Pineapple Salsa Recipe
This fresh pineapple salsa is the perfect blend of sweet and spicy! Made with juicy pineapple, crisp veggies, and a zesty kick of lime, it’s a versatile topping or dip perfect for tacos, grilled chicken, fish, or as a snack with tortilla chips.
Ready in just minutes, this tropical salsa is a must-have for summer BBQs, party platters, or weeknight meals. Healthy, refreshing, and bursting with flavor
Table of contents
Pineapple salsa is a juicy, sweet, and spicy salsa that makes the perfect healthy topping for grilled chicken and seafood. This little bite of sunshine is the perfect summer salsa, with just the right sweet and spicy flavor.
This easy pineapple salsa is the tropical alternative to Pico de Gallo! It’s a perfect light appetizer for Cinco de Mayo.
Grilling season is all about grilled chicken and fish with extra saucy marinades. Fruit salsas are some of my favorite side dishes in the summer.
A fresh salsa that’s sweet and juicy, with just the right amount of spicy heat, makes everything taste better.
About This Sweet Salsa Recipe
The first time I had pineapple salsa was at Islands Restaurant in Carlsbad. I used to go there quite often. They had teriyaki tacos on the menu with teriyaki chicken, cheddar cheese, and pineapple salsa. I always found the flavor combination so good. It was sweet and savory, and of course, it was tacos!!! I had to make this recipe for the blog to share with you.
Fun fact: Many people think pineapples came from Hawaii, and this is a Hawaiian Salsa recipe. However, pineapples originated in the Brazilian rainforests and spread through Central and South America. There is archaeological evidence of pineapples in South America dating back to 1200BC. The first record of pineapples in Hawaii is in 1813.
This is why you will see many Mexican recipes that use pineapple.
Recipe Notes
Once you learn to make this easy salsa recipe, you can make it with different fruits like mango, peach, or watermelon.
You knew tomatoes were a fruit, right? Of course you did. You’re one smart cookie.
WHAT GOES INTO FRUIT SALSA
- Pineapple: 2 cups of ripe pineapple, diced
- Onion: I like to use red onion in my fruit salsas.
- Peppers: Serrano peppers and jalapeño peppers both work in this recipe.
- Lime Juice: Fresh lime juice is the go-to!
- Aromatics: Fresh cilantro, or to make this salsa without cilantro, you can use basil or mint.
- Optional ingredients: green onions and red bell pepper add color and flavor to this fresh pineapple salsa recipe.
JUST A NOTE ABOUT FROZEN FRUIT:
Fresh fruit is the best choice for making fruit salsa. However, if you can’t get fresh ingredients, you can use frozen fruit when making fruit salsa recipes. Thaw the fruit and drain the excess liquid before making the salsa.
Canned pineapple is the best substitute for fresh pineapple in most recipes.
Learn how to cut a fresh pineapple.
HOW TO MAKE FRESH FRUIT SALSA
Step 1: Dice the onion and the Serrano pepper. Add them to a large bowl.
Step 2: Add lime juice and salt. Let this marinate while you cut up the fresh pineapple.
Step 3: Add the diced pineapple to the bowl.
Step 4: Add the chopped cilantro and toss. You can add any optional ingredients here.
Step 5: Serve on top of tacos or with crispy tortilla chips.
FAQs and Pro Tips
Fish and fruit salsa is a fantastic combo. I like to keep things simple, so I typically add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice and a little salt and pepper to my fish before I grill it. Add a little chili powder and some paprika if you want a little spice.
Steakier fish like mahi-mahi or swordfish grills well. Salmon is another good choice for grilling.
If you use a lighter white fish, broiling is a great way to cook fish. Give it a quick mist with cooking spray along with your spices.
For several weeks, you can easily keep fresh salsa in the fridge in an airtight container.
The skin of the pineapple should be yellow and not have too much brown on it.
The “belly button” of the pineapple should smell sweet and pineapple-y. This is the thick round circle on the bottom of the pineapple.
Gently tug on one of the pineapple leaves near the center. If the pineapple is ripe, the leaf should pull out fairly easily.
Because pineapples do not ripen after they are picked, you want to ensure you get a ripe one from the get-go. Color is not an indicator of pineapple ripeness, so I’ve found that the leaf pull test is the most reliable way to see if the pineapple is ripe.
You’ll need a sharp knife. I like to use an 8-inch chef’s knife. And a large cutting board.
Step 1: Cut off the top and bottom of the pineapple.
Step 2: Stand the pineapple up on one end and cut the skin off by slicing with your knife from top to bottom, following the contour of the pineapple. Make sure you cut deeply enough to cut most of the brown spikes off.
Step 3: Cut the pineapple in half down the core. Then cut each half in half again, also down the heart. You should end up with four long triangularish-shaped pieces.
Step 4: Cut the core out of the pineapple by slicing it off each of the pieces.
Step 5: Cut pineapple chunks and dice them into smaller bite-sized pieces.
Recipe Variations
Remember, the basic ingredients of salsa can be wrapped around almost any fruit. Restaurant-style salsa is just a quick chop away! These are some of my favorite combinations.
Salsa recipes with fruit can be made with almost any ripe, juicy fruit.
- Fresh Melon: Cantaloupe and watermelon make delicious salsas. Melon salsa is great with spicier grilled meats. The sweetness adds the perfect balance.
- Fresh Mango: This mango salsa recipe is one of my favorites. Serve with shrimp tacos for wow-tastic Taco Tuesdays!
- Strawberries: Strawberry salsa made with basil and balsamic vinegar is perfect with grilled chicken. For a quick and satisfying wrap, serve the leftovers in flour tortillas for lunch the next day.
- Peaches: Peach salsa and grilled pork is a marriage made in heaven. Try this with some charred red bell peppers. For a decadent dessert, serve up some cinnamon tortilla chips!
- Corn: It’s technically not a fruit, but fresh corn salsa is eat-right-out-of-the-bowl delicious. Add some black beans and tortilla chips, and you’ve got yourself a meal!
What to serve with Pineapple Salsa?
Pineapple salsa is delicious with fish, especially grilled salmon and grilled chicken. I also wouldn’t hesitate to serve my Bacon Rubbed Pork Kabobs, which are spicy, bacony, and a bit sweet.
I first made this homemade salsa recipe with my Jerk Chicken Recipe.
Spicy Jamaican Jerk Chicken with this sweet and spicy salsa is so good! Check out the recipe. You can grill or bake the Jerk Chicken.
My Jerk Chicken Bowl is a mouthful of flavor. Spicy chicken, Jamaican rice and peas, and roasted plantains give you the bowl version of a tropical vacation.
Another great option is the Fish Taco Meal Prep Bowl.
Hungry For More Recipes with Fresh Pineapple
More Salsa Recipes
Check out our collection of salsa recipes -> HERE!
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Pineapple Salsa Recipe
Equipment
- chef's knife (affiliate link)
- cutting board (affiliate link)
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh pineapple, diced
- 2 serrano peppers, finely diced
- ⅓ cup red onion, finely diced
- 2 tablespoon fresh cilantro, minced
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
- 1 lime, juiced
Optional Ingredients
- ¼ cup green onions, sliced
- ⅓ cup red bell pepper, finely dices
Instructions
- Dice the onion and the Serrano pepper. Add them to a large bowl. Add lime juice and salt. Let this marinate while you cut up the fresh pineapple.
- Add the diced pineapple to the bowl.
- Add the chopped cilantro and toss. You can add any optional ingredients here.
- Serve on top of tacos or with crispy tortilla chips.
Video
Laura’s Tips + Notes
- Fresh Melon: Cantaloupe and watermelon make delicious salsas. Melon salsa is great with spicier grilled meats. The sweetness adds the perfect balance.
- Fresh Mango: This mango salsa recipe is one of my favorites. Serve with shrimp tacos for wow-tastic Taco Tuesdays!
- Strawberries: Strawberry salsa made with basil and balsamic vinegar is perfect with grilled chicken. For a quick and satisfying wrap, serve the leftovers in flour tortillas for lunch the next day.
- Peaches: Peach salsa and grilled pork is a marriage made in heaven. Try this with some charred red bell peppers. For a decadent dessert, serve up some cinnamon tortilla chips!
- Corn: It’s technically not a fruit, but fresh corn salsa is eat-right-out-of-the-bowl delicious. Add some black beans and tortilla chips, and you’ve got yourself a meal!
- Thaw the pineapple in a mesh strainer over a bowl to remove the excess water.
- Once the pineapple is thawed, dice and add the remaining ingredients.
- Choose pineapple in juice, not the sweetened variety. Also, use rings or diced pineapple.
- Drain the pineapple and dice.
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