Hawaiian BBQ Chicken

BBQ lovers will no doubt enjoy this sweet and tangy version of Hawaiian BBQ Chicken.

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One of my favorite things about BBQ chicken is that it’s not a blanket term. It means different things to different people, and many different versions of it can be found in various corners of the culinary world. There is no better example of this than Hawaiian BBQ chicken, which is among my favorite types of BBQ. Of course, it incorporates some of the components that make BBQ chicken so tasty, like BBQ sauce, garlic, and char-grilled flavor. But it also has brown sugar, pineapple juice, and pineapple rings for a taste that is uniquely Hawaiian.

It’s a little sweeter than most BBQ chicken dishes with an undeniable tang to it, thanks to the pineapple juice in the marinade. It’s almost as if somebody found a way to seamlessly combine BBQ chicken with sweet and sour chicken. The dish perfectly merges the sweetness of Hawaiian cuisine with the wonderful smoky flavors of classic BBQ chicken.

While most people opt to grill the pineapple rings, you could also make Air-Fryer Pineapple Rings for a sweet complement to the chicken. As for the BBQ sauce, I suggest a Low-Carb Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce that you can make at home. Of course, if you want to add even more flavor to this sweet and tangy chicken, you can use Spicy BBQ Sauce or Bourbon BBQ Sauce.

Is Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Healthy?

Hawaiian BBQ chicken can be considered a reasonably healthy meal. Boneless skinless chicken breast is a good source of lean protein and contains less fat than most types of red meat. Meanwhile, the pineapple juice and pineapple rings contain a good dose of vitamin C, as well as other nutrients. Just make sure you look closely at the nutritional information on the soy sauce and BBQ sauce that you use. Otherwise, you could end up adding too much sodium to the dish.

Marinating Is a Must

The key to maximizing the flavor of Hawaiian BBQ chicken is marinating the chicken. The recipe says to marinate the chicken for at least an hour, but ideally, you should marinate it for up to 24 hours to really let the flavors soak in. If you’d like, you can set aside some of the marinade to use for basting later. While cooking the chicken on the grill, brush it frequently with the reserved marinade. You might even want to drizzle some of it over the chicken when you’re ready to serve it. This will help you get the most flavor and make the chicken stand out from other BBQ recipes.

INGREDIENTS

1/3 cup pineapple juice
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 teaspoons minced ginger
1/2 cup BBQ sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 small pineapple (peeled, cored, and cut into rings)
2 tablespoons chopped green onions (for garnish)
Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Marinate

Mix marinade and soak chicken.

Grill

Cook chicken and pineapple on grill.

Serve

Garnish with green onions.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

How to Make Ahead and Store

Any leftover Hawaiian BBQ chicken should be stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge for up to 4 days.

How Can I Make This Chicken Spicier?

While Hawaiian BBQ chicken is meant to be sweet and tangy, adding a little spice will dial up the fiery flavors. Try adding some red pepper flakes or a small diced jalapeño to the marinade to make it a little spicy.

What Else Can I Grill with Hawaiian BBQ Chicken?

In addition to pineapple rings, there are lots of different vegetables you could grill with Hawaiian BBQ chicken. I recommend onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, and asparagus. You could even stick everything together on a skewer to make kabobs!

Serving Suggestions

I recommend serving the chicken and pineapple rings on a bed of steamed rice or Hawaiian Fried Rice. Naturally, Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is another great side dish for Hawaiian BBQ chicken. Of course, you can also go with more traditional BBQ sides like Sweet Vegan Cornbread or Baked Beans. I would also recommend trying Healthy Broccoli Salad or Watermelon Salad if you want a healthy side dish to go with your Hawaiian BBQ chicken.