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Honolulu Chicken Recipe

Hawaiian Bros Honolulu Chicken Recipe

This Hawaiian Bros Honolulu Chicken Recipe features tender chicken thighs marinated in a sweet and savory blend of soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and vinegar. Cooked until caramelized and served with rice, it's an easy copycat recipe perfect for lunch or dinner.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 50 minutes
Servings: 6 People
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Hawaiian-American
Calories: 480
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3/4 cup Soy Sauce Regular soy sauce
  • 1 cup Brown Sugar Packed
  • 1/3 cup Chicken Broth Low sodium preferred
  • 3/4 cup Ketchup Regular ketchup
  • 2 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar For tangy flavor
  • 2 1/2 tbsp Fresh Ginger Minced
  • 6 cloves Garlic Crushed
  • 2 1/2 lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs Cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 4 cups Cooked White Rice Day-old preferred
  • 2 tbsp Soy Sauce For fried rice
  • 3 tbsp Vegetable Oil For cooking

Equipment

  • 1 Large mixing bowl For marinade
  • 1 Measuring cup set Accurate measurements
  • 1 Measuring spoon set For sauce ingredients
  • 1 Sharp knife Cutting chicken
  • 1 Cutting board Food prep
  • 1 Large Skillet or Griddle Cooking chicken
  • 1 Wooden spoon Mixing ingredients
  • 1 Rice cooker or pot Cooking rice
  • 1 Tongs Turning chicken

Method
 

Step 1
  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine soy sauce, brown sugar, chicken broth, ketchup, red wine vinegar, ginger, and garlic. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and the marinade is smooth.
    Honolulu Chicken Recipe
Step 2
  1. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the marinade in a separate bowl for later use. Add the chicken thighs to the remaining marinade and coat evenly.
    Honolulu Chicken Recipe
Step 3
  1. Cover and refrigerate the chicken for at least 4 hours or overnight for the best flavor.
    Honolulu Chicken Recipe
Step 4
  1. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and lightly drain excess marinade.
    Honolulu Chicken Recipe
Step 5
  1. Heat vegetable oil on a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken in a single layer, turning occasionally, until caramelized and full cooked.
    Honolulu Chicken Recipe
Step 6
  1. In a separate pan, heat a little oil and add cooked rice. Stir-fry with soy sauce until heated through and evenly seasoned.
    Honolulu Chicken Recipe
Step 7
  1. Drizzle the reserved marinade over the cooked chicken for a glossy finish.
    Honolulu Chicken Recipe
Step 8
  1. Serve the Honolulu chicken hot with rice and your favorite vegetables or Hawaiian macaroni salad.
    Honolulu Chicken Recipe

Notes

  • Chicken thighs provide the most authentic flavor and remain juicy during cooking.
  • Overnight marination creates deeper flavor and better texture.
  • Cook chicken in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan.
  • Day-old rice works best for fried rice because it stays firm.
  • For extra Hawaiian flavor, serve with pineapple slices and macaroni salad.
  • Never use marinade that has touched raw chicken as a finishing sauce unless it has been cooked.