Juicy Grilled Pineapple will be your new favorite way to enjoy pineapple. Stack sweet, caramelized slices of pineapple on top of burgers or try some of the variations outlined below to make this grilled pineapple recipe your own.
This sweet, juicy Grilled Pineapple recipe is incredibly easy to make and pairs with so many meals – or enjoy it as dessert with coconut ice cream! A squeeze of lime juice and honey, plus a little sprinkle of cinnamon and chili powder add a delightful touch of tangy flavor, while the grill’s flame brings out the fruit’s natural sweetness.
Why We ❤️ This Grilled Pineapple Recipe
Keep this recipe for grilled pineapple handy for those times when you’re planning to grill and want a little treat to complement your meal. Slices of honey-slicked grilled pineapple are wonderful alongside easy grilled pork chops or chopped up and added to tacos. Grilled pineapple also makes the easiest dessert – serve it with ice cream or yogurt, plus an extra drizzle of honey over the top. I love how versatile grilled pineapple is, and I am sure you will love it, too! Here are a few more highlights:
- All the flavors. In this recipe for grilled pineapple, you’ll find all the flavors – sweet, slightly spicy, and citrusy. You can adjust the amount of spice or sweetener depending on how you plan to use the pineapple, too.
- Quick. Need a quick and easy side? Turn to grilled pineapple. In 15 minutes or less you’ll have a special, light side that goes with so many mains from hearty meat dishes to dessert.
- Easy to adjust. I’ve given a few variation suggestions lower down, but you can also put your own spin on grilled pineapple. Want to make it sweeter? Add more honey or sugar. Like it extra savory? Sprinkle the grilled slices with flaky salt. You do you!
What You’ll Need
Here’s a quick look at the ingredients needed for this recipe for grilled pineapple. Check the recipe card at the end of this post for the full ingredient amounts.
- Lime juice – Freshly squeezed lime juice is best but bottled juice can be used in a pinch.
- Oil – I recommend using extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil.
- Honey – A little honey boosts the natural sweetness of the pineapple.
- Cinnamon – Adjust the amount of cinnamon (or leave it out) depending on your taste.
- Chili powder – You can leave out the chili powder if you don’t like a lot of heat, but I like at least a little pinch of chili powder to offset the sweetness of the pineapple.
- Pineapple – Buy a fresh pinapples and peel and core it, or use an already cored and sliced pineapple from the store.
Recipe Variations
It’s so easy to change the flavor profile of this recipe for grilled pineapple depending on what you like or with what other dishes you plan to serve it. I love adding a sprinkling of fresh herbs like mint or basil, or a little ground ginger along with the cinnamon for a kick. Here are a few more ideas:
- Other spices. You can add or subtract the amount of cinnamon and chili powder or try different spices. I like ginger instead of cinnamon, and will sometimes add a pinch of nutmeg for a cozier feel.
- Try a different sweetener. Honey is so lovely on pineapple, but another sweetener such as maple syrup, brown sugar, or even a sprinkle of granulated sugar would also be nice.
- Drizzle on hot sauce. If you love a lot of heat, add a drizzle of hot sauce to the pineapple slices before grilling, and then give them another drizzle of hot sauce after grilling.
- Another citrus. Instead of lime juice, try another citrus juice such as lemon or orange.
- Add fresh herbs. If you plan to serve grilled pineapple as more of a dessert, you can top it with chopped fresh mint for a refreshing punch of flavor. For a more savory preparation, try fresh basil or cilantro leaves.
- A little salt. I don’t call for salt in this grilled pineapple recipe, but you could add a pinch of salt if you like. Or, sprinkle flaky salt over the finished grilled pineapple for a little salty contrast.
How To Cut Pineapple Into Rings
To cut your pineapple into rings, first remove the stem and leaves. Then, using a serrated knife, trim about 1/2-inch off of each end of the pineapple. Stand the pineapple on one end and slice off the skin. Remove any remaining “eyes” if needed. Now, lay the pineapple on its side and slice it crosswise into rounds. Cut or push out the core from each slice before cooking or serving the pineapple rings.
How To Grill Pineapple
If you’ve got a grill, you can make grilled pineapple! Here’s an overview of how to do it. Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card lower down.
- Prepare. Heat grill to medium to medium-high and clean and oil the grates.
- Season the pineapple. Combine the lime juice, olive oil, honey, cinnamon, and chili powder and brush it on the pineapple.
- Grill. Place the pineapple rings on grill grates and cook 3-4 minutes per side.
Tips for Success
If you don’t have a grill, no problem. I’ve detailed an easy broiler method below so you can still make this fantastic grilled pineapple recipe, plus a few other tips to help you make this recipe.
- Choose a ripe pineapple. You’ll know a pineapple is ripe when it’s very yellow and smells sweet and fruity. Skip mushy pineapples – they’re over ripe – and pass over greener pineapples, because they’re not ripe enough.
- Don’t flip the pineapple too quickly. If you like crisp char marks like me, make sure to let the pineapple fully cook until you see the char marks before flipping it.
- What if I don’t have a grill? You can create a similar result to grilled pineapple by running the pineapple slices under the broiler if you don’t have a grill. Preheat the broiler and place the seasoned pineapple slices in a rimmer oven-safe pan. Cook the pineapple for about 5 minutes under the broiler, or until tender.
- Let the pineapple rest. To infuse the pineapple with even more flavor, let the slices rest for about 5-10 minutes before you place them on the grill. It’s OK if you don’t have time for this step – the grilled pineapple will still be very flavorful.
Ways To Use It
I love how versatile this recipe is! You can make grilled pineapple into dessert, or use it to add a touch of juicy sweetness to all sorts of savory dishes. Here are a few of my favorite ways to use grilled pineapple:
- On a sandwich. My tender grilled chicken sandwich calls for grilled pineapple, so go ahead and use the pineapple in this post in that recipe. Or create your own sandwich with plenty of ripe avocado or guacamole, cheese, and crisp lettuce.
- As dessert. Grilled pineapple makes the easiest dessert! Add a few slices to a bowl with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream or Greek yogurt. Or, serve grilled pineapple with light and airy angel food cake.
- With burgers. Serve grilled pineapple as a light, sweet-savory side to burgers, or add pineapple on top of your burgers! Add a slice of pineapple to your favorite beef burger, or add an unexpectedd flavor boost to my goat cheese stuffed turkey burgers.
- In tacos. Add this grilled pineapple recipe to my recipe for grilled pork and pineapple tacos, or sweeten up my fish tacos recipe with juicy pineapple rings.
More Grilling Recipes
- Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin
- Grilled Charmoula Pork Kabobs
- Sugar Grilled Steak
- Grilled Scallops
- Grilled Shrimp
Grilled Pineapple
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 teaspoons olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 3 big pinches cinnamon
- 3 big pinches chili powder
- 1 pineapple, peeled and cored, sliced into ½" thick rings (or use an already cored & sliced pineapple from the store)
Instructions
- Heat grill to medium to medium-high. Clean the grates well, then oil them well.
- In a small bowl, combine lime juice, olive oil, honey, cinnamon, and chili powder.
- Place pineapple rings on a rimmed sheet pan and brush lime juice mixture over both sides of all pineapple rings.
- Place pineapple rings on grill grates and cook 3-4 minutes per side, or until beautiful char marks form. For crisp char marks, do not flip or move the pineapple until char marks have developed.
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