• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Heather Likes Food logo

  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home / Recipes / Chicken

    Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken

    By Heather · Published: Nov 15, 2017 · Updated: Mar 21, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links · See the privacy policy linked in my footer.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken-- so flavorful you'll forget how easy it is to make! Filled with flavors of ginger, garlic, and just a touch of red pepper, it's a meal you'll want over and over again!

    Hawaiian shoyu chicken over white rice

    There is a little hole-in-the-wall cafe where we used to live in Corvallis, Oregon that serves the best Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken you can get short of flying to Hawaii. The ribs are probably their claim to fame, but I'm a sucker for their shoyu chicken and macaroni salad. It's been a while in the making, but I think the recipe I've come up with makes for a pretty stinkin' good substitute when I have a hankering for a big plate of sweet meat, rice, and mac-- which happens at least twice a week.

    shoyu chicken on white rice and pineapple

    Pin This Recipe To Your Chicken Board

    Hawaiian Shoyu chicken is one of the simplest things to make. Seriously. Yet somehow the few, simple ingredients turn into deep flavors, tender meat and an all-around unforgettable meal. Shoyu is just another name for soy sauce, so as you might guess, we're using a lot of soy sauce here. Other ingredients include Worcestershire sauce, ginger, garlic, sugar, water, and a little red pepper.

    What kind of chicken should I use for Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken?

    You'll need about 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs. I know I'll have someone ask if they can use breasts, and the answer it yes, yes you CAN. But try it once with chicken thighs just for me, please? The thighs have so much flavor and really make this shoyu chicken what it's supposed to be.

    Tips for Making Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken:

    • This recipe can be made on the stove-top or in a slow cooker. Directions for both will be in the recipe below.
    • My favorite way of eating it is with lots of steamed rice, macaroni salad, fresh-cut pineapple, and a little concoction our local cafe serves with all of its meats called "Da Sauce". It's basically more soy sauce and sugar and the recipe is included in the recipe card below.

    Pin This Recipe To Your Chicken Board

    Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken on a blue plate with rice

    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 : I use my Instant Pot as my slow cooker these days. This is the model that I have and LOVE. It’s been with me for over a year and I’ve definitely put it through the ringer, but still works like new! It’s changed the dinnertime routine at our house and helps me make meals in under an hour that used to take HOURS!
    • Ninja 3-in-One Cooking System: When my Instant Pot is already in use (It makes the BEST rice) I still use my favorite slow-cooker. I've owned this slow cooker for about 6 years (when they were first introduced) and I still love it. The stovetop feature allows me to sear and cook meats before allowing them to slow cook (less dishes) and there's a bake feature as well.

    Pin This Recipe To Your Chicken Board

    Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken-- so flavorful you'll forget how easy it is to make! Filled with flavors of ginger, garlic and just a touch of red pepper.

    Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken

    Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken-- so flavorful you'll forget how easy it is to make! Filled with flavors of ginger, garlic and just a touch of red pepper.
    By Heather Cheney
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
    Servings: 6 Servings

    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

    • Place chicken in a large pot on the stove top.
    • Combine remaining ingredients and stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour over chicken and stir until all chicken is immersed in sauce.
    • Bring to a low boil, cover and reduce heat to a simmer. Let cook for about 1 hour at a low simmer until the chicken is tender.

    To Make in a Slow Cooker:

    • Cook on LOW for up to 8 hours or HIGH for 4.
    • Remove chicken from cooking liquid, shred and return to pan to soak up some more flavor. Serve over steamed rice with the sauce below.
    • To make "Da Sauce": Combine and stir all ingredients until the sugar is dissolved and serve with the chicken and rice.

    To Make in an Instant Pot

    • Combine the soy sauce, water, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, red pepper flakes, ginger and garlic in the Instant Pot. Place the chicken in the sauce and spoon some sauce over the top of the chicken.
    • Lock Instant Pot lid in place, making sure the venting valve is sealed.
    • Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
    • While chicken is cooking, combine the ingredients for the sauce and set aside. 
    • When the cooking time is up, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then do a quick pressure release and when the pin drops remove the lid.
    • Serve the chicken and sauce over the top of steamed white rice alongside some macaroni salad.

    Nutrition Facts

    Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 510 kcal | Carbohydrates: 55 g | Protein: 50 g | Fat: 9 g | Saturated Fat: 2 g | Cholesterol: 215 mg | Sodium: 4029 mg | Potassium: 742 mg | Sugar: 51 g | Vitamin A: 80 IU | Vitamin C: 0.8 mg | Calcium: 42 mg | Iron: 3.7 mg

    Nutrition and Food Safety Disclosure

    ARE WE FRIENDS ON INSTAGRAM?Tag me @heatherlikesfood and use #heatherlikesfood so I can see what you're making and enjoying!
    Save This Recipe for Later!
    « Coffee Cake in a Cup
    One Pan Garlic Herb Chicken Thighs »

    Most Recent Recipes

    Sloppy Joe on a white plate with pickle and potato chips

    Instant Pot Sloppy Joes

    3 crunchy ground beef tacos

    Mexican Style Ground Beef Taco Meat

    Glass bowl of guacamole with chip inside

    The Actual Chipotle Guacamole Recipe

    Close up of biscuit with a pat of butter on it

    The Easiest Homemade Drop Biscuits

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Continuing Education Florida Contractors says

      March 09, 2023 at 8:37 am

      5 stars
      Contracting continuing education courses for licensed contractors to get their required FL Contracting Education Courses to meet the state licensing board renewal guidelines.

      Reply
    2. Pasrew says

      March 08, 2023 at 7:20 pm

      5 stars
      Because of your good content basket random, we have benefited much.

      Reply
    3. Meena Singh says

      March 06, 2023 at 8:26 pm

      5 stars
      You've really excelled at this.

      https://www.vipbodyspa.com

      Reply
    4. Infinity Pavers says

      March 02, 2023 at 4:44 am

      Ukraine is currently at war and thousands of innocent people are dying, who simply lived in their own country and did their usual things. Russia has declared war on Ukraine and is killing civilians. To read true information or help Ukraine go to the site Comeback Alive.
      This fund provides assistance to the Ukrainian military and brings Ukraine's victory over Russia closer.

      Reply
    5. Udaipur Escorts says

      February 15, 2023 at 1:23 am

      Welcome , Udaipur Escorts Agancy Top Class Escort Service Providing . We are Providing Clean Room and Hot Models . If You are Interested The Book Whatsup , Web Sites and Other Social Media Acconuts .
      Book Now This Web Site :- http://www.russianmodels.in/about-me

      Reply
    6. credit says

      February 10, 2023 at 5:46 am

      5 stars
      Thanks for providing this valuable content, we gain so much

      information.

      Reply
    7. goldywer says

      February 10, 2023 at 5:22 am

      5 stars
      Great amazing stuff here. I am very glad to see your article. Thank

      you very much..!
      You are appreciated for all you do. Thank you so much.” “The work you

      do is important and so appreciated.” “Sending a little heartfelt

      appreciation your way today!”

      Thanks for sharing this informative and amazing post here.Our main motive is to provide the information fast and quickHere....
      Here you will find information related to education

      Reply
    8. merposa safitri says

      February 09, 2023 at 5:41 am

      5 stars
      medital

      Reply
    9. Buy Lots in Texas says

      February 06, 2023 at 10:50 pm

      Very nice article. I absolutely love this site.
      Thanks!
      Here is my website – Buy Lots in Texas

      Reply
    10. Sale House in Texas says

      February 06, 2023 at 10:49 pm

      Very nice article. I absolutely love this site.
      Thanks!

      Reply
    11. Whitney says

      February 04, 2023 at 9:09 pm

      5 stars
      I really liked this recipe! My husband’s family is from Hawaii and we love shoyu, but have never made it at home. I opted out of the red pepper flakes and put in about 3 stalks of green onions, which I removed after releasing the pressure cooker steam. Will make again!

      Reply
    12. مشاوره says

      February 04, 2023 at 8:54 pm

      Hello, have a good day

      I came here last week through Google and saved it here. Now I looked more carefully. It was very useful for me - thank you https://ghalbplatform.ir/

      Reply
    « Older Comments
    Newer Comments »

    Did you make this recipe? Drop me a comment and let me know how it turned out! Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Headshot of Heather in an apron

    Hi, I'm Heather! Want to become a rockstar cook? I’m a former chef, caterer, and culinary arts school graduate that just wants to help you make some killer food! I truly believe that with a little know-how anyone can totally rock their kitchen. Stick around for ultimate recipes of your favorite foods, cooking tips, guides, and more!

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • The Best Super Moist Oven Baked BBQ Chicken
    • One Pan Sour Cream Chicken Enchilada Skillet
    • Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken
    • The Best Sloppy Joe Sauce
    • Coffee Cake in a Cup
    • Baked Ricotta Chicken
    • Mom's Classic Meatloaf Recipe
    • Beef Teriyaki Stir Fry
    Email opt in image
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Breads
    • Side Dishes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Appetizer Recipes

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • About
    • Email
    • Work With Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This site uses cookies and generates income via ads.

    Copyright © 2022 Heather Likes Food, LLC