Smoked Huli Huli Chicken

Best Test Recipe!

It's time for me to admit two addictions that I have. Addiction one is my love of chicken. I love chicken no matter how it is cooked. Smoked, baked, roasted, broiled, fried, grilled, you name the way and I love it! My second addiction is  America's Test Kitchen. I watch this show religiously. I watch the reruns, I Tivo all the episodes and watch them sometimes back to back.

I was watching some episodes and they made Huli Huli Chicken which is an Hawaiian smoked chicken that is placed in a brine for hours or overnight if you have time, then basted with a great sauce. 

The smoked chicken is then served with a side of Macaroni and rice. Yes, both, and yes it's good! I made Hawaiian Macaroni Salad and rice to go with my chicken. The macaroni salad was so good, I forgot to take pictures.

I will make the macaroni salad  again and post the recipe at a later time. Serve the chicken with extra Huli Sauce on the side for more dipping ability!

Smoked Huli Huli Chicken

adapted from America's Test Kitchen

Prep Time:2 hours
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 7 hours
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

Brine:

4 leg quarters, skin-on, bone-in 
8 c. water
2 c. soy sauce
2 tbsp. grated ginger
10 tbsp. garlic, crushed
1 tbsp. creole seasoning or seasoning salt
1 tbsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. onion powder
1/2 tbsp. black pepper
2 tbsp. olive oil
Huli Sauce (recipe below)

Rinse chicken, pat dry, in a large plastic or glass bowl, place chicken. Rub olive oil over the chicken, season with all the spices.

Add ginger, garlic, soy sauce and water. Brine chicken in the refrigerator for about 2 hours if possible or overnight. Remove chicken from brine and drain well.

Smoke chicken at 200 degrees for 4 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 180 degrees F when inserted into the thigh part of the chicken. Remove chicken from smoker and baste with sauce.

Serve with King Hawaiian Pasta Salad or your favorite macaroni salad and rice with extra sauce on the side.

Huli Sauce:

2 c. ketchup
1 c. pineapple juice
1/4 c. apple cider vinegar
8 tbsp. brown sugar
1/2 tbsp. black pepper
1/2 tbsp. dry mustard
2 tsp. creole seasonings or seasoning salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tbsp. molasses
1/2 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce