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Transport yourself to Hawaii with this easy recipe for Huli Huli Ribs. A succulent and saucy rib recipe inspired by Hawaiian plate lunches and lūʻaus.

Huli Huli Ribs Recipe

Avid readers of Sugar, Spice and Glitter know that I grew up as a Canadian military brat and I grew up mostly in China. Hawaii was an easy stopping point for my family when we would come home and visit my parents’ relatives and as a result, we made many Hawaiian friends.

My parents’ friends eventually invited us to lūʻaus where we would get to enjoy traditional Hawaiian fare, including juicy, succulent huli huli ribs.

Unfortunately, as with many military relationships pre-internet, my parents fell out of touch with their Hawaiian friends, so, this recipe is a recreation based on my own research on Ernest Morgado’s original recipe.

It is a family favorite that I love sharing with my kids, and I hope it will become an easy family favorite for yours, too. Please share it with an appreciate of the Polynesian Islands and the beautiful history of Hawaii. Queen Lili’uokalani’s Aloha Oe still brings tears to my eyes and her Hawaii Story is a must-read for anyone planning a visit to the Island. We recently returned last October and it was an incredible experience for me to revisit the Hawaiian Islands with a greater appreciation of their history while enjoying the wonderful culture, food and beaches.

The flavor of this huli huli rib recipe is sweet with just the right amount of acidic tang. The brown sugar in the marinade helps the rib fat char beautifully to impart a slightly smoky flavor to the ribs.

Huli Huli sauce is incredibly versatile and is delicious slathered on grilled chicken, ribs or pork. I often make a double or triple batch so I can use it on another recipe within a couple of weeks. It will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks. You can also change up the flavor profile a bit by first rubbing the meat with a favorite spice blend before marinading in the huli huli sauce or adding a dash of your favorite hot sauce.

Huli Huli Ribs FAQs

What is Huli Huli sauce made of?  While every recipe differs, the main aspects are soy sauce, garlic, ginger, brown sugar and ketchup. Some versions call for pineapple juice, though many ascertain that the original would have never contained it – and pineapple juice is a tricky marinade ingredient as the enzymes can make chicken mushy as it breaks down the meat.

Sherry or sherry vinegar also appears in many versions, imparting a nutty and acidic flavor. Personally, I don’t ever have sherry or sherry vinegar and I doubt most families have it in their pantry, so I don’t include it in my recipe and instead substitute with chicken stock. One optional ingredient that I enjoy adding is sesame oil, which adds nutty, umami flavor, but it completely optional, so just use it if you have it.

How do you pronounce Huli? Huli has the same origin as hula hoop and is pronounced “hoo-li.”

How to store huli huli ribs: cooked ribs can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

How to freeze huli huli ribs: cooked ribs can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Huli Huli Ribs Ingredients

• Ribs
• Brown Sugar
• Ketchup
• Soy Sauce
• Chicken Stock, as needed
• Fresh Ginger, minced or crushed
• Garlic, minced or crushed
• Chicken Stock <– grab our recipe for homemade chicken broth here

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: huli huli sauce is incredibly versatile and is delicious slathered on grilled chicken, ribs or pork. I sometimes like to add a bit of sesame oil to my marinade for added nutty-umami flavor.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Bowl
• Container with Lid
• Basting brush <– I like these because they are one solid piece and don’t have removable heads for bacteria to get trapped underneath. Plus they are heat-resistant and have a lifetime warranty.
• Meat Tongs
• Meat Thermometer <– This is the meat thermometer I have been using for the past 6 years – I’ve never had to change a battery and it’s super sturdy and reliable. It was a bit pricey, but unlike the $15 models that you can buy, this one isn’t going to need replacement. It is waterproof and comes with a two-year warranty.
• Cookie Sheets
• Silicone Baking Mats

How to Make Huli Huli Ribs

Preheat oven to 275F

Line two cookie sheets with tinfoil and place the ribs on top. Set aside.

In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, ginger and garlic. Add enough chicken stock to make the sauce easy to spread.

Using a pastry brush or BBQ mop, apply the sauce to both sides of the ribs.

Place the ribs in the oven to bake. Rotate the trays every hour. 

Cook for 3-4 hours until ribs are tender and reach at least 160F (ideally, you want them at 180-190F).

After removing from the oven, let the ribs rest for 10 minutes before cutting into individual ribs.

Pin this Huli Huli Ribs recipe for your next BBQ:

Grab your free printable recipe card for our easy huli huli ribs recipe:

I hope your family loves this easy huli huli ribs recipe as much as mine does!

For more ways to enjoy pork, check out our full pork recipe collection here: