Hawaiian Style Teriyaki Chicken
Hawaiian Style Teriyaki Chicken is a quick and flavorful dish that combines juicy chicken thighs with a perfectly balanced sweet and savory teriyaki glaze featuring soy sauce, pineapple juice, and brown sugar. This easy-to-make recipe brings authentic island flavors to your kitchen and is great for weeknights or festive gatherings.
- Author: Mary
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-frying
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
- Diet: Gluten Free
Chicken
- 4–6 chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
Marinade
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Glaze Thickener
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water (to make slurry)
- Prepare the Marinade: In a mixing bowl, combine the soy sauce, pineapple juice, brown sugar, minced garlic, grated ginger, and sesame oil. Whisk gently until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is smooth and aromatic.
- Marinate the Chicken: Place the chicken thighs in a shallow dish or resealable bag and pour the marinade over them. Make sure each piece is fully coated. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, ideally up to 2 hours, to allow the flavors to penetrate deeply.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade, reserving the excess liquid. Cook the chicken in the skillet until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes per side depending on thickness.
- Make the Teriyaki Glaze: While the chicken cooks, transfer the reserved marinade to a small saucepan. In a separate bowl, mix cornstarch with water to create a slurry. Bring the marinade to a simmer, then slowly whisk in the slurry. Cook until the sauce thickens into a glossy, sticky glaze.
- Combine and Serve: Brush the thickened teriyaki sauce over the cooked chicken and let it caramelize slightly in the pan for about a minute. Serve the chicken immediately, garnished with your choice of toasted sesame seeds, sliced green onions, or fresh cilantro.
Notes
- Use dark meat: Chicken thighs stay juicier and more flavorful than breasts in this recipe.
- Marinate longer: For the most tender chicken, marinate up to 4 hours or overnight if possible.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan: Cook chicken in batches if needed to ensure a nice sear and even cooking.
- Make extra sauce: The teriyaki glaze doubles as a fantastic dipping sauce or drizzle for rice.
- Rest before slicing: Allow your chicken to rest a few minutes after cooking to keep it juicy and retain its shape.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Keywords: Hawaiian teriyaki chicken, teriyaki chicken recipe, pineapple chicken, sweet and savory chicken, gluten free teriyaki