Hawaiian Chicken Recipe
Marinated & served with ham, grilled pineapple & Monterey jack cheese
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Ingredients
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Marinade & Chicken
Toppings & Assembly
Method
Marinade & Chicken
- 1
Prepare the marinade
In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, fresh pineapple juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, grated ginger, minced garlic, vegetable oil, black pepper, and salt. Whisk until sugar is mostly dissolved and the mixture is homogeneous.
- 2
Marinate the chicken
Place the chicken breasts in a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish. Pour about two-thirds of the marinade over the chicken, reserving one-third for basting/finishing. Seal or cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 6 hours. If time is limited, marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature.
- 3
Preheat grill or grill pan
Remove chicken from refrigerator 15 minutes before cooking. Preheat an outdoor grill to medium-high (about 400°F / 200°C) or heat a large grill pan over medium-high heat on the stovetop. Lightly oil the grill grates or pan with the 2 tbs vegetable oil.
- 4
Grill the chicken
Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off (discard used marinade). Place chicken on the hot grill or grill pan. Grill 5–6 minutes per side, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 165°F (74°C). During the last 2–3 minutes of cooking, brush the reserved marinade (that was not used on raw chicken) once or twice to glaze the surface and enhance flavor.
Toppings & Assembly
- 5
Prepare and grill pineapple
While chicken cooks, heat a small skillet or griddle over medium heat and melt the 1 tbs butter. Add pineapple rings and cook 2–3 minutes per side, until nicely caramelized with golden edges. If using canned pineapple, pat rings dry before grilling to improve caramelization.
- 6
- 7
Assemble
When chicken is done, transfer to a clean board and let rest 3–5 minutes. If serving as sandwiches: place a grilled chicken breast on the bottom bun (or on rice if serving over rice), top with 1–2 slices of warmed ham, one grilled pineapple ring, and one slice of Monterey Jack cheese. If desired, return assembled sandwiches to the grill or under a broiler for 30–60 seconds to melt the cheese slightly. Finish with chopped green onions as garnish.
- 8
Serve
Serve immediately with remaining reserved marinade sauce warmed (optional) or additional pineapple slices on the side. Enjoy with a simple side salad, fries, or steamed rice.