If you’re craving something sweet, sticky, and just a little tropical, but still need dinner to be easy, this baked huli huli chicken delivers. It has classic Hawaiian-inspired flavors (pineapple, soy sauce, and a sweet-savory glaze), but without standing over a grill flipping chicken like you’re on vacation.

Everything cooks in one pan, the chicken comes out tender and full of flavor, and you can use homemade huli huli sauce or grab a bottle and call it a day. Serve it with rice, maybe some pineapple if you’re feeling extra, and suddenly dinner feels way more impressive than the effort you actually put in. If you love tropical flavors and weeknight dinners, try our chicken adobo – it’s a filipino household staple.

baked huli huli chicken on a plate with pineapple slices and green onions

Serves: 6
Prep Time: 6 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

2 tsp olive oil
1 cup homemade Huli Huli Sauce (or store bought)
about 6 bone-in chicken pieces (such as thighs and/or drumsticks)
Optional:
- chopped green onions for garnish
- rice for serving
- sliced pineapple

chicken on a plate next to sauce and olive oil on a counter

Get the full printable instructions with measurements at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

Tips for an easy weeknight dinner:

Store bought Huli Huli sauce is equally delicious! It can be found at World Market, Amazon, and international grocery stores.
The pan will be so hot when you remove it from the oven. I leave an oven mitt on the handle when I’m flipping the chicken so I don’t forget and try to pick it up.

Step-by-Step Directions:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350º F. Use an oven proof skillet that has a lid. Heat oil in skillet over medium high heat. Place chicken in skillet, skin side down, and lightly brown for 2-3 minutes. Flip chicken and brown for another 2-3 minutes.

Chicken thighs browning in a skillet on a stove

Step 2: Flip the chicken back over so it’s skin side down and pour in huli huli sauce. Cover with lid and place in oven. Bake for 30 minutes. Carefully remove the hot pan from the oven and remove the lid with a pot holder. Flip the chicken once more so it is skin side up. Return the pan to the oven, uncovered, and cook for 30 more minutes or until temperature reaches 165º F when taken with a meat thermometer. Serve Baked Huli Huli Chicken with rice and pineapple slices and garnish with green onions. So good!

Huli Huil sauce being poured over chicken thighs in a skillet

Tropical drinks without the vacay:

Frozen pineapple margarita – tropics in a fancy glass
Blueberry pineapple mocktail – skip the booze, keep the vibes

Before you go . . .

Love this sweet-and-savory situation? There’s more where that came from. Check out our Hawaiian and tropical recipe roundup for a full menu that actually works together.

Easy Baked Huli Huli Chicken (Homemade or Store-Bought Sauce)

Baked Huil Huli Chicken on a plate with pineapple slices and green onions

This easy baked huli huli chicken is sweet, sticky, and full of Hawaiian-inspired flavor. Made with homemade or store-bought sauce, it’s a simple one-pan dinner perfect for busy weeknights.

Beth

Prep Time 6

Cook Time 1

Total Time 1 6

Servings

Equipment

1 oven safe skillet (with a lid)

Ingredients

2 tsp olive oil
1 cup Huli Huli Sauce
6 bone-in chicken pieces (thighs and/or drumsticks)

Optional:

rice
chopped green onions
sliced pineapple

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350º F. Use an oven proof skillet that has a lid. Heat oil in skillet over medium high heat. Place chicken in skillet, skin side down, and lightly brown for 2-3 minutes. Flip chicken and brown for another 2-3 minutes.
Flip the chicken back over so it’s skin side down and pour in huli huli sauce. Cover with lid and place in oven. Bake for 30 minutes. Carefully remove the hot pan from the oven and remove the lid with a pot holder. Flip the chicken once more so it is skin side up. Return the pan to the oven, uncovered, and cook for 30 more minutes or until temperature reaches 165º F when taken with a meat thermometer.