This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Step up your chicken game with this Pineapple Throne Chicken recipe. Full of flavor, this tropical delight is one for the books. The tenderness of the chicken, juiciness from the pineapple and crunch from the salsa will have you dreaming of a beach vacation all day long.
And don’t miss my Hawaiian Pizza Sliders and Teriyaki Chicken Boats for more pineapple goodness.
What Is A Pineapple Throne?
Have you heard of beer can chicken? Well, this recipe is similar but you grill a whole chicken on a pineapple core. The sweetness and juiciness from the fruit will penetrate into the bird while it cooks and it looks really cool when it’s done! And don’t worry about the trimmed pineapple. We’ll use that to make a delicious pineapple salsa to pair with our chicken.
To get started, chop off the leafy top. Next, slice around the bottom of the pineapple to mark the base. Finally, peel off the rind and cut off the top portion of the fruit, leaving just the core in the middle. Be sure the cut the core so the base is wider than the top. This will prevent the core from breaking during the cooking process.
Take the whole chicken, season with your choice of sweet BBQ rub and set it on the pineapple core.
Preheat the grill to 375 degrees and set for indirect heat. Place the chicken on the grill, close the lid and let it cook. While that’s grillin, time to get started on the salsa.
Dad’s Seasonings
Must have grillin seasonings!
Making The Best Pineapple Salsa.
It would be a shame to waste all that cut off pineapple, so instead, why not make a delicious salsa. This will add more flavor and crunch to the finished dish.
Start by dicing up the left over pineapple, red bell pepper, jalapeno, red onion and cilantro. Add salt and freshly squeezed lime juice. Mix the ingredients together and set aside. That’s it! I told you it was going to be easy. Check out my Grilled Pork Chops With a Peach Salsa for more fruit inspired recipes.
Finishing With Huli Huli Sauce.
Last but not least, this Huli Huli sauce will bring this pineapple throne chicken recipe together. It is a traditional Hawaiian sweet and spicy sauce that I used as a glaze at the end of the cook.
In a saucepan, add soy sauce, ketchup, pineapple juice, mirin, grated ginger, grated garlic, light brown sugar and chili paste. Mix the ingredients together and simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes until the sauce starts to thicken.
When the chicken reaches an internal temp of 140 F degrees, start to brush the outside with the Huli Huli sauce. I like to do 3-4 layers for maximum flavor. When the chicken reaches 160 F degrees internal temperature, remove it from the grill and bring it inside. You can leave on the pineapple core and let it rest for 10-15 minutes. This will allow the juices to redistribute and will create a much better final product.
When it’s ready, remove the chicken from the pineapple throne, carve it and serve it with the pineapple salsa. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions:
You sure can! Follow the same temperature and times and you will get a very similar result. Cooking it on the grill adds a mild smokey flavor which you won’t have when you make it in the oven.
Yes, pineapple has an enzyme called bromelain that breaks down protein and tenderizes the meat. It’s great for chicken, pork, and beef
Similar Chicken Recipe Ideas:
Chicken & Turkey
Grilled Chicken Halves
Chicken & Turkey
BBQ Chicken
Chicken & Turkey
Chicken in White Alabama Sauce
Chicken & Turkey
Roasted Citrus Chicken
If you tried this Pineapple Throne Chicken or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the📝 comments. I love hearing from you!
Pineapple Throne Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 Whole chicken
- 4 tbsp Sweet BBQ rub
- 1 Pineapple
Salsa
- 1 cup Chopped leftover pineapple
- 1 Red bell pepper, diced
- 1 Jalapeno, diced
- 1/2 Red onion, diced
- 1/2 cup Cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 tbsp Salt
- 2 Limes, juced
Huli Huli Sauce
- 1/4 cup Soy sauce
- 1/3 cup Ketchup
- 1/2 cup Light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup Pineapple juice
- 2 tbsp Mirin
- 1 tbsp Chili paste
- 1 tbsp Freshly grated ginger
- 1 tbsp Fresh grated garlic
Instructions
- Cut off the top of the pineapple. Cut around the core, leaving a 2" base at the bottom of the fruit. Do this on each side to create a "throne" from the core.
- Remove the chicken from the packaging, pat it dry and season with your favorite sweet BBQ rub.
- Preheat the grill to 375 degrees and set for indirect heat. Place the chicken on the grill, close the lid and let it cook.
- While the chicken is on the grill, make the Huli Huli sauce. In a saucepan, add soy sauce, ketchup, pineapple juice, mirin, grated ginger, grated garlic, light brown sugar and chili paste. Mix the ingredients together and simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes.
- For the pineapple salsa, dice up the left over pineapple, red bell pepper, jalapeno, red onion and cilantro. Add salt and freshly squeezed lime juice. Mix the ingredients together and set aside.
- When the chicken reaches 140 degrees internal temperature, start to brush on the Huli Huli sauce. Continue cooking and glazing until it reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees.
- Remove the chicken from the grill, bring it inside and let it rest for 10-15 minutes. Carve the chicken and serve with the pineapple salsa.
Notes
- Leave the bottom of the pineapple core wider than the top to prevent it from breaking during the cooking process.
- Allow the chicken to rest for at least 10 minutes when it’s done. This will allow the juices to redistribute, ensuring a much better final product.
Came out spectacularly…. Although my chicken fell over in the grill and could not sit back upright.
Juicy, flavorful and perfectly cooked.
Seriously this is just a brilliant recipe. Fresh healthy goodness – I would maybe cut down the brown sugar in the sauce but otherwise wouldn’t change a thing. So yummy can’t wait to make it again 🙂
I’ve made this a few times this summer, always a huge hit!! Love it and so easy!