I've mentioned before that I will randomly wake up in the middle of the night with new recipe ideas, but if you're new here, it's totally normal.
Sometimes I'll also try and brainstorm new flavor combinations if I can't sleep. So either way, the middle of the night is when my best ideas are born.
And let me tell you, today's recipe is one of those ideas! It started out as a "bowl," but I hated the pictures I took and I didn't like the process. It seemed... boring. Like there was no creativity behind it.
After that lousy photoshoot, I went back to the drawing board, keeping the marinade and the flavors but changing the method and presentation.
Just a little plugin for those of you who need lots of iterations of your ideas before you land with the final: the process is totally worth it. I know it's frustrating to do it over and over again, but you'll always be happier in the end.
I'm certainly happy with the final result of this dish!
Today's Easy Baked Hawaiian BBQ Chicken is absolutely incredible: juicy chicken smothered in a homemade marinade and wrapped in bacon served over a bed of sweet, fluffy coconut rice and topped with a fresh jalapeno pineapple salsa.
Every little ingredient adds up to an explosion of flavor in your mouth and you'll wish you'd doubled the recipe!
A little sweet, a little spicy, and a little tangy! The brown sugar and molasses sweeten the tomato sauce, habanero peppers and smoked paprika add some heat, and the acidity of pineapple juice gives that tangy citrus flavor. There's also hints of soy sauce and ginger as well. It's a flavor combination unlike any other!
Traditionally, a Hawaiian BBQ, or a "luau," includes smoked meat (like chicken or pork) served with a side of rice and lots of fresh ingredients like coconut, pineapple, and mango. Spam is also a very common food served at luaus.
This Hawaiian BBQ Chicken recipe is a fun twist on all of those classic flavors that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home! We're using:
Like I mentioned earlier, this entire meal is ready in 30 minutes* with the best ingredients. There's hardly any work involved but you get maximum flavor!
*Please note that I consider this a 30 minute meal with marinated chicken. This means that you've already prepared the chicken before starting everything else. For the best results, I suggest prepping the chicken the night before or the morning of, then actually starting the recipe.
Here are the few simple steps for baked BBQ chicken:
It's ready in 30 minutes: whether you're a busy mom or a busy college student, you'll always have time to make Hawaiian BBQ chicken! Everything basically makes itself, anyway. If you really want to streamline things, you can prep the chicken up to 48 hours in advance and take 10 minutes dice the fresh ingredients the night before!
It's allergen-friendly: yup, you read that right! This baked BBQ chicken is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free. Everybody gets to enjoy it!
It's full of complex flavors: at first it might seem like there's a lot going on, but trust me when I say it all works. The signature tangy Hawaiian BBQ sauce with the sweet coconut rice and the spicy salsa just works.
You don't need a grill! Unlike most other Hawaiian BBQ chicken recipes out there, this one is a baked BBQ chicken recipe! You just need an oven and a baking sheet.
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OMG I can't wait for you to try this Hawaiian BBQ Chicken recipe! My husband and I raved about it for days and it converted me to liking pineapple.
After you try this recipe, be sure to leave a star rating and review below so other readers know how you liked it! You can also tag me on social media with your finished dish - I love seeing my recipes in your home!
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Tender chicken breasts are marinated in a sweet, spicy, and tangy BBQ sauce then wrapped in bacon and served over coconut rice with a jalapeno pineapple salsa. This baked Hawaiian BBQ Chicken is gluten-free, dairy-free, and ready in 30 minutes!
*See blog post for tips on meal preparation for this recipe.
Nutrition facts are a calculated estimate of 4oz. chicken (wrapped in bacon), approx. 3/4 C coconut rice, and 1/2 C jalapeno pineapple salsa.
Calories: 394 / Fat: 11.3g / Saturated Fat: 6g / Carbohydrates: 44g / Fiber: 1.1g / Sugar: 13.2g / Protein: 28.3g
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