
Baked Huli Huli Chicken Tips
Follow these tips below to make the BEST baked Huli Huli Chicken! Your family will love it so much that they’ll want you to make it every week.
Chicken: Chicken thighs are a must because they have the most flavor, but boneless skinless chicken tenders or breasts also work great.
Arrange: Lay the chicken thighs as flat as possible to ensure even cooking.
Add Some Heat: Add 1-2 teaspoons sriracha sauce to add a little heat if you like it spicy!
Broil: Don’t skip this step! Caramelizing the top of the chicken and pineapple gives it that signature huli huli chicken texture.
Serve: Enjoy the chicken whole or shredded! It’s delicious served with a side of rice or on a bun as a sandwich.
Storing Leftovers
This baked huli huli chicken makes great leftovers for lunch or dinner throughout the week! The chicken thighs stay tender and tasty as it bakes in the delicious huli huli sauce.
In the Refrigerator: Allow your chicken to cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container. As long as you keep it in the fridge, it should stay good for 3-5 days.
To Reheat: Place the leftover chicken in the microwave then reheat until warmed through.