Tropical Hawaiian Style Teriyaki Recipe for Sunny Days

Crafting an authentic hawaiian style teriyaki sends me straight back to sunny beach memories.

Tropical breezes and island flavors dance through this simple recipe.

Generations of pacific islanders have perfected these marinades with love and precision.

Rich soy sauce blends seamlessly with sweet pineapple hints.

Each ingredient tells a story of culinary tradition and family gatherings.

Grill masters understand the delicate balance of sweet and savory notes.

Come savor this delectable journey that promises to transport you to hawaii’s vibrant culinary landscape.

Why Sweet And Sour Chicken Never Gets Old

• Savor Island-Inspired Flavors: Dive into a mouthwatering Hawaiian teriyaki recipe that brings the tropical taste of the Pacific right to your kitchen.
• Master Quick Restaurant-Quality Cooking: Create a professional-grade dish with simple ingredients and straightforward techniques that even novice cooks can nail perfectly.
• Customize Your Culinary Adventure: Easily swap proteins or adjust marinade ingredients to match your taste preferences and dietary needs without compromising the authentic Hawaiian essence.
• Impress Gathering Crowds: Wow friends and family with a crowd-pleasing recipe that works brilliantly for backyard barbecues, potlucks, and casual dinner parties.

Everything That Goes Into Sweet And Sour Chicken

• Soy Sauce: A salty and umami-rich liquid that provides depth to the teriyaki flavor profile.
• Brown Sugar: Adds a rich, caramel-like sweetness that balances the savory elements of the sauce.
• Pineapple Juice: Brings a tropical brightness and helps tenderize the meat with its natural enzymes.
• Rice Vinegar: Contributes a subtle tangy note that brightens the overall marinade.
• Sesame Oil: Offers a nutty, aromatic undertone that enhances the sauce's complexity.
• Mirin: A sweet rice wine that adds a delicate sweetness and glossy finish to the marinade.

• Garlic, Ginger: Provide a zesty, warm spiciness that is fundamental to the teriyaki flavor.

• Chicken Thighs, Pork Shoulder: Tender, flavorful proteins that absorb the marinade beautifully.

• Cornstarch, Water: Creates a slurry that helps transform the marinade into a glossy, thick sauce.

• Green Onions, Sesame Seeds, Pineapple Ring: Add visual appeal, crunch, and a classic Hawaiian touch to the final dish.

How To Cook Sweet And Sour Chicken At Home

Step 1: Whip Up Flavor-Packed Teriyaki Marinade

• Soy sauce
• Brown sugar
• Pineapple juice
• Rice vinegar
• Sesame oil
• Mirin
• Minced garlic
• Grated ginger

Stir everything together until the sugar dissolves completely, creating a vibrant and aromatic marinade that screams Hawaiian goodness.

Step 2: Prepare Meat for Maximum Flavor

Slice boneless chicken thighs and pork shoulder into even, bite-sized pieces. This ensures each morsel gets the perfect amount of marinade and cooks uniformly.

Step 3: Marinate and Infuse

Submerge the meat completely in the marinade, making sure every inch is coated. Seal the container and let it chill in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours. This magical resting time allows the proteins to soak up all those incredible sweet and savory flavors.

Step 4: Prep for Cooking

Pull the meat out of the marinade, but don’t toss that liquid gold! Set the marinade aside for later. Pat the meat pieces dry with paper towels – this helps create an amazing caramelized exterior when cooking.

Step 5: Fire Up the Grill or Skillet

Heat your grill or heavy skillet to medium-high heat. Cook the marinated meat for 4-5 minutes per side. You’re looking for crispy edges and a safe internal temperature of 165°F for chicken.

Step 6: Transform Marinade into Luscious Sauce

Pour the reserved marinade into a small saucepan. Create a cornstarch slurry by mixing cornstarch with water, then whisk it into the marinade. This will transform the liquid into a glossy, thick sauce.

Step 7: Simmer to Perfection

Let the sauce simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning. Watch it magically thicken into a syrupy consistency that’ll make your taste buds dance.

Step 8: Plate with Tropical Flair

Arrange the grilled meats on a plate. Drizzle that incredible thickened teriyaki sauce over the top. Sprinkle with chopped green onions and sesame seeds. For the ultimate Hawaiian touch, add a grilled pineapple ring on the side.

Helpful Tips For Sweet And Sour Chicken Magic

• Marinate Mindfully: Let the meat soak in the teriyaki sauce for at least 2 hours to ensure deep, rich flavor penetration and maximum tenderness.
• Pat Dry for Perfection: Remove excess marinade and thoroughly dry meat pieces to achieve beautiful caramelization and crispy exterior when grilling or searing.
• Sauce Thickening Trick: Use cornstarch slurry to transform liquid marinade into a glossy, restaurant-quality teriyaki sauce without lumps or thin consistency.
• Temperature Matters: Maintain medium-high heat (375°F) while cooking to guarantee even cooking, crispy edges, and safe internal meat temperature of 165°F for chicken.
• Garnish with Authenticity: Top the dish with chopped green onions, sesame seeds, and grilled pineapple to capture true Hawaiian-style presentation and enhance overall flavor profile.

Ways To Change Up Sweet And Sour Chicken

• Spicy Island Kick: Add sriracha or red pepper flakes to the marinade for a fiery Hawaiian-inspired version that brings bold heat to the classic recipe.
• Coconut Fusion: Replace some soy sauce with coconut milk and add shredded coconut to the marinade, creating a tropical, creamy flavor profile that enhances the traditional teriyaki.
• Citrus Mango Blend: Incorporate fresh mango puree and orange zest into the marinade, offering a bright, zesty alternative that complements the sweet and savory base of the original recipe.
• Pineapple Rum Infusion: Mix dark rum into the marinade and use fresh pineapple juice for a more complex, rich flavor that adds depth to the traditional Hawaiian teriyaki sauce.

Perfect Pairings For Sweet And Sour Chicken

• Pair with Tropical White Wine: Select a crisp, slightly sweet Riesling or Gewürztraminer that complements the teriyaki's sweet-savory profile and matches the Hawaiian-style dish's bright, fruity notes.
• Enhance with Grilled Pineapple Salsa: Create a fresh side dish using diced grilled pineapple, red onion, cilantro, and lime juice to echo the marinade's tropical flavors and add vibrant textural contrast.
• Match with Coconut Rice: Prepare steamed white rice cooked with coconut milk, which provides a creamy, slightly sweet base that harmonizes perfectly with the teriyaki's rich, caramelized meat.

How To Keep Hawaiian Style Teriyaki Fresh And Tasty

• Store the cooked Hawaiian teriyaki meat in an airtight container, keeping it fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Ensure the container is sealed tightly to maintain moisture and prevent flavor loss.
• Transfer cooled meat to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, removing excess air to prevent freezer burn. Label with the date and contents, storing for up to 2-3 months for future quick meals.
• Warm refrigerated or thawed meat gently in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or reserved teriyaki sauce to prevent drying. Alternatively, microwave in short intervals, stirring between each to distribute heat evenly.
• Keep leftover teriyaki sauce in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Hawaiian Style Teriyaki FAQs Made Easy

• Why is marinating important for this teriyaki recipe?

Marinating helps tenderize the meat, infuse deep flavors, and break down protein fibers, resulting in more flavorful and juicy chicken and pork pieces that absorb the sweet and savory teriyaki marinade.

• Can I use different types of meat for this recipe?

Yes, you can substitute chicken thighs with chicken breasts or replace pork shoulder with beef sirloin. Just ensure the meat is cut uniformly and cooked to the appropriate internal temperature for food safety.

• What makes the Hawaiian teriyaki marinade unique?

The combination of pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, and mirin creates a distinctive sweet-tangy flavor profile that sets Hawaiian teriyaki apart from traditional Japanese teriyaki marinades.

Hawaiian Style Teriyaki Recipe

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4.8 from 21 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes – 3 hours 15 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Succulent Hawaiian style teriyaki chicken brings tropical paradise to your dinner table with its sweet and savory blend of authentic Asian flavors. Juicy marinated meat grilled to perfection promises a delightful culinary journey you won’t soon forget.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 2 lbs boneless chicken thighs
• 1/2 lb pork shoulder

Sauce and Marinade Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup pineapple juice
• 3 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 tbsp mirin
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 tbsp ginger

Garnish and Additional Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup green onions
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds
• 1 pineapple ring
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 1/4 cup water

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Instructions

1. Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, pineapple juice, rice vinegar, sesame oil, mirin, minced garlic, and grated ginger in a large mixing bowl to create a vibrant teriyaki marinade.
2. Slice boneless chicken thighs and pork shoulder into uniform, bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and consistent flavor absorption.
3. Submerge the meat completely in the marinade, ensuring all surfaces are coated. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours, allowing the proteins to tenderize and soak up the rich, sweet-savory flavors.
4. Remove meat from marinade, reserving the liquid for later use. Pat the meat pieces dry with paper towels to promote better caramelization.
5. Preheat grill or heavy skillet to medium-high heat (around 375°F). Grill or pan-sear the marinated meat for 4-5 minutes per side until edges are crispy and internal temperature reaches 165°F for chicken.
6. While meat cooks, transfer reserved marinade to a small saucepan. Mix cornstarch with water to create a slurry, then whisk into the marinade to thicken into a glossy sauce.
7. Simmer the sauce for 2-3 minutes until it reaches a syrupy consistency, stirring continuously to prevent burning.
8. Plate the grilled meats, drizzle with thickened teriyaki sauce, and garnish with chopped green onions, sesame seeds, and a grilled pineapple ring for authentic Hawaiian flair.

Notes

• Tenderize meat by marinating in the refrigerator for maximum flavor penetration and softer texture.
• Pat meat dry before cooking to achieve perfect caramelization and prevent steaming instead of searing.
• Adjust marinade sweetness by balancing pineapple juice and brown sugar for personalized taste preferences.
• Use cornstarch slurry technique carefully to prevent lumpy sauce, whisking constantly for smooth consistency.

• Prep Time: 2-3 hours
• Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
• Method: Grilling
• Cuisine: Hawaiian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg