Big Kahuna Teriyaki Chicken Sandwiches Recipe
Enjoy the tropical flavors of Big Kahuna Teriyaki Chicken Sandwiches featuring tender teriyaki-marinated grilled chicken breasts, sweet grilled pineapple, savory ham, and melted Pepper Jack cheese all stacked in a soft hamburger bun. This delightful sandwich combines a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory notes, making it an irresistible meal for a casual lunch or dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 sandwiches 1x
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1 bottle Lawry’s teriyaki sauce (about 12–16 oz)
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
Sandwich Fillings
- 4 slices deli ham
- 1 can sliced pineapple (or fresh pineapple, sliced)
- 4 slices Pepper Jack cheese
- 4 large hamburger buns
Instructions
- Pound chicken breasts: Pound chicken breasts until they are about 1/4″ thick all around to ensure even cooking.
- Marinate chicken: In a large Ziploc bag, combine teriyaki sauce and brown sugar until sugar dissolves. Add half of this mixture to the bag with the chicken, seal tightly, and refrigerate for at least 4-5 hours to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat.
- Prepare remaining sauce and pineapple: Separate the remaining teriyaki mixture into two bowls to avoid cross-contamination, one for brushing on pineapple and the other on chicken. Drain pineapple, reserving some juice in a bowl.
- Grill chicken and pineapple: Place chicken breasts and pineapple slices on a medium-heat grill, brushing frequently with their respective teriyaki sauces. Flip only once to get nice grill marks and ensure thorough cooking.
- Cook ham: Heat ham slices either on the grill or in a frying pan with a little reserved pineapple juice until hot and slightly caramelized.
- Assemble sandwiches: Open hamburger buns and layer each bottom bun with grilled chicken, followed by a slice of Pepper Jack cheese, ham, grilled pineapple, and then the bun top. Serve immediately with any remaining grilled pineapple on the side.
Notes
- Marinating chicken longer improves flavor and tenderness.
- Using fresh pineapple will enhance the sweetness and texture.
- Grilling adds a smoky flavor but you can also cook the chicken and pineapple in a skillet if a grill is unavailable.
- Brush the pineapple and chicken with separate brushes to avoid cross-contamination.
- To melt cheese faster, assemble sandwiches and briefly place on the grill or under a broiler.
Keywords: teriyaki chicken sandwich, grilled pineapple sandwich, Hawaiian chicken sandwich, sweet and savory sandwich, Big Kahuna sandwich
