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Huli Huli Wing Sauce

By Bryan Roof

Published on January 18, 2026

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Makes about 1¼ cups; enough to sauce 3½ pounds of wings

Huli Huli Wing Sauce

Ingredients

2¼ cups pineapple juice ¼ cup packed light brown sugar ¼ cup soy sauce ¼ cup ketchup ¼ cup unseasoned rice vinegar 4 garlic cloves, minced1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger 2 teaspoons chili-garlic sauce

Before You Begin

Sriracha can be used in place of chili-garlic sauce.

Instructions

  1. Combine 2¼ cups pineapple juice, ¼ cup light brown sugar, ¼ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup ketchup, ¼ cup unseasoned rice vinegar, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon grated ginger, and 2 teaspoons chili-garlic sauce in medium saucepan and bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer vigorously until thickened and reduced to 1¼ cups, 20 to 25 minutes. (Sauce can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.) Toss huli huli sauce and wings together in large bowl. Serve.
Huli Huli Wing Sauce
Photography by Steve Klise. Styling by Christine Tobin.

Huli Huli Wing Sauce

Headshot of Bryan Roof
By Bryan Roof

Published on January 18, 2026

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Time

30 minutes

Yield

Makes about 1¼ cups; enough to sauce 3½ pounds of wings

Ingredients

2¼ cups pineapple juice
¼ cup packed light brown sugar
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup ketchup
¼ cup unseasoned rice vinegar
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoons chili-garlic sauce

Ingredients

2¼ cups pineapple juice
¼ cup packed light brown sugar
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup ketchup
¼ cup unseasoned rice vinegar
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoons chili-garlic sauce

Ingredients

2¼ cups pineapple juice
¼ cup packed light brown sugar
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup ketchup
¼ cup unseasoned rice vinegar
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoons chili-garlic sauce

Why This Recipe Works

Our Hawaiian huli huli sauce, traditionally used to baste grilled chicken, also shines as a flavorful coating for chicken wings. This sticky-sweet and complex sauce features a pineapple juice base, enhanced by brown sugar for sweetness; soy sauce and ketchup for savory depth; rice vinegar for a bright note; and garlic, ginger, and chili-garlic sauce for punch. We reduce the mixture to concentrate the flavors, achieving a syrupy consistency that perfectly clings to the wings.

Before You Begin

Sriracha can be used in place of chili-garlic sauce.

Instructions

  1. Combine 2¼ cups pineapple juice, ¼ cup light brown sugar, ¼ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup ketchup, ¼ cup unseasoned rice vinegar, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon grated ginger, and 2 teaspoons chili-garlic sauce in medium saucepan and bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer vigorously until thickened and reduced to 1¼ cups, 20 to 25 minutes. (Sauce can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.) Toss huli huli sauce and wings together in large bowl. Serve.

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