Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken — richly flavored and surprisingly simple to prepare. Ginger, garlic, soy, and a hint of red pepper transform basic ingredients into tender, savory-sweet chicken that pairs perfectly with steamed rice, macaroni salad, and fresh pineapple.
When we lived in Corvallis, Oregon, a small local cafe served a shoyu chicken that I still think about. Their ribs were well known, but their shoyu chicken and macaroni salad were the comfort-food combination I craved. This version recreates those bright Hawaiian flavors at home. It’s an easy recipe with straightforward ingredients — soy sauce (shoyu), sugar, water, ginger, garlic, Worcestershire, and a touch of red pepper — that simmer together to create deep, satisfying flavor.
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Shoyu chicken is one of those recipes that tastes far more complex than it is. The method is simple: simmer the chicken gently in a sweet-salty sauce until it becomes tender and absorbs the flavors. While shoyu is simply soy sauce, the balance of sugar and aromatics is what gives this dish its classic Hawaiian character.
What kind of chicken should I use for Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken?
For the best texture and flavor use about 3 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Chicken breasts can be used if you prefer, but thighs stay juicier and carry the marinade flavors better. If you’ve never tried thighs for this dish, give them a shot — they make a noticeable difference.
Tips for Making Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken:
- This recipe works well on the stovetop, in a slow cooker, or in an electric pressure cooker like an Instant Pot. Directions for each method are provided below.
- Serve the chicken over steamed rice with macaroni salad and fresh pineapple for a classic Hawaiian plate. The recipe includes a simple dipping sauce often called “Da Sauce” that you can drizzle on the chicken or rice for extra sweetness and salt.
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Want More Easy Chicken Recipes?
- Garlic Ranch Chicken Marinade
- Bacon Wrapped Pesto Chicken
- Sheet Pan Pesto Chicken and Veggies
- Sticky Sweet Chili Chicken
- One Pan Smothered Chicken Skillet
Tools used for Making Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken:
- Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker: useful for speeding up the cooking time while still producing tender, well-flavored chicken.
- Slow cooker: great for hands-off cooking and for developing deep flavor over several hours. A multi-function cooker with a stovetop searing option can reduce dishes by allowing you to brown and finish in the same pot.
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📖 Recipe
Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 ½ cups soy sauce
- 1 ½ cups water
- 1 ½ cups white sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 inch piece fresh ginger chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
For Da Sauce
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons sugar
Instructions
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Place the chicken in a large pot on the stovetop.
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Combine the soy sauce, water, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, red pepper flakes, chopped ginger, and minced garlic. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then pour the mixture over the chicken, making sure the pieces are mostly submerged.
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Bring the pot to a low boil, then cover and reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for about 1 hour, until the chicken is tender and infused with flavor.
To Make in a Slow Cooker:
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Transfer the chicken and sauce to a slow cooker. Cook on LOW for up to 8 hours or on HIGH for about 4 hours.
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When the chicken is done, remove it from the cooking liquid, shred it if desired, and return it to the pot to soak up extra sauce before serving.
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To make “Da Sauce,” stir together the sauce ingredients until the sugar dissolves. Serve alongside the chicken and rice.
To Make in an Instant Pot
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Combine soy sauce, water, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, red pepper flakes, ginger, and garlic in the Instant Pot. Nestle the chicken into the sauce and spoon some liquid over the top.
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Lock the lid and set the valve to sealed. Cook at high pressure for 15 minutes.
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Allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then carefully finish with a quick release. Remove the lid when safe and shred or serve the chicken as desired.
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While the chicken cooks, mix the ingredients for Da Sauce and set aside. Serve the chicken and sauce over steamed white rice with macaroni salad on the side.
Nutrition Facts
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Calories: 510 kcal
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Carbohydrates: 55 g
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Protein: 50 g
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Fat: 9 g
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Sodium: 4029 mg
Nutrition and Food Safety Disclosure
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