Fire up the grill for these easy Grilled Hawaiian Chicken Sandwiches! Sweet pineapple, smoky bacon, and juicy chicken create the perfect bite.
Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Looking for a tropical twist on a classic chicken sandwich? This Grilled Hawaiian Chicken Sandwich is packed with juicy, marinated chicken, grilled pineapple, crispy bacon, and fresh veggies, all layered on a soft bun. It is the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and smoky flavors – a vibrant and satisfying meal for any day!
⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Bursting with tropical, sweet, and savory flavors
- Easy to grill or make indoors on a skillet
- Perfect for summer barbecues, quick dinners, or casual lunches
- Customizable with your favorite toppings and sauces
🛒 Ingredients & Substitutions
- pineapple juice
- BBQ sauce – use your favorite brand or homemade BBQ sauce
- low sodium soy sauce – regular soy sauce or coconut aminos can be used instead
- red pepper flakes – leave out for a milder sandwich
- thin cut chicken breasts – boneless skinless chicken thighs can be used instead
- red onion – substitute yellow or sweet onions if preferred
- romaine lettuce leaves – butter lettuce or shredded lettuce also work
- tomato
- crispy bacon – try hickory or mesquite-flavored bacon for extra flavor
- pineapple ring slices
- hamburger buns – Hawaiian buns are a great choice
✨ Variations
- Flavor boosters: Try stirring in ¼ teaspoon ground ginger into the marinade, or use pico de gallo instead of sliced tomato.
- Spicy Hawaiian Chicken Sandwich: Add a few dashes of hot sauce to the reserved sauce or sprinkle cayenne pepper into the marinade.
- Teriyaki style: Swap the BBQ sauce for teriyaki sauce to create a sweeter, Asian-inspired flavor.
- Cheesy version: Add a slice of provolone, Swiss, or pepper jack cheese when assembling the sandwich.
- Extra tropical: Top with thinly sliced mango or papaya for even more tropical flair.
- Low-carb option: Skip the bun and serve the grilled chicken, pineapple, and bacon over a bed of greens for a flavorful salad.
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How to Make Grilled Hawaiian Chicken Sandwiches
🔥 Tips
- Do not over-marinate. Marinate the chicken for no more than 1 hour to prevent the meat from becoming mushy from the pineapple juice.
- Bring the chicken to room temperature. Let the chicken sit out for about 15 minutes before grilling so it cooks evenly.
- Preheat your grill or pan. Starting with a hot surface gives the chicken beautiful grill marks and prevents sticking.
- Grill the pineapple. Grilling pineapple enhances its sweetness and adds a delicious smoky flavor.
- Use Hawaiian buns. If you can find large Hawaiian burger buns, they add even more tropical flavor to the sandwich.
- Add sauce last. Drizzle the reserved sauce just before serving to keep the sandwich from becoming soggy.
❓ FAQs
It is juicy, sweet, tangy, and smoky, with a tropical flair from the pineapple and a savory punch from the bacon and BBQ sauce.
Use a heavy skillet with a tablespoon of butter or oil. Cook over medium heat for about 5-7 minutes on each side. Alternatively, you can bake chicken at 400°F for 20 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
You can freeze the grilled chicken, but do not assemble the sandwiches ahead. The vegetables and buns will become soggy when thawed.
Yes! Canned pineapple rings packed in juice work great. Drain them well before grilling.
Cook the bacon until it is very crispy, then drain it well on paper towels. Assemble the sandwich just before serving to keep the bacon crisp.
Yes! Use a gluten-free BBQ sauce, gluten-free soy sauce or tamari, and gluten-free burger buns.
🍽️ Other Recipes You May Enjoy
Grilled Hawaiian Chicken Sandwiches
Equipment
- mixing bowls
- plastic wrap
- grill or skillet
- tongs
- small container (for reserved sauce)
- meat thermometer optional, but nice to have
Ingredients
- ¼ cup pineapple juice
- ¾ cup BBQ sauce
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3 chicken breasts thin cut
- ½ red onion thinly sliced
- 3 romaine lettuce leaves
- 1 small tomato sliced
- 6 slices crispy bacon
- 3 pineapple ring slices
- 3 hamburger buns
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce. In a large bowl, mix the pineapple juice, BBQ sauce, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes. Reserve ¼ cup of the sauce in a covered container in the refrigerator.
- Marinate the chicken. Place the chicken breasts in the bowl with the sauce, coating well. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 1 hour. Do not marinate longer, or the chicken may become mushy.
- Preheat the grill or skillet. Preheat your grill to medium high (about 375°F) or heat a skillet over medium heat.
- Bring chicken to room temperature. Remove chicken from the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before cooking.
- Grill the chicken and pineapple. Grill chicken for 5-7 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. At the same time, grill pineapple slices for about 2 minutes per side.
- Assemble the sandwiches. Layer each bottom bun with lettuce, tomato slices, grilled chicken, bacon, pineapple, and red onion.
- Add sauce and serve. Drizzle the reserved sauce over the sandwich fillings, top with the bun, and serve warm.
Notes
🥡 STORAGE
For best results, store all components separately. Keep cooked chicken, bacon, pineapple slices, and vegetables in individual airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store the buns at room temperature in a sealed bag or container.♨️ REHEATING
Reheat the chicken and bacon separately in the air fryer at 375°F for 3-5 minutes or microwave at 50% power until heated through. Then assemble the sandwich fresh with the buns, lettuce, tomato, and pineapple.❄️ FREEZING
The grilled chicken can be frozen for up to 2 months in a freezer-safe container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. It is not recommended to freeze assembled sandwiches or raw vegetables.💡 TIPS
- Do not marinate the chicken longer than 1 hour to prevent a mushy texture.
- Always grill pineapple for maximum sweetness and smoky flavor.
- Assemble sandwiches just before serving for the freshest taste and texture.
♻️ LEFTOVERS
Leftovers are best enjoyed within 3 days.Nutrition
Please note that the nutritional information listed on this page is an estimation based on the products I used. Ingredients and nutritional information can vary significantly between brands. Always be sure to read labels. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Likewise, recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them.
I’m Jamie, a self-taught home cook passionate about sharing easy, delicious, and family-friendly recipes. From comforting classics to irresistible desserts, I believe homemade food brings people together. Join me on my journey of creating and sharing meals that bring joy to every table!
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