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Wicked Awesome Chicken

Marinated chicken with a sweet and tangy pineapple-soy glaze made for grilled chicken thighs. The marinade includes pineapple juice, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, garlic, ginger, and black pepper, then becomes a thick glaze for caramelized edges and visible grill marks.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
marinating 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken thighs
  • 3 lb chicken thighs
Pineapple-soy marinade and glaze
  • 1 cup pineapple juice
  • 0.5 cup soy sauce
  • 0.5 cup brown sugar
  • 0.25 cup ketchup
  • 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 4 garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp ginger, grated
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
Garnish
  • 1 green onions for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 grill
  • 1 saucepan

Method
 

Make the marinade
  1. Combine pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, garlic, ginger, and black pepper in a bowl until the sugar dissolves and the mixture looks glossy.
Marinate the chicken
  1. Reserve 1 cup of the marinade and pour the remaining marinade over chicken thighs, then cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours.
Grill the chicken
  1. Preheat the grill to medium heat and place the chicken thighs on the grate, cooking for 10-12 minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Thicken and glaze
  1. Simmer the reserved marinade in a saucepan over medium heat until thickened and syrupy, then brush it over the chicken in the last 5 minutes of grilling for a caramelized shine.
Serve
  1. Remove the chicken from the grill, garnish with green onions, and serve with extra glaze from the saucepan.

Notes

For the best caramelized edges and visible grill marks, let the grill fully preheat to medium before adding the chicken, and keep the lid closed as much as possible. Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container for up to 3 days; the glazed chicken can be frozen up to 2 months (freeze without the green-onion garnish, then thaw and reheat on the grill or in a skillet). If you want a lower-sugar option, replace the brown sugar with an equal-measured brown sugar substitute that caramelizes (use granulated type designed for cooking).