Description
These easy summer party appetizers feature juicy chicken cubes marinated in a sweet, smoky, and tangy Huli Huli sauce, grilled to perfection on skewers for a stress-free, flavorful meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1½-inch cubes
- 20–24 wooden or bamboo skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ½ cup dark brown sugar
- ½ cup fresh pineapple juice
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2–3 green onions, sliced thinly
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted
- Pineapple chunks (optional, for skewering)
Instructions
- Soak wooden or bamboo skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning.
- Pat chicken breasts dry and cut into uniform 1½-inch cubes.
- In a large bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, pineapple juice, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, and black pepper until sugar dissolves.
- Add chicken cubes to the marinade, toss to coat, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
- Thread chicken cubes onto skewers, leaving small gaps between pieces. Alternate with pineapple chunks if desired.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat (400°F / 200°C) and oil the grates.
- Grill skewers for 5 minutes, flip, and cook for another 5-7 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F and chicken is slightly charred.
- Baste with reserved boiled marinade during the last few minutes if desired.
- Remove from grill and let rest for 2-3 minutes.
- Serve immediately, garnished with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds.
Notes
Soak wooden skewers to prevent burning. Never baste with raw marinade that touched raw chicken; boil it first or reserve a portion before marinating. Cut chicken into uniform cubes for even cooking. Do not marinate for more than 24 hours as pineapple enzymes can make the meat mushy.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 skewers per servin
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 680
- Fat: 4
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Protein: 28
Keywords: Huli Huli chicken, grilled skewers, summer party food, Labor Day recipes, Hawaiian chicken, easy grilling, chicken appetizers