Easy-baked Huli Huli chicken is an instant family favorite! Tender chicken thighs are slathered in a sticky Hawaiian-inspired sauce then baked to perfection. It’s a chicken dinner that will satisfy anyone!
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Instructions
Huli Huli Sauce
For best results, grate your garlic and peeled ginger on a microplane so that you have a very fine consistency in your sauce. Alternatively, chop them both until they're very finely minced.
Add all of the ingredients (ketchup, light brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, mirin, garlic, ginger, and chili paste) in a large saucepan, stir to combine, and bring them to a rolling boil over medium-high heat.
Thicken the sauce, stirring frequently, for 10-15 minutes. Your sauce is ready when it will cling to your spoon or spatula.
Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Baked Chicken
Once your homemade huli huli sauce is cooled, place the chicken into a bowl and cover with the sauce. Wrap with cling film and refrigerate to marinate for at least 30 minutes and preferably 8 hours or overnight (no more than 12 hours).
When your chicken has sufficiently marinated, remove it from the fridge while you preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Prepare a baking dish or rimmed baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper, or coating lightly with non-stick cooking spray or oil.
Transfer the chicken to your prepared baking dish and arrange in a single layer. Bake in the middle of the center rack in your oven for 15 minutes, then flip and brush with more sauce. Cook for an additional 15 minutes then repeat to apply more sauce.
Cook for a final 5-10 minutes after brushing with sauce one last time. Once the chicken has an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) at the thickest portion, it's done. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.
Notes
Yields 1 ½ cups of Hawaiian BBQ Sauce.
You can use your preferred chicken pieces (breasts, quarters, thighs, legs, or wings) but rely on the internal temperature of the chicken to judge when they're done.
If desired, heat your oven to broil and caramelize the sauce on the chicken for the last few minutes of cooking time before serving.