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Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Side Dishes

Easy Pineapple Salsa

May 24, 2022 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 56 Comments

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Diet: Gluten Free / Low Fat / Vegan
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Pineapple salsa with a text title overlay.

This easy and fresh Pineapple Salsa recipe goes great with fish, chicken, tacos and tortilla chips and it a must at a summer BBQ! A zesty and light, chunky salsa that can liven up any meal and it's colourful, a little sweet and a little spicy. Ready in just 10 minutes with a few ingredients, it's an easy way to make Mexican night a little more exciting.

A pineapple sliced in half and filled with salsa. Tortilla chips are scattered around.

Pineapple salsa might sound a little bit crazy, but trust us on this. The sweetness of the pineapple combined with the chilli and chunky vegetables just works.

You would use tomatoes usually, and they are a fruit too don't forget. It's a fantastic side dish at a BBQ and so easy to make, as you just mix it all up in a bowl. Any time we buy pineapple, we make a batch of this!

If you are looking for other ways to use pineapple, then we have an amazing Honey Grilled Pineapple or we caramelise it and use it on top of our Coconut Rice Pudding.

Pineapple also makes up part of our Immune Booster Juice. As well as desserts, like our Pineapple Ice Lollies, pineapple works really well with savoury dishes. Why not put it on a pizza? (Controversial, I know!) Or use it in a sweet and sour dish, like our Sweet and Sour King Prawns?

Jump to:
  • Why You Will Love It
  • Ingredients and Substitutions
  • Variations
  • How to Make Pineapple Salsa - Step by Step
  • How to Choose a Pineapple
  • Top Tip
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storage
  • Extra Tips
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Salsa Recipes
  • Recipe
  • Feedback

Why You Will Love It

  • A really fun way to serve salsa - Salsa is a must with any kind of Mexican meal and this is a great way to change things up and make it a bit more exciting.
  • Quick and easy to make - This takes less than 10 minutes to make, and all you need to do it chop up the ingredients. Easy!
  • Easy to adapt with different ingredients - Use this recipe as a base and then adapt it with different vegetables to bulk it out.
  • Make it as spicy or mild as you want - This is adaptable when it comes to the spice levels too.

Ingredients and Substitutions

All the ingredients needed for this recipe with text overlay labels.

A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

  • Pineapple - The star of the show and it gives such an amazing sweet salsa. We have given all the tips below on how to choose the best pineapple too.
  • Red bell pepper - We used a red pepper, because it is the sweetest making it perfect for salsa. However, you could use a yellow, orange or green pepper instead.
  • Red onion - This is sweeter than a brown onion and adds lots of colour. You could swap it for diced shallots if you prefer.
  • Lime - This adds some extra freshness and zest. You can use lime zest too if you want a more intense lime flavour.
  • Coriander (cilantro) - It's not a Mexican dish without in in my opinion. It helps to lighten the salsa up too.
  • Jalapenos - This is where the spice comes from. We used jarred pickled jalapenos, but you could use fresh if you prefer. Feel free to adjust the amount depending on how spicy you want your salsa.
  • Salt and pepper - Season to taste.

Variations

This recipe used bell peppers, red onion, tomatoes and jalapenos, which is pretty much a standard base for salsa. You could also add some corn, chopped cucumber or some diced courgette (zucchini). You could add some diced celery or even small florets of raw broccoli for a nice crunch. And of course, diced avocado always works well in a salsa,

To really bring out the sweetness of the pineapple, try grilling it before dicing it. Put the strips of pineapple under the grill (broiler) for 3 minutes each side. Or you can cook on a BBQ grill for 3 minutes each side. Once cooked, cut them into chunks and mix with the other ingredients.

How to Make Pineapple Salsa - Step by Step

A pineapple sliced in half lengthways.
  1. Step 1: Using a large, sharp knife cut the pineapple in half, length ways. A good knife is important for this and we highly recommend the Robert Welch Chef's Knife.
  1. Step 2: Using a smaller sharp knife, cut along the spine and the inside of the skin, to remove the flesh.
A half pineapple completely scooped out.
  1. Step 3: Cut out the spine and discard.
A mixing bowl containing pineapple chunks, chopped bell pepper and red.onion and chopped herbs.
  1. Step 4: Chop the pineapple into chunks and mix with the other ingredients.
A pineapple half filled with salsa.
  1. Step 5: Fill the pineapple halves with the salsa and serve.

How to Choose a Pineapple

You want to make sure that you pick a pineapple that is ripe and ready to eat. Although cooking it will help to bring out the flavours, it will still struggle if it isn’t ripe.

You want to look out for a pineapple that is a vibrant gold colour. A dull green means that it isn’t ripe yet and a red/brown colour with wrinkled skin means that it is past its best.

When you are picking your pineapple, give it a little squeeze and it should give slightly. If it is rock hard, then it isn’t ripe and a pineapple that feels mushy is on its way out. Also, a nicely ripe pineapple with have a lovely sweet smell, rather than a fermented smell of an off pineapple.

Top Tip

Try to dice the pineapple as small as possible, because it will make it easier to pick up the salsa with a tortilla chip.

A salsa made up of pineapple, red onion, red bell pepper and chopped herbs.

Serving Suggestions

You might be wondering what goes with pineapple salsa? Well, tortilla Chip are a must! Just grab a chip, dive into the salsa and scoop a big pile! Why not try making your own with our Baked Tortilla Chips or Air Fryer Tortilla Chips.

This salsa is a great accompaniment to so many dishes. Serve it with any of your favourite Mexican dishes for a simple, fresh side dish. You could top grilled chicken or fish with it or put it on top of scrambled eggs for quick and tasty breakfast or lunch.

We love it with Fish Tacos, or any kind of burrito or quesadilla. Have you tried our Vegan Burrito Bowl?

Storage

Store: This salsa can be stored in the fridge in air-tight container for up to a 5 days. The flavours will intensify after a couple of days.

Freeze: If you want to freeze it, put it into an air-tight container and store in the freezer, where it will be good for 2 months. Keep in mind that the texture of the pineapