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so my husband went to hawaii for work last year and came back obsessed with this chicken he had at some random lunch spot. kept talking about it for weeks. i finally looked up hawaiian chicken recipes and tried making my own version and honestly? mine might be better than whatever he had lol
first time i made it i used way too much soy sauce and it was so salty we could barely eat it. had to order pizza that night. second time i cut back on the soy and added pineapple juice to balance it out and that fixed everything
now my kids ask for this like twice a month. my daughter who normally picks at everything will actually finish her plate when i make this. thats how i know its good
Why this works
the pineapple juice makes the chicken tender and adds sweetness without being too much you can use chicken thighs or breasts, both turn out good takes maybe 30 minutes total if you dont count marinating time the sauce is sticky and caramelizes on the chicken when you cook it tastes like takeout but cheaper and you know whats in it
What you need
2 pounds chicken (i use boneless thighs mostly) soy sauce like half a cup pineapple juice, maybe 3/4 cup or just dump some in brown sugar couple tablespoons garlic minced, i use 3-4 cloves ginger either fresh grated or the jar stuff sesame oil just a little bit cornstarch for thickening pineapple chunks, i buy the can and drain it green onions for topping sesame seeds if you remember them
How to make it
Cut your chicken into bite-sized pieces. i do mine kind of big because they shrink when they cook
mix soy sauce, pineapple juice, brown sugar, garlic, ginger and sesame oil in a bowl. this is your marinade slash sauce
take out maybe half a cup of that mixture and set it aside. youll use this for the sauce later. put the chicken in the rest and let it sit. i usually do like 30 minutes but longer is fine if you have time. sometimes i just marinate it in the morning before work
heat oil in a big pan or wok over medium high. take the chicken out of the marinade and cook it til its done. maybe 7-8 minutes depending on how big you cut the pieces. dont use the marinade you had the raw chicken in
while the chickens cooking take that sauce you set aside earlier and put it in a small pot. add a tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with a little water. heat it up and whisk til it thickens. takes like 3 minutes
throw your pineapple chunks in with the chicken for the last couple minutes just to warm them up and get a little caramelized
pour the thickened sauce over everything and toss it around
put it on a plate or bowl with rice and sprinkle green onions and sesame seeds on top
Tips
if you forget to marinate it ahead of time its fine. even 15 minutes helps. ive done it with zero marinating time when im rushed and it still tastes good just not as flavorful
chicken thighs are more forgiving than breasts. breasts can get dry if you overcook them even a little bit
you can grill this instead of pan frying. i do that in summer sometimes. just brush extra sauce on while its grilling
add red bell pepper or snap peas if you want more vegetables. i throw them in with the chicken sometimes
double the sauce recipe if you want extra for your rice. my husband drowns his rice in it
Storing it
keeps in the fridge for 3-4 days in a container. we usually eat leftovers for lunch
it reheats pretty well in the microwave. add a splash of water so it doesnt dry out
i havent tried freezing it but my friend says she does and it works fine. just defrost in the fridge overnight
my sister in law meal preps this on sundays and eats it all week. she says it holds up better than most chicken recipes she makes
Nutrition info per serving, makes about 4-5 servings
calories around 380 protein 35g carbs 28g fat 12g sugar 18g sodium 950mg
this is approximate because i dont measure perfectly and depends if you use thighs or breasts
Questions I get asked
can you use chicken breast – yeah just watch it close so it doesnt get dry. i cook breasts for less time than thighs
Is it really spicy – not at all. its sweet and savory. if you want spice add red pepper flakes or sriracha
Can I use fresh pineapple – sure, fresh is great. i just use canned because its easier and cheaper
Do I have to use sesame oil – technically no but it adds a lot of flavor. if you dont have it just skip it and add a tiny bit more regular oil
this is one of those recipes that looks impressive when people come over but its actually super easy. my mom asked for the recipe after i made it for family dinner and shes been making it for my dad who usually only eats like 5 things. she texted me last week that he asked her to make it again which is basically the highest compliment from him
