Grilled Hawaiian BBQ Chicken is quick and easy and the flavor is amazing! Serving it over grilled pineapple makes the presentation colorful and impressive.  This meal is sure to be a hit!

Hawaii is such a special place to me and I love preparing meals that remind me of the amazing food there.  Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Skewers or Grilled Hawaiian Barbecue Chicken in Foil are two Hawaiian recipes that I never seem to get tired of!

Grilled Hawaiian BBQ Chicken

Yessssss! It’s officially grilling season and I could not possibly be more excited about it, grilling is my jam. This grilled hawaiian barbecue chicken is a dish I make all the time at my house.  It is so dang easy, has amazing flavor, and HELLO there is grilled pineapple involved! No brainer right??

The barbecue sauce mixture is used as both a marinade and a topping, and I always want to lick the plate clean because the flavor is so good. The great thing is that you can use your favorite bbq sauce as the sauce for the base – homemade or store-bought – whatever you love the most!  This meal is healthy, yummy, and easy, so why not give it a try, too!

What do I need to make Grilled Hawaiian BBQ Chicken?

• Boneless skinless chicken breasts: Pounded to even thickness for even cooking.
• BBQ sauce: Use your favorite!
• Pineapple slices: Use the juice for the marinade and grill the slices.
• Soy sauce: Strong salty flavor.
• Garlic: Doesn’t garlic seem to go with everything? Its just so good and pairs really well with the soy sauce and pineapple.
• Oil: Used to help the flavors penetrate through the chicken when marinating.
• Cilantro: Add a little bit of fresh, chopped cilantro when the chicken is finished cooking.

It’s Easy to Make Grilled Hawaiian BBQ Chicken!

1. Make Marinade: In a bowl, whisk together bbq sauce, juice from the can of pineapple slices, soy sauce, and garlic. Pour half of the mixture into a large resealable bag and reserve half in the bowl for later use (keep chilled).

2. Marinate chicken: Add oil and chicken to the bag of sauce. Seal bag and chill for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.

3. Prep grill: Grease and preheat grill to medium heat.

4. Grill chicken and pineapple slices: Remove chicken from bag, discard bag and marinade, and grill chicken for 6-8 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Grill pineapple slices along with the chicken, 2-3 minutes on each side til heated through and just beginning to char.

5. Garnish chicken: When chicken is finished cooking, brush with reserved sauce, top with chopped cilantro and serve with grilled pineapple slices.

Is Grilled Hawaiian Barbecue Chicken healthy?

Yes! Grilled BBQ chicken is a healthy dinner choice.  Just be careful when choosing your ingredients, and read labels!  For example, choose barbecue sauce with lower sugar content that is made without high fructose corn syrup and with all-natural ingredients.  Or make the sauce at home so you have complete control over all the ingredients. The chicken itself is super low fat and is packed with protein, so that is fantastic for a super lean meal!  Choose healthy sides such as steamed veggies and you have a delicious healthy meal!

Try This Next Za’atar Chicken

Barbecue Grill Skills:

Using a grill can be intimidating.  For many years I avoided it.  It seemed like it would be hard to know when food was done or how to cook food evenly.  However, I finally conquered my fears and you can too!

• Properly prepare the meat! Do not skip pounding the chicken and marinating it! I know it seems like an extra step but pounding the chicken will help it cook evenly on the grill, so that there is not one side that is overcooked and dry and one side that just won’t seem to cook through.  The marinade will keep it moist while cooking so it is mandatory too!
• Clean your grill! Turn the grill on and let it cook off any food that is still on the grill.  Then turn the grill off and use a grill brush to clean the grates.  Finally, add oil to the grates so that your chicken will not stick.
• Keep a good grill heat: Hover your hand 5 inches above the grill, if you can hold it there comfortably for about 5 seconds, it’s at medium heat.  To keep the heat in close the lid of your grill while the chicken is cooking. Open only to flip the chicken halfway through cook time.
• Know when its done: Use a meat thermometer to know for sure when the chicken done.  It is ready when it reaches 165 degrees.

More Hawaiian Inspired Dinner Recipes to try:

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Za’atar Chicken

Seasoned with a traditional Middle Eastern Za’atar spice blend and grilled, this Za’atar chicken is juicy and packed with unique flavors. In just 20 minutes you’ll have a flavorful and filling dinner that no one will forget!

If you have never heard of Za’atar seasoning, you are not alone! I just heard of it recently, and now I’m hooked! It’s a great savory blend of warm and earthy seasonings that will really wow your taste buds. You can also make the spice at home! If you like homemade spices, you’ll have to try this Homemade Fajita Seasoning, this better than store bought Italian Seasoning, and this Taco Seasoning too!

Grilled Za’atar Chicken

So at this point you may be wondering what is Za’atar seasoning? It is a blend of savory, nutty, and earthy spices that usually includes oregano, thyme, marjoram, and sumac. There are different blends of Za’atar seasoning based on where you are eating it. Kind of like curry the ingredients can change based on the area it’s made in. I have a link to the Za’atar seasoning blend in the recipe box below too if you want to make it, or you can pick it up from the store.

Grilled Za’atar Chicken is quickly marinated in the Za’atar seasoning and olive oil and grilled to perfection. I really think you are going to love this dish! It’s an easy 20 minute dinner that would go great with some pita bread and hummus. I also love with baba ganoush which goes great with this Za’atar seasoning. You can actually sprinkle some on top and the flavor is incredible. I think this will be a new family favorite!

Ingredients

These simple ingredients combine to make the most delicious and moist chicken. This Za’atar chicken is so unique, and amazingly flavorful! If you are looking for a great easy dinner, then this is the recipe for you! See the recipe card below for exact measurements.

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: If you get a breast that is really thick, then you’ll want to flatten it out a bit so that it will all cook evenly on the grill.
• Olive Oil: Olive oil is a must for this recipe. It’s a great quality oil that helps the flavors in the seasonings really pop.
• Lemon Juice: Lemon juice is just what this recipe needs to bring out all of these gorgeous flavors!
• Za’atar Seasoning: I love making this blend at home! It is really herby and nutty, and perfect on meat. I add sesame seeds, coriander, and salt to my blend and I think it’s fantastic!
• Garlic: Minced garlic is one of my favorite things to eat on chicken. It’s so full of flavor and makes every bite the perfect one!

Za’atar Chicken Recipe

This recipe is so easy! I love how quickly it comes together and it really is so delicious. I ate it with some tomatoes and pita bread and it was perfection. Some of my kids added salt and pepper, but I thought it was perfect the way it was. You can make it however you like, and I know you are going to love it!

Popular Recipe Grilled Fish with Lemon and Capers

1. Whisk: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, za’atar seasoning, and garlic.
2. Put in Bag: Place the chicken breasts in a resealable plastic bag then pour the mixture over the chicken.
3. Refrigerate: Seal the bag and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to overnight.
4. Grill: Grill chicken breasts on medium-high heat for 7-8 minutes per side or until internal temperature reaches 165° Fahrenheit.
5. Enjoy: Let the chicken rest before slicing and enjoying!

Tips for Grilling Chicken

Here are a few simple ways to make yourself the master of the grill! Once your friends and family get a bite of your grilled Za’atar chicken, they’ll be hooked. It’s hard not to be when they’re so juicy and flavorful.

• Use a Thermometer: This step is super important so that your chicken doesn’t dry out on the grill. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of your chicken. You can take them off the grill when the temperature inside reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If you cook them any more than that, they may dry out.
• Let Rest: The key to juicy grilled Za’atar chicken is letting it rest for a minute or two after you pull it off the grill. This allows all of the tasty juices to reabsorb, giving you chicken breast that will melt in your mouth! If you cut into them too soon after grilling, those juices may be released instead of absorbing back into the meat.
• Dripping: If you have seasoning and oil dripping off of your chicken, it will make the flames touch the meat and that’s where the black burned part comes from. If you don’t want crispy crunchy parts on your chicken, make sure that your seasoning is all over your chicken, but not dripping off.

Storing Leftovers

Who doesn’t wan’t grilled Za’atar chicken for leftovers? This recipe makes enough to serve eight people, so if you need to save your leftovers here is how.

In the Refrigerator: Store your cooled chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

More Chicken Recipes

I love a simple chicken dinner! But sometimes chicken can taste boring when you are always making it the same way. Here are some recipes that will give you great ideas to keep your chicken tasting unique and juicy!

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