Air Fryer Huli Huli Chicken is a savory and sweet dish that can quickly make you feel like you’re sitting in a beautiful paradise. Originating in Hawaii, this pineapple puree, brown sugar, soy sauce, ketchup, and spices all meld together to bring you a delish chicken recipe with so much flavor.
Air Fryer Huli Huli Chicken is the perfect combination of sweet and savory for an amazing Hawaiian chicken recipe!
To make this a full on Hawaiian night, make yourself a Blue Hawaiian to sip on with before your chicken dinner.and you’ll have a complete meal with a Hawaiian flair!
Why You’ll Love This Huli Huli Chicken in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer recipes are so much faster to make than many of the traditional versions without losing any of the flavor or texture.
- Cooking with chicken thighs is an affordable dish that packs a punch of flavor from the meat and sauce.
- You only need a handful of basic ingredients from the kitchen to get this recipe going!
- Make a double batch of this tasty chicken and serve it various ways- perfect for sticking to a meal plan.
- This is the perfect summer recipe to enjoy by the pool or out on the back porch watching the sunset.
For another yummy Air Fryer chicken recipe, check out this crispy Air Fryer Panko Chicken Thighs recipe. And if you love salmon, these Air Fryer Salmon Bites are ahh-mazing!
What Does Huli Huli Mean?
Huli Huli means turn turn. This Hawaiian Chicken recipe is traditionally made on a rotisserie over a giant fire pit that is constantly being rotated to get that chicken perfectly cooked
However when you don’t have one available, using the Air Fryer is the next best way!
Recipe Ingredients
Grab these simple ingredients to whip up this easy dinner!
CHICKEN THIGHS: I prefer boneless skinless chicken thighs. Chicken thighs give you plenty of meat and plenty of juicy, tender dark meat to enjoy. You can also use boneless skinless chicken breasts or tenders if you want, but they will need adjustment in your cook time.
BROWN SUGAR: Using this brings the sweet part to this recipe.
SOY SAUCE: Use regular soy sauce or low sodium soy sauce.
KETCHUP: Part of the base of the sauce that really brings out the flavor.
PINEAPPLE PUREE: This also brings sweetness to the sauce but also is the fruity flavor that helps transport you to paradise. You can add pineapple juice and pineapple chunks to a food processor to make your own substitute if needed.
SPICES: Ground ginger, minced garlic and chili flakes pull this sauce together. Those yum chili pepper flakes are what bring a little heat to this huli huli sauce.
How To Make Air Fryer Huli Huli Chicken
Get the full recipe instructions for this Hawaiian recipe in the recipe card below.
STEP 1: In a small bowl or a food processor, mix your soy sauce, ketchup, pineapple puree, ginger, fresh garlic, and chili flakes together.
STEP 2: Place your chicken in a glass baking dish and cover with the Huli Huli sauce. Add plastic wrap on top and marinade your chicken thighs in this delicious sauce for 3 hours in the refrigerator. If you can, marinate overnight. Marinated chicken is so flavorful, the longer you can marinate it, the more flavor it will pack.
STEP 3: Remove chicken thighs from the marinade. Working in batches, add your chicken thighs to your Air Fryer basket. Do not overcrowd your chicken, the fryer needs room to circulate the hot air sufficiently around the thighs, so keep them in a single layer.
STEP 4: Cook your chicken at 380°F for 18 minutes, flipping them over to the other side halfway through. Using an instant read thermometer, make sure the internal temperature of your chicken reaches 165°F. Adjust cooking time if needed.
This is an awesome air fryer chicken recipe and you’re family will love it!
Can I use Another Type of Chicken?
Sure! This recipe works with other types of chicken pieces.
You could use boneless skinless chicken breasts or tenders, but they require a different cook time as they cook a little faster. You’ll need to watch closely and adjust accordingly. Always use your meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is fully cooked.
What To Serve With Huli Huli Chicken?
Wondering what to serve with this Hawaiian Huli Huli chicken recipe? Serve your favorite sides or here are some great ideas for a side dish:
- Serve chicken with a coconut rice dish and vegetables, such as broccoli, with a side of fresh pineapple to complement the sauce.
- Serve this juicy chicken sliced up on top of noodles and drizzle with the half of the sauce you kept when making a double batch.
- Enjoy this chicken over white rice and extra sauce.
- Make it a Luau themed meal with these Hawaiian Baked Beans for the perfect side dish!
- For desserts, these Lemon Curd Filled Hawaiian Rolls are the perfect sweet compliment to this island dish. Or how about this Butter Mochi Recipe which is a sweet coconut cake-like dessert that’s naturally gluten free.
Pro Tip: Make a double batch of sauce. Use half the sauce to marinate the raw chicken in a ziploc bag. Use the reserved sauce to drizzle over the chicken and sides you serve it with. Make sure the sauce you use on the raw chicken is thrown away and not reused.
How To Store Air Fried Huli Huli Chicken
You can store any chicken leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Leftovers should last 3-5 days.
Freezing leftovers is an option too. Place your cooked Huli Huli chicken in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months.
How To Reheat Leftovers
Reheat your Air Fryer Huli Huli Chicken in the Air Fryer on 380°F for 8 minutes, checking the doneness halfway through. Some large thighs may require more or less time so keep an eye on your chicken.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes to Love
Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters
Air Fryer Panko Chicken Thighs
Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Chicken
Making Huli Huli Air Fryer Chicken at home is a great way to bring Hawaiian food to your kitchen and will become your new go-to dinner recipe this summer with its fantastic flavor and versatility.
Air Fryer Huli Huli Chicken
Air Fryer Huli Huli Chicken is a savory and sweet dish that can quickly make you feel like you're sitting in a beautiful paradise. Originating in Hawaii, this pineapple puree, brown sugar, soy sauce, ketchup, and spices all meld together to bring you a delish chicken recipe with so much flavor.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- 1 cup Brown Sugar
- 3/4 cup Soy Sauce
- 3/4 cup Ketchup
- 1/2 cup Pineapple Purée
- 3 tablespoons of Ground Ginger
- 3 tablespoons Minced Garlic
- 1 tablespoon Chili Flakes
Instructions
- Mix soy sauce, ketchup, pineapple puree, ginger, fresh garlic, and chili flakes together.
- Place chicken in a glass baking dish and cover with the Huli Huli sauce. Cover with plastic wrap and let marinade for 3 hours minimum in the refrigerator.
- Place marinated chicken thighs in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Cook at 380°F for 18 minutes, flipping the chicken thighs over after 9 minutes. Use an instant read thermometer, to make sure the internal temperature of your chicken reaches 165°F. Adjust cooking time if needed.
Notes
See recipe post for variations and tips.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 839Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 415mgSodium: 3652mgCarbohydrates: 68gFiber: 2gSugar: 56gProtein: 88g
Nutritional values are estimates and not exact.