This Grilled Pineapple Salsa is made for summer time! It is super fresh and sweet with the perfect touch of savory spice. Enjoy this versatile salsa with your favorite grilled proteins or set it out with chips for a seriously tasty snack.
After shying away from savory recipes with pineapple in them, for years, I realized how good it can be when I tried it at my local Brazilian steakhouse. And after making Grilled Teriyaki Shrimp Kabobs with pineapple, I knew I needed to experiment with it more at home. So this tangy, sweet, and slightly spicy grilled pineapple salsa was born.
Grilled pineapple salsa might be a new summer staple at our house. It would be a fine match to chicken, Grilled Pork Tenderloin, or your favorite pork chops. Oh, the possibilities! So fire up the grill and get ready to love this fresh and flavorful salsa.
Why You’ll Love Pineapple Salsa
- This recipe only has 6 ingredients, so it’s a no-fuss recipe anyone can make.
- Tropical notes of pineapple and fresh cilantro make this salsa a refreshing and versatile addition to meals with chicken, pork, shrimp, and fish.
- Keep it simple and enjoy this salsa with tortilla chips for a quick and delicious appetizer or snack.
- Golden pineapple, red onion, and Fresno pepper make this salsa a colorful feast for the eyes (and taste buds).
- It’s perfect for busy days. Prepare this salsa ahead of time and keep it refrigerated until it’s ready to serve.
What You’ll Need
- Pineapple – Fresh pineapple gets sliced into spears and grilled for a mix of sweet and savory flavors.
- Red Onion – Red onion adds savory flavor without being overbearing.
- Cilantro – Fresh cilantro adds a pop of herbaceous citrus flavor.
- Fresno Pepper – These red peppers look and taste similar to a jalapeño. Feel free to substitute them with jalapeño if you don’t have Fresno peppers where you live.
- Limes – Use fresh lime juice to make this salsa taste bright and zingy.
- Olive Oil – Olive oil forms the base for the dressing and makes the salsa more satisfying.
Picking Fresh Pineapple
Fresh pineapple is essential to make this salsa shine. And there are a few things to look out for to pick a good ripe pineapple.
First off, the skin should be a greenish-yellow color. The leaves should be bright and not withered. Additionally, you can smell the base of the fruit to see if it smells sweet. A pleasant and sweet smell indicates that it’s ripe.
As you pick up the pineapple, notice whether it feels heavy for its size. The heavier a pineapple is, the juicier it tends to be.
Squeezing the fruit can also help you determine if it’s ready to eat. Like so many fruits, pineapple should give and feel slightly soft when you squeeze it.
Follow these tips, and you’ll always pick a super-sweet and juicy head of pineapple.
How To Make Grilled Pineapple Salsa
- Grill your pineapple. Grill one side of the pineapple spears for 5-10 minutes on high heat. Once they’re warm with grill marks, turn and repeat.
- Chop the pineapple and toss. Cut the grilled pineapple into bite-sized pieces. Toss all the remaining ingredients together thoroughly with the chopped pineapple. Store in the fridge until it’s ready to serve.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Make it extra smoky. For a smokier flavor, grill the red onion in wedges along with the pineapple before chopping it.
- Enhance the tropical fruit flavor. Add diced mango to lean more into that tropical fruit taste.
- Make it spicier. Kick up the heat by adding more Fresno pepper, or use a hotter pepper like jalapeño or habanero.
- Make it less spicy. If you prefer a less spicy salsa, substitute the fresno pepper with poblano pepper or even red bell pepper.
- Make it creamier. Add diced avocado for a buttery, creamy texture that’s a great counterpoint to the tangy pineapple.
If you don’t have access to fresh pineapple or are short on time, you can grill canned pineapple rings instead. Be sure to drain the liquid thoroughly from them before grilling, and be careful not to overcook them, or they’ll get mushy.
If you’re not a fan of the taste of cilantro, no worries. Substitute chopped fresh parsley instead.
While it will alter the overall flavor, you can use lemon juice instead of lime if that’s all you have on hand. You may want to decrease the amount of juice a little since it’s more sour.
Serving Suggestions
- Grilled Pork Chops – Juicy, tender, and ready in 20 minutes, these spiced pork chops are perfect with pineapple salsa.
- Chipotle Shrimp Tacos – the sweet and smoky together would make a great combination!
- Cilantro Lime Shrimp – Feel like you’re on a vacation to Mexico with this zesty shrimp served alongside chips and pineapple salsa.
- Margarita Grilled Chicken – Make a fresh and low-calorie dinner on the grill with pineapple salsa and this easy grilled margarita chicken.
- Chili Lime Grilled Chicken Drumsticks – These drumsticks are simple but don’t skimp on flavor. They’re perfect with chips and this pineapple salsa on the side.
More Tasty Summer Appetizers
Grilled Pineapple Salsa
Grilled Pineapple Salsa - super fresh, sweet, a little spicy, and perfect for summer. Great over chicken, pork, fish, or just to snack on with chips!
Ingredients
- 3/4 - 1 whole pineapple, sliced into 1 inch spears
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped
- 1 fresno pepper, finely chopped
- 2 limes, juiced
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat grill to high heat.
- Place pineapple spears on grill and cook for 5-10 minutes; until warmed and you have grill marks, turning once.
- Remove pineapple from grill and cut into bite sized pieces.
- Mix all of the ingredients together with the chopped pineapple, tossing to coat.
- Store in fridge until ready to serve.
Notes
Adapted from Cooking Light
Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
4 ServingsAmount Per Serving Calories 134Total Fat 10gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 0mgSodium 3mgCarbohydrates 12gFiber 2gSugar 6gProtein 1g
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Catalina
Friday 11th of August 2023
This salsa is so flavorful and fresh. Everyone in my house loved it!
Beth
Friday 11th of August 2023
I made this and served it with baked chicken over rice. It's one of the best fruity salsas I've ever had!
Sharon @ What The Fork Food Blog
Tuesday 7th of June 2016
This grilled pineapple salsa looks delicious - I'll have to try it with some grilled fish or chicken :)
Peter Tessgie
Tuesday 7th of June 2016
You really haven't used any sugar or anything else beside the pineapple fructose? Sounds great, I promise to try this summer. Thanks for sharing this wonderful idea.
Jen @ Yummy Healthy Easy
Monday 6th of June 2016
I've never been to a Brazilian Steakhouse but now I need to google it and find one near me! That sounds like my kind of place to eat, lol! This pineapple salsa sounds incredible!! Perfect for the salmon I have in my fridge. :) Pinned!