Home » Protein » Chicken

Easy Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken

This post may contain affiliate links. See my full disclosure here.

This Shoyu chicken is too easy! The Hawaiian chicken simmers in its own bubbly brown savory sauce until the meat is juicy and tender. This will become one of your favorite easy weeknight recipes! 

A plate of shoyu chicken that has been simmered is a savory sauce soy sauce based sauce. The sauce is poured over the chicken once the chicken is done.

Before I talk about this easy Hawaiian shoyu chicken, I would like to thank all my new readers for subscribing! I really appreciate it! If you are a new visitor please make sure you subscribe. I won’t spam you. 

NEVER MISS A RECIPE

Join our newsletter and stay up to date on all the newest recipes guaranteed to add a burst of flavor to your inbox.

Shoyu chicken recipe might just be the easiest Hawaiian chicken recipe ever. An ex-coworker from Hawaii gave me her. I remember the first time she brought shoyu chicken to the potluck.

It was so good. The soy sauce wasn’t overpowering or salty. The flavor of the brown sauce wasn’t salty like a lot of recipes containing soy sauce. My coworker recommended that I use a good quality soy sauce. Check out epicurious post for more info on it. 

I use it all the time. I’m not a big fan of a lot of the store soy sauces because  most of them are filled with so much salt! To get the full benefit of flavors you should definitely try a very good quality soy sauce.

Don’t get me wrong, you can use a store soy sauce but you will need play around with the sauce more by adding more ingredients (flavor) to the sauce to offset the flavor of the salty strong soy sauce flavors. 

Ever since she introduced me to shoyu chicken, it has become one of my favorite RIDICULOUSLY easy weeknight dinners. Sometimes I do add extras to the recipe like crushed red peppers or chili peppers to give it a bit of kick.

This recipe is very versatile so if you want to tweak the sauce you can even add some pineapple juice or a bit more sugar depending on your taste. 

If you frown upon long prep recipes you’re in luck today because this Hawaiian style maple shoyu chicken takes only 5 minutes to prep! It’s just a matter of adding all the ingredients into a bowl mixing mix then then pour into a skillet with the chicken.

Let the sauce simmer and bubble until the meat is nice and tender. I love how easy this recipe is! 

Here’s what you’ll need.

  •  4-5 pounds chicken thighs. Skinless or boneless chicken thighs work too. 
  • 1 cup soy sauce
  • 1 cup brown sugar (more brown sugar or white sugar may be better if you are using a store brand soy sauce)
  • 1 garlic bulb minced 
  • 3 inches of ginger cut into 1/8 inch slices
  • salt and pepper for taste 
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 3-4 tbsp flour
  • 1/4 tsp crushed red peppers (optional)
  • green onions sliced 

 

HOW TO MAKE SHOYU CHICKEN:

Simply, add all the sauce ingredients (except water and cornstarch) into a bowl and mix . Next, heat a large saute pan on high on medium high. Then add the sauce then the  chicken.

Bring to a boil. Simmer for 45 mins. Remove chicken and place in on a serving plate. Strain the sauce and bring to a boil. Mix the cornstarch and water together to make a slurry. Pour the slurry into the sauce.

Cook until the sauce has thickened about 5 minutes. Pour the sauce over the chicken and garnish with green onions. A plate of shoyu chicken that has been simmered is a savory sauce soy sauce based sauce. The sauce is poured over the chicken once the chicken is done.

A plate of shoyu chicken that has been simmered is a savory sauce soy sauce based sauce. The sauce is poured over the chicken once the chicken is done.

Shoyu Chicken

April Boller Wright
This Shoyu chicken is too easy! The Hawaiian chicken simmers in its own bubbly brown savory sauce until the meat is juicy and tender. This will become one of your favorite easy weeknight recipes! 
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine Hawaiian
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

  • 4-5 pounds chicken thighs boneless and skinless is fine too
  • 1 cup soy sauce Quality Brand See Notes
  • 1 cup brown sugar (more brown sugar or white sugar may be better if you are using a store brand soy sauce)
  • 1 garlic bulb minced finely
  • 3 inches of ginger cut into 1/8 inch slices
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 3 tbsp water
  • 3-4 tbsp flour or cornstarch
  • 1/4 tsp crush red peppers optional

Instructions
 

  • Add all the sauce ingredients (except water and cornstarch) into a bowl and mix . Heat a large saute pan on high on medium high. Add the sauce then the chicken. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 45 mins. Remove chicken and place in on a serving plate. Strain the sauce to get rid of the ginger and garlic.  
  • Mix the water and cornstarch to make a slurry in a separate small bowl then add it to the skillet that had the chicken in it.  
  • Over medium high heat cook the sauce until it thickens. Add more water, cornstarch or seasonings to get the right flavor or consistency. Pour the sauce over the chicken and top with green onions. Serve right away. Perfect with plain white rice or coconut rice. 

Notes

TIPS TO MAKE THIS SHOYU CHICKEN

 
 
 
 
Soy Sauce - To get the full benefit of flavors you should definitely try a very good QUALITY soy sauce.
 
Don't get me wrong, you can use a store soy sauce but you will need play around with the sauce more by adding more ingredients (flavor) to the sauce to offset the flavor of the salty strong soy sauce flavors. I recommend a more mellow soy sauce called Kishibori Shoyu .
 
 
 
Leftovers - This shoyu chicken seems to taste even better the next day! 
 
 
Keyword hawaiian chicken, shoyu chicken
Like this? Leave a comment below!Let us know how it was!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE THESE OTHER CHICKEN RECIPES. 

BAKED TERIYAKI CHICKEN LEGS 

SMOTHERED CHICKEN

FRIED CHICKEN

PEACH GLAZED CHICKEN WINGS 

PERUVIAN FRIED RICE 

CHICKEN LEGS 

REMEMBER TO SUBSCRIBE TO WHISK IT REAL GUD NEWSLETTER FOR FREE TO RECEIVE RECIPE NOTIFICATIONS DELIVERED STRAIGHT INTO YOUR INBOX!! Also join our cool food blogger cooking group. Click —> HERE<— to join!

FOLLOW WHISK IT REAL GUD  ON PINTEREST

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

12 Comments

  1. The chicken sounds so yummy! I’m going to try this in my crock pot. But what do you suggest you serve with it as a side dish?

    1. Thank you Ashton! I love it with rice or even better,mashed potatoes. Enjoy!

  2. I love the idea of this recipe, but I was wonderinf if it would work as well in the slow cooker?

    1. Thanks Alex! I haven’t tried it in a slow cooker but it should work. If you decide to do it I would add the cornstarch and water during the last hour just so the sauce can thicken up.

  3. April, my mouth is watering! These sound irresistible! They wouldn’t last long on my dinner table. xo, Catherine

  4. Oh my goodness! This chicken looks to die for. I might make this for dinner..tonight! Yummy.

  5. Thanks so much Dawn! I’m sure you will love it! 🙂