Huli Huli Chicken

Name: Huli Huli Chicken
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 18 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Hawaiian
Ingredients: 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs; 1/2 cup brown sweetener (monkfruit or erythritol blend); 2/3 cup unsweetened ketchup; 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar; 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger; 2 teaspoons minced garlic; ⅔ cup soy sauce or liquid aminos

By Annie Lampella, Pharm.D.

Published July 10, 2021 • Updated June 2, 2025

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Reader Rating

5 Stars (2 Reviews) 4 Comments

BBQ Dairy Free Easy Egg Free Nut Free

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Huli huli chicken is a sweet and tangy marinade that creates the perfect glaze for grilled chicken. With chicken thighs, your chicken will be juicy with the perfect char. This easy keto chicken recipe uses a simple marinade to make the most delicious Hawaiian chicken recipe.

juicy grilled chicken thighs on a plate with tongs off to the side

a platter of char grilled huli chicken with chopped parsley on top

juicy bbq chicken on a serving plate next to forks and parsley

23 Mins

Nutrition Facts

Servings

297

Calories

14g

Fat

39.1g

Protein

5.4g

Net Carb

5.7g

Total Carbs

Disclaimer: The nutrition information provided is an estimate and is for informational purposes only. I am a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); however, this content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or other qualified health provider before making any lifestyle changes or beginning a new nutrition program.

Huli Huli Chicken Recipe Video

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Huli Chicken Ingredients

3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1/2 cup brown sweetener (monkfruit or erythritol blend)
2/3 cup unsweetened ketchup
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
2 teaspoons minced garlic
⅔ cup soy sauce or liquid aminos

Huli Huli Chicken Directions

STEP

1

Make the huli marinade

In a large bowl, mix together brown sugar replacement sweetener, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, ginger, garlic, and soy sauce to make the huli huli sauce. Reserve ¼ cup marinade for basting later.
STEP

2

Marinade chicken

Add chicken thighs. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Let chicken marinate for at least 2 hours, overnight is ideal.
STEP

3

Char grill

To grill chicken, preheat grill to medium heat (350-400 degrees). Coat grill grate with cooking spray or oil to grease the grill. Add marinade chicken and grill 6-8 minutes. Baste chicken with reserved sauce before flipping. Flip the chicken, baste again, and grill for another 6-8 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160-165 degrees.

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Keto Huli Huli Chicken Recipe

grilled marinated chicken on a blue plate sprinkled with parsley

This keto huli huli chicken recipe can be made with simple ingredients found in most keto pantries. To make this Hawaiian chicken recipe, all you need is boneless, skinless chicken thighs, golden monkfruit sweetener or other brown sugar replacement sweetener, unsweetened ketchup, apple cider vinegar, freshly grated ginger, minced garlic, and soy sauce or liquid aminos. Huli huli chicken should be grilled and basted with leftover marinade to get that ultimate huli huli flavor. The marinade will give the chicken a flavorful charred taste that your family will crave.

To keep this huli huli sauce keto, we don’t have pineapple juice because pineapple juice has too much sugar in it. We also use a brown sugar substitute like golden monk fruit or brown erythritol in place of the brown sugar.

holding a piece of grilled chicken with tongs

Why is it Called Huli Huli Chicken?

According to online sources, Huli Huli Chicken is a grilled chicken recipe invented by Ernest Morgado in 1955. These chicken thighs were originally made on a grill with a makeshift spit roaster, and people would shout ‘huli’ when the chicken was ready to be flipped. That is because, in Hawaiian, the word ‘huli’ means to turn. Morgado made his popular recipe at many fundraisers at churches and schools all around Hawaii and raised millions of dollars for different causes.

Keto Marinade

This version of grilled huli huli chicken is 100% keto-friendly. To make this recipe low-carb, we use golden monkfruit sweetener instead of brown sugar. The best keto replacement for regular ketchup, which contains added sugars, is the unsweetened ketchup from Primal Kitchen. While the recipe still uses soy sauce, you can use tamari sauce instead if you avoid gluten. You can even use liquid aminos if you want to decrease the carb count even further.

a summertime dinner spread of huli chicken, salad and dessert with two plates and some forks

Don't Have a Grill??

You can still achieve crispy, charred huli huli chicken by baking the chicken in an oven or in an air fryer if you don’t have a grill. If you want to bake this recipe in the oven, preheat the oven to 400 degrees and cook the chicken for 20 minutes. If you want to cook the recipe in an air fryer, set the air fryer to 360 degrees and cook for 12-15 minutes.

Storage and Meal Prep Tips

Marinated chicken is one of the easiest to store and meal prep. If you know you will be short on time, you can prepare the marinade ahead of time and use it when you are ready. You can also marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for up to 2 days or store it in the freezer for even longer. Marinating the chicken for longer periods of time also helps the flavor infuse with the chicken and will create a stronger flavor. If you are looking to meal prep for the week, grilled huli huli chicken can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. You can also freeze the leftover cooked Hawaiian huli huli chicken for longer.

Huli Huli Chicken: FAQS

Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs for this recipe?

Absolutely! While chicken thighs are juicier and more forgiving on the grill, chicken breasts can work well too. Just keep an eye on them to avoid drying out.

What can I use instead of brown sweetener?

You can substitute with regular brown sugar if you're not following a keto diet, or try coconut sugar for a more natural option. Just keep in mind that it will slightly change the nutritional profile.

How long can I store the leftover Huli Huli chicken?

Leftover Huli Huli chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months!

Is there a gluten-free option for the soy sauce?

Yes! You can use tamari or liquid aminos, both of which are gluten-free alternatives to traditional soy sauce.

What sides pair well with Huli Huli chicken?

This dish goes great with a fresh salad, grilled vegetables, or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option. You can also serve it with traditional Hawaiian sides like macaroni salad.

Nutritional information & Macros

Amount Per Serving
Calories	297
Fat	14g
Protein	39.1g
Total Carbs	5.7g
Net Carbs	5.4g

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About Annie Lampella, Pharm.D.

Annie Lampella is a Doctor of Pharmacy, mom, and the recipe creator behind KetoFocus. With a B.S. in Genetics from UC Davis and a Pharm.D., she has over 11 years of experience developing family-friendly keto recipes based on the science of human metabolism. She is the author of the Protein Packed cookbook, published by Victory Belt Publishing.

Learn more about Annie →

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