What our readers are saying
Made this tonight, so good, the whole family liked it… that is a rarity :). The grilled pineapple puts it over the top!
Nancy
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Why this marinade works
Four simple ingredients, that’s all. Dates for the sweetness, so the marinade caramelizes without being overly sweet. Coconut aminos give it the savory note of soy with less salt. Tomato paste thickens the sauce naturally and smoked paprika adds some smoke flavor, so even an indoor pan version tastes like it came off the grill.
Thighs or breasts? Your choice
Boneless skinless thighs are our default. A little fat ads extra flavor and the marinade glazes the chicken without drying the meat. It’s the best pick for weeknights and for anyone new to grilling chicken as it won’t dry out.
Breasts work too: The best method is to pound them to an even 1/2-inch thickness before marinating, otherwise the thin end overcooks. If you do that, the grill time will be as noted in the recipe (5-6 minutes per side), until they reach 165°F. A good choice when you (or guests) prefer white meat or you want a sliced leftover option for salads and bowls.
Related -> Another popular grilled chicken recipe is our Korean BBQ Chicken.
Two marinade problems we’ve seen
- Chicken sticks to the grates: Preheat the grill to 500°F first. Oil the hot grates with a paper towel and tongs. Do not move the chicken for the first 3 minutes. If it sticks when you try to flip, it is not ready, give it another 30 seconds to a minute and try again.
- Marinade chars before the chicken is cooked: Reserve 2 to 3 tablespoons of marinade in a separate bowl at the start. Use that reserve to brush during the last 2 minutes of grilling, not the start. Or set up two zones: sear over direct heat, finish over indirect.
What We Learned Testing This
Start the marinade first: Get the chicken in the marinade before you light the grill. By the time the grates are hot, the meat has had its 30 minutes in the marinade.
Canned pineapple works: Pre-sliced rings save 10 minutes. You can also use the juice from the can in the marinade instead of water.
Slice fresh pineapple into rounds, not chunks: Rounds flip cleanly on the grates with a spatula. Chunks roll, fall through, and are a pain to grill without a grill basket. If you only have chunks, definitely use a grill basket.
Marinate at least 30 minutes, up to 24 hours: Anything shorter and the marinade doesn’t have time to soak into the chicken. Anything longer than 24 hours and the pineapple enzymes start to break down the meat texture.
Want more off the grill or flattop? Try our Mediterranean grilled chicken, grilled chicken thighs, or Blackstone chicken fried rice.
Substitutions
Soy sauce for coconut aminos: Use 1/4 cup soy sauce and bump the pineapple juice or water to 1/2 cup to keep the ratio. Soy is saltier, so the cut is on purpose.
Honey or maple syrup for dates: Start with 1 tablespoon, taste, add more if you want more sweet. Date syrup also works.
Ketchup for tomato paste: The marinade will be thinner but still tastes good. Useful if you do not stock tomato paste.
What to serve it with
White or jasmine rice: The traditional Hawaiian BBQ side. Serve a scoop under the chicken and pineapple.
Cauliflower rice: A great option if you want something lighter. Warm it quickly in a pan on the stovetop after you pull the chicken, it only takes a few minutes to cook.
Mixed greens: I like eating this chicken cold the next day over some greens with a splash of balsamic vinegar for dressing.
Marinated grilled vegetables: The grill is already on, so you can throw these on too for the side.
Grilled Pineapple Chicken with Hawaiian BBQ Marinade
Ingredients
- 1 fresh pineapple, skin removed and cut into rounds with the core removed , (can sub canned pineapple rings)
- 2 lbs boneless chicken thighs , (or breasts)
For the marinade:
- 1/2 cup coconut aminos, (can sub 1/4 cup soy sauce)
- 1/4 cup pineapple juice, (or sub water if you don't have any)
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 4-6 pitted dates, soaked for 10-15 minutes in warm water to soften then drained, (can sub 1/4 cup maple syrup)
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
For serving and topping:
- Rice, (or cauli rice)
- Mixed greens
- Chopped green onions, (for topping)
Equipment
- Grill
Instructions
- Soak dates in warm water as noted to soften.4-6 pitted dates, soaked for 10-15 minutes in warm water to soften then drained
- To make the marinade, place all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor and run continuously to combine all the ingredients until smooth. Stop to scrape sides down as needed and restart.1/2 cup coconut aminos, 1/4 cup pineapple juice, 1/4 cup tomato paste, 4-6 pitted dates, soaked for 10-15 minutes in warm water to soften then drained, 2 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Place chicken in a shallow bowl or dish and pour the marinade over. Toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.2 lbs boneless chicken thighs
- When you are about ready to grill, cut pineapple into rounds as noted. Cut out the tough inner core from the rounds and set aside.1 fresh pineapple, skin removed and cut into rounds with the core removed
- Heat your grill to high heat (about 500° F). Add the chicken and pineapple to grill and cook, flipping once and basting chicken with any remaining marinade until cooked through, about 5-6 minutes on each side depending on the size of the chicken. Remove pineapple when it is grilled to your liking (we grilled it just 3-4 minutes per side).
