The Classic Hawaiian Chicken I Love To Make at Home

The thick, luscious sauce is bursting with umami flavor.

By
Sheela Prakash
Sheela Prakash
Sheela Prakash
Food and wine writer, recipe developer, and the author of Mediterranean Every Day. Her work can be found in numerous online and print publications.
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Published December 25, 2024
Sheela Prakash
Overhead view of shoyu chicken on a white serving platter with a large serving fork

Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

Hawaiian shoyu chicken is sure to transport you to sunny skies. Made by simmering chicken thighs in an aromatic broth of soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and brown sugar, it’s bright and bursting with umami goodness.

“Shoyu” is a Japanese-style soy sauce that’s made with a combination of soy and wheat. It has a sweet-and-salty, nuanced flavor and is used in stir-fries, as a dipping sauce for tempeh, sushi, grilled meat, tofu, eggs, and vegetables, and as a marinade. Aloha brand is commonly used in Hawaii but Kikkoman is a more easily accessible brand that works just as well. 

What To Serve With Shoyu Chicken

This saucy chicken begs to be served with rice, of course, but sautéed bok choy, thick udon noodles, or stir-fried vegetables are all great accompaniments, too.

Overhead view of a white plate of soy chicken with rice topped with scallions next to a fork and napkin and a bowl of scallions on a beige background

Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

Chicken Thighs for the Win

Shoyu Chicken

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Servings 4 servings

This recipe was developed by Renu Dhar

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Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup shoyu soy sauce

  • 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

  • 4 small cloves garlic, finely chopped

  • 1 (3-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated

  • 1 3/4 cups unsalted chicken stock, divided

  • 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 pounds total)

  • 2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

  • Sliced scallions, optional

Method

  1. Whisk together the sauce:

    In a medium Dutch oven or a large, high-sided, heavy-bottomed skillet, whisk the shoyu, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and 1 1/2 cups of stock until the sugar dissolves, about 30 seconds.

  2. Cook the chicken:

    Add the chicken thighs, skin-side down, and bring to a boil, undisturbed, over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover with a lid, and simmer, turning the chicken halfway through, until it is tender and a thermometer inserted into the thickest portion registers 165°F, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the heat.

    Overhead view of a large pot of four raw chicken thighs in soy sauce mixture for Shoyu Chicken recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower
  3. Broil the chicken (optional):

    Using tongs, remove the chicken and place it on a large-rimmed baking sheet, skin-side up. If desired, preheat the oven to broil with a rack about 6 inches from the heat source. Broil the chicken until the skin is golden brown and crisp, about 3 minutes.

    Overhead view of a foil lined baking sheet of four soy chicken thighs on a stone countertop for Shoyu Chicken recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower
  4. Thicken the sauce:

    In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch and remaining 1/4 cup of stock until well combined. Add the cornstarch mixture to the shoyu mixture in the Dutch oven and whisk to combine.

    Bring the sauce to a boil over medium heat, stirring often. Boil, stirring constantly, until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 1 minute. Return the chicken, skin-side up, to the Dutch oven and spoon the thickened sauce over it. Garnish with scallions, if desired, and serve.

    Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

    Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!

    Overhead view of a large pot of soy sauce mixture being stirred with a wooden spoon

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
445 Calories
22g Fat
23g Carbs
42g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 445
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g 28%
Saturated Fat 7g 33%
Cholesterol 206mg 69%
Sodium 2056mg 89%
Total Carbohydrate 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 15g
Protein 42g
Vitamin C 1mg 7%
Calcium 51mg 4%
Iron 2mg 13%
Potassium 601mg 13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.