Easy Pulehu Chicken is marinated in a sweet and savory Hawaiian inspired sauce then grilled until juicy and caramelized. The chicken is easy to make and packed with delicious tropical flavor.
I'm so excited for you to try this delicious pulehu chicken. As the weather starts getting warmer, it's getting to be perfect grilling weather and this recipe is perfect for just that. It's kid friendly and so easy to pull together and since it's cooked over the grill, clean up is minimal. Speaking of easy recipes, we love serving this with Baked Beans with Ground Beef at family gatherings and BBQ's.
The marinade is made up of a soy sauce pineapple blend that penetrates the chicken filling it with flavor from the inside out. It's made with hawaiian style flavor from the inside out. We love serving this with healthy sides like Orange Ginger Beetroot Broccoli Salad and Buckwheat Salad.
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Why You'll Love Pulehu Chicken
- Easy to make - When I don't know what to make and want something easy but quick I also go to this recipe. All the marinade ingredients are mixed together and then placed in a bag with the chicken to marinate overnight. Then the chicken is grilled over an open flame to perfection and served. It doesn't get much easier than that.
- Tender and juicy -Marinating the chicken over night makes them so tender. The longer they sit in the marinade the more tender and juicy they will be. We will get into some tips and tricks on ensuring they stay tender and juicy as they cook later on.
- Make ahead or meal prep - One of my favorite ways to make these is to meal prep them. Reheating is easy and the flavor is good even the next day or two. If you want you can double the recipe and freeze the marinade for later.
What is Pulehu Chicken?
So what exactly is pulehu chicken? Pulehu is a Hawaiian word that means to cook over hot coals or over an open flame. With that being said, pulehu chicken refers to cooking chicken breast or chicken thighs over an open flame or on a grill. This cooking style is commonly found in Hawaiian restaurants and it is typically used when making steak or ribs. There's a lot of flavor when cooking over the grill and especially with hot coals. There are many ways to season meat before it's cooked this way. The word pulehu does not refer to a single type of marinade or flavor profile.
Ingredients
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts - bone in breasts, boneless thighs, or bone in skinless chicken thighs can be substituted. Keep in mind that cooking with bone in chicken will require more time on the grill
- Pineapple juice - for sweetness and tropical flavor. If you don't need a large container of pineapple juice, consider buying a can of chopped pineapple in fresh pineapple juice. That's what I used for this recipe.
- Soy sauce - to add delicious umami which also balances the sweetness
- Brown sugar - for caramelization
- Ketchup - for added sweet and sour flavor
- Fresh ginger - to add a warm spicy kick to the marinade, a little bit goes a long way
- Fresh garlic cloves - perfect for marinades, fresh garlic is best
How It's Made
Step 1. In a medium bowl combine the pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, fresh ginger, and garlic cloves and whisk until well combined. Measure ½ cup and place in a small bowl and refrigerate for later.
Step 2. Place chicken breasts and the marinade from the medium bowl into a plastic bag. Remove the air and seal the bag. Massage the chicken with the marinade then place in the refrigerator and marinate for at least an hour or overnight.
Step 3. Preheat the grill over medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the preheated grill and discard marinade in the bag. Baste with reserved marinade from the small bowl. Cook for 6 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Serve immediately and garnish with green onion.
Do you need a grill for this recipe?
Technically, if you want to make pulehu chicken you'll need a grill. However, if you want to use the chicken recipe to make on the stove or bake in the oven you can but it won't be considered pulehu.
Tips and Tricks
- Make sure the grates are clean before adding the chicken. This will keep the chicken from sticking and will prevent your chicken from tasting charred from the food before it. Clean the grates with a grill brush after the grates have heated and the residue will come off with ease.
- Add canola oil or sesame oil to the grates before grilling to make flipping easy. This marinade has a tendency to get sticky as it cooks from the sugar content. Adding oil will keep the chicken from sticking.
- Make sure the grill is hot before adding the chicken. You're looking for a good sear on the outside and you won't get that with a cool grill. It can take about 10-15 minutes for the grill to completely preheat.
- Don't open the grill as it's cooking. When the grill is closed all the heat is trapped in and it helps to cook the chicken from the inside out. It also helps keep the chicken juicy as well.
- Let the chicken rest after it's done grilling. I typically recommend around 5-15 minutes. Doing so will help keep the chicken tender as the juices redistribute. You may also consider tenting the chicken with foil.
Other Ways to Make Pulehu Chicken
- Add a few tablespoons coconut milk for even more tropical flavor and creaminess in the marinade
- Serve with grilled caramelized pineapple over top of the grilled chicken
- If you have extra time simmer the reserved marinade in a small pan until thickened and use for basting, dipping, or pour over the chicken
- Add 1 tablespoon lime juice over top of the cooked chicken or add to the marinade for extra tanginess
- Chop the chicken breasts into small pieces and thread chicken pieces onto soaked wooden skewers and grill
Ways to Serve Pulehu Chicken
There are many ways to serve the pulehu chicken recipe. Below are my favorite sides for this delicious dinner.
- White rice
- Steamed broccoli
- Mixed vegetable stir fry
- Seasoned rice
Storing Pulehu Chicken
Storing pulehu chicken is easy. Simply let cool then place in an air tight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. To reheat place in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, flip and repeat until the chicken is heated through. If you have any left over marinade used for basting consider adding it to the container to keep the chicken juicy and infused with the delicious flavor.
Other Recipes You'll Love
Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breast
Chicken Curry with Almond Milk
Easy Pulehu Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup pineapple juice
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 teaspoons fresh ginger minced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
Instructions
- In a medium bowl combine the pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, fresh ginger, and garlic cloves and whisk until well combined. Measure ½ cup and place in a small bowl and refrigerate for later.
- Place chicken breasts and the marinade from the medium bowl into a plastic bag. Remove the air and seal the bag. Massage the chicken with the marinade then place in the refrigerator and marinate for at least an hour or overnight.
- Preheat the grill over medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the preheated grill and discard marinade in the bag. Baste with reserved marinade from the small bowl. Cook for 6 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Serve immediately and garnish with green onion.
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