- Serve chicken and pineapple with your desired side, over rice or over greens (or greens and rice). Enjoy.Rice, Mixed greens, Chopped green onions
Notes
- If you don’t have any coconut aminos on hand, you can make your own using our DIY coconut aminos substitute recipe. Or sub 1/4 cup soy sauce.
- Nutrition estimates are per serving and an estimate provided for reader benefit. Amounts are for the chicken only for this recipe. See our full nutrition information disclosure here.
This is absolutely delicious. I used some of the marinade to brush on the pineapple before I grilled it. A crowd pleaser at our table and something the kids are already asking me to make again.
Happy to hear that you enjoyed the recipe Kathy!
Wow! So yum! This will definitely be a new family favourite here; thank you so much!
You’re very welcome!
Delicious! Definitely recommend marinating over night. I only marinated for a few hours but still really good!
Made this recipe for the kids yesterday
I didn’t alternate much. I lessened the chili powder, that’s all.
It was easy to make and delicious
The kids loved it, even my picky one.
Such a healthy and refreshing summer recipe
Absolutely AMAZING!! Immediate family favorite!
Happy to hear that Kirsten! Thanks for coming back to leave a rating and review, we appreciate it 🙂
This recipe was a HIT with the picky eaters! As a nutritional therapy practitioner, I always look for whole food recipes and this caught my eye with being sweetened with dates. It came out PERFECT! I used skin-on, bone-in thighs which was so yummy with the crunchy skin from the grill. I made with rice and shush kabob of pineapple, bell pepper, and purple onion.
So glad everyone enjoyed it! Thanks for coming back to leave a rating and review, we appreciate it 🙂
Does this work well with chicken breasts?
Yes, it would work! Just adjust the cooking time as needed 🙂
This is one of my favorite recipes!!! Any advice on making it in an instant pot?
You should be able to marinade and chicken to cook on manual for 10 minutes with a quick release. Then, hit saute and stir in the pineapple for a few minutes if you want it warmed and covered in the sauce.
Ugh! I must of skipped a step. I forgot to blend the marinade. I just poured it all on the chicken. Also I couldn’t find coconut aminos, had to use liquid aminos. And couldn’t find canned pineapple juice so just added concentrated pineapple juice……I really hope this comes out good.
Letting it marinade over night and we’ll see tomorrow 🤞🤞🤞
Hopefully it turned out ok for you 🙂
Looks amazing. So simple and healthy. I’ll have to try this out this week for the family.
Thank you so much for this recipe! My husband and I have been trying the whole-30 diet for a few months now and this is by far the best chicken recipe we’ve had on the diet. Will definitely be making again! Thanks!
Happy to hear that Heather, glad you guys enjoyed it 🙂
My entire family loves this chicken! Do you by chance have the macros? Or even the calories for it?
Glad you are enjoying this recipe! We don’t have the nutrition info, but you could get it from an online calculator like myfitnesspal.
This was amazing!!! First time I have ever ate or purchased dates wow, delicious! The sauce was so good! This recipe is a definite keeper even my picky son ate it and loved it!!! Thank you. 😊
Hooray! We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed it so much! We love using dates in sauces to add a little sweetness naturally. Thanks for taking the time to come back and leave a review! You might love some of our other Whole30 sauces. Also, check our easy homemade marinades recipes!
I am on week 2 of a modified AIP diet and this recipe was a godsend. The marinade is delicious and it makes me feel like I’m still eating regular food!
Aawww that’s really great to hear! We’re so glad you found it! We’ve heard from a lot of folks doing AIP that our Creamy Garlic Spaghetti Squash Casserole is really easy to adapt to fit AIP. You might try that also for some comfort food!
Made this tonight, so good, the whole family liked it… that is a rarity :). The grilled pineapple puts it over the top!
We love hearing that so much! Thanks so much for giving our recipe a try, and for taking the time to come back and share! 🙂
We are wanting to start a new Whole30 month with a new grocery shopping list, daily recipes for 3 meals a day, just like the beginners Whole30 program.
My wife is a insulate type 2 diabetic and after 1 week on Whole30 she didn’t have to take a shot for the next 3 weeks. Thank you so much.
Chris and Shelly.
Hi Chris – I just checked and it looks like you signed up for our original Whole30 meal plan last time. Here is a link to sign up for the latest meal plan that will get you what you’re looking for. Latest Whole30 Meal Plan.
Hi We did the Whole30 a couple of months ago.
How do we get to the restart program?
Hi Chris – Can you clarify exactly what you’re looking for? We don’t have anything called a restart program but if you clarify maybe I can help.
What if you don’t have a grill? Can you recommend another method ?
You can easily switch this to cooking in a pan on the stove. Enjoy!
It’s not summer time, but this recipe was perfect in my double burner grill pan! Yum!
I have made this recipe so many times, and have shared the recipe with friends and family. We love it!
Thank you Stephanie, this review means a lot to us!
This was really good!!! My boyfriend and I are doing whole 30 ( day 8 and we feel amazing). We paired this with broccoli and it will go into our weekly meal prep rotation. Thank you !
You’re welcome Jen! Glad your Whole30 is going well and you enjoyed the recipe 🙂
This recipe is so delicious!! Thank you so much for sharing it ❤
You’re very welcome, glad you enjoyed it 🙂
This recipe was on point for my favorite flavor profiles! I love sweet and savory! It was absolutely yummmm (emphasis on mmmm)
How can I save some marinade to use as sauce on the dinner plate?
I think cook it down a bit?!
You could make extra and I like the idea of simmering it on the stove. You might need to add more pineapple juice, some broth or water if you want to thin it out a bit.
Love this recipe!! Would it work in the oven?? It’s starting to get warm here and I can’t stand out in the heat and am limited in standing for long periods of time.
Maybe oven cooking and broiling to get that char?
Thanks! Can’t wait to try!
Brittany
Yes, you could bake this at 400° for 25-30 minutes. Broiling at the end for a little char is a great option!
Made this recipe last night as I have been dying to try it out. And OMG it was so delicious that we are still talking about it today.
WOW. This dish hit the spot. Will be making frequently during summer grilling season! I substituted a tablespoon of honey because I didn’t have dates and we enjoyed the flavor!
Thanks Jenna, glad you enjoyed the recipe!
This was just delish! As always, you have perfected the seasonings and made it foolproof! I will make this dish again and again. Even our young and very picky eaters loved it!
Thanks Peggy!
Thanks so much for this recipe! We loved it. I served it with cauli rice, greens, & marinated onions, & then drizzled oil from the onions over everything. It was amazing! We’re almost finished with a round of Whole30 & it was one of my favorite meals.😄
We’re so happy you guys enjoyed it! And congrats on almost finishing your Whole30! Thanks so much for giving our recipe a try and for taking the time to come back here and share! 🙂
Can I use a low sodium soy sauce instead of the coconut aminos?
You can, but you’ll want to use less since it’s saltier than coconut aminos and increase the pineapple juice/water to keep the ingredient ratios the same. I’d suggest using 1/4 cup of soy sauce and increasing the pineapple juice/water to 1/2 cup. Let us know how it turns out!
Could you tell me the calories of this if you know it?
As part of our real food/paleo lifestyle we don’t track any nutrition information personally, and it has been really liberating for us and helped us find food freedom. For that reason we don’t post the nutrition info on our recipes, with the only exception being the Keto specific recipes on our site. You could plug the ingredients into an online nutrition calculator like myfitnesspal if needed though.
This was delicious and easy. I’m not great in the kitchen or at the grill but it turned out fabulous. I used fresh pineapple and managed to save enough juice to use instead of the water for the sauce. Have no idea if it made a difference. Thank you for sharing the recipe. I’m making this again, everyone loved it.
You’re welcome Kelli!
I made this tonight, let marinate over night. I did change one thing in the marinade, I put in pineapple instead of dates. Everyone enjoyed it. Will make again.
I have picky eaters in my house so when we find a healthy recipe that we all love it goes into our meal rotation. Not only is this recipe going into the “rotation”, it’s good enough to cook when we’re entertaining guest this summer. Loved it!
Another new favorite! Second time making this in two weeks—absolutely incredible. Subbed pineapple juice for the water this time. Even more amazing!
Delicious recipe! Earned a spot in our regular rotation for the upcoming grilling season. Highly recommend.
That’s great! So glad you’ll be grilling this one up on the regular :).
This was SO freaking good! Wish I knew about this recipe when I did Whole 30. Will be making it again soon.
Glad you found it and enjoyed the recipe :).
Really good meal, just made this for my familly and not disapointed at all, only gave 4 stars because it really needs fresh coconut sprinkled on top to complete it, i also recomend using extra pineapple to keep the chicken moist while on the grill ( pooring the juice over)
Thanks so much for sharing! We’re glad the whole family enjoyed it! 🙂
? My family of four devoured the chicken. The marinade was easy to prep and the pineapple was a sweet treat! Thanks for making our whole 30 journey easy! Can’t wait to try some other recipes!
So glad your family enjoyed this one Amanda!
This recipe was amazing! Best meal I’ve made in a long time. My fiancé and I are trying to only eat whole foods and this really hit the spot. We didn’t grill, but I cut everything into bite sized pieces and sautéed in a little olive oil in the electric skillet. I also have just date syrup and used probably a good TBSP instead of blending whole ones. Served with brown rice and asparagus. SO GOOD! I will definitely be making again and again, thanks so much for the recipe!
You’re welcome Chelsea, so glad you guys enjoyed the recipe :).
The flavors of this chicken sound perfect. I get tired of same old same old with chicken so I appreciate the inspiration to try something new.
It’s a good one, hope you enjoy the new recipe!
Made this for dinner tonight and it was delicious! Even my extremely picky 3 year old ate it! Definitely making again and again!
We love hearing that it was a hit for the whole fam! Thanks so much for trying our recipe! 🙂
This looks so perfect for summer, and so yummy!
My whole family loves this!! Marinated the chicken for two days and the meat was so flavorful!!
So glad you enjoyed it!
Oh my gosh this is so delicious!! Definitely been a staple this summer! I was wondering, how long do you think the sauce would last in the fridge if I made a big batch to have on hand?
The sauce should last 4-5 days in the fridge. You could also make a batch and freeze it and just thaw it out before using.
Has anyone tried this in a crockpot? It’s going to be pouring out, so obviously I don’t want to grill, and its too hot to keep my oven on in my tiny galley style kitchen! Too much heat!
We haven’t tried it but I’m sure the crockpot would work!
This recipe is easy, delicious, and healthy! I served over spinach amd kale. Very good, will make again for sure!
So glad you enjoyed the recipe 🙂
Absolutely delicious! This is a healthier version for grilled chicken marinade as it doesn’t contain soy sauce. The coconut aminos provide the same flavor as soy sauce only they are a healthier option.
We agree, thanks for the review!
This was delicious! I’ve been back on paleo full time since oct so really trying to keep our dinners healthy yet fresh and not boring. This really met that criteria. The chicken was so flavorful and juicy, and the pineapple was yummy! I loved it cold too! So good!
We’re so glad you tried this one! It’s one of our favorites! Glad you guys like it, too! 🙂
Got the chicken marinating! Do you think I’d be able to cook the chicken in a cast iron pan? Wondering if the marinate may be too thick for a pan? Thanks! Excited for tomorrows dinner! 🙂
Yes, you definitely can. Just monitor them as the cooking time might vary slightly from what is noted in the recipe. Enjoy!
Any suggestions if I do t have dates! I forgot them at the store and really want to make this!
You could try using honey or maple syrup instead. Start with a tablespoon and then taste and add more as desired. 🙂
Another delicious recipe! Thank you for making healthy eating so simple and tasty!
You’re very welcome, we’re so happy you’re enjoying our recipes :).
I’m doing Whole30 for the first time and made this dish last night – it was delicious! It’s something I’ll definitely make again, even when my Whole30 is wrapped up.
So happy you enjoyed the recipe! 🙂
Can you omit the tomato at all in this recipe?
You can, the marinade will just be thinner. It should still taste great though!