Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken thighs or breasts, boneless and skinless
- Cooked white rice, for serving
- Grilled pineapple slices, optional
For the Marinade
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For Garnish
- 1 green onion, chopped
Instructions
- Make the Marinade: In a large bowl, whisk together the pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, rice vinegar, minced garlic, fresh grated ginger, sesame oil, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth and all the sugar has dissolved.
- Marinate the Chicken: Place the chicken in a resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish. Pour half of the marinade over the chicken (reserving the remaining half for basting later). Seal or cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or ideally overnight for maximum flavor.
- Prepare the Grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Meanwhile, remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the used marinade.
- Grill the Chicken: Place the chicken on the hot grill. Cook for 6–7 minutes on each side, basting frequently with the reserved marinade. Grill until the chicken is well-charred, caramelized, and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C).
- Rest and Serve: Transfer the grilled chicken to a plate and let it rest for 3–5 minutes to keep it juicy. Slice and serve over cooked white rice. Garnish with chopped green onion and, if desired, add grilled pineapple slices for an extra tropical touch.
Notes
- For extra tenderness and flavor, marinate the chicken overnight.
- You can use chicken breasts or thighs depending on your preference; thighs tend to stay juicier on the grill.
- If you don’t have a grill, this recipe also works well using a grill pan or under a broiler.
- Add fresh herbs like cilantro or a squeeze of lime for additional brightness.
- The reserved marinade for basting should not touch raw chicken; always use the reserved clean portion for safety.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Main-course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Hawaiian-Inspired
- Diet: Halal
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe (about 8 oz chicken with rice)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg