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Whiskey Pineapple Chicken

Whiskey pineapple chicken with a caramelized sweet-savory glaze made from whiskey, pineapple juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. Grilled chicken thighs are marinated, basted, and finished with quick-grilled pineapple rings for a tropical BBQ flavor.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
marinating 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Hawaiian Fusion
Calories: 560
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Whiskey pineapple marinade
  • 0.25 cup pineapple juice
  • 0.25 cup whiskey
  • 0.25 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 garlic minced
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger grated
Chicken and grilling
  • 2 lb chicken thighs
  • 1 grilled pineapple slices

Equipment

  • 1 grill

Method
 

Make the whiskey-pineapple marinade
  1. In a bowl, mix pineapple juice, whiskey, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger until the sugar dissolves and the mixture looks glossy.
  2. Reserve 1/3 cup of the marinade for basting, and keep the rest for marinating the chicken.
Marinate
  1. Add the chicken thighs to the remaining marinade and turn to coat thoroughly, then marinate for 1-4 hours in the refrigerator.
Grill the chicken
  1. Preheat the grill to medium heat, then place the chicken thighs on the grate and grill for 6-7 minutes per side.
  2. Baste the chicken frequently with the reserved 1/3 cup marinade while grilling so the surface caramelizes and darkens in spots.
Grill the pineapple and serve
  1. Grill pineapple slices for 2 minutes per side until lightly charred and warmed through.
  2. Serve the caramelized chicken with grilled pineapple slices on the side, spooning any extra glaze from the grill over the chicken.

Notes

For best caramelization, grill with medium heat and baste often during the last few minutes so the sugars in the pineapple and brown sugar don’t burn. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container up to 3 days; freeze cooked chicken (tightly wrapped) up to 2 months. For a lower-sodium option, use low-sodium soy sauce and keep the rest the same to preserve the sweet-savory profile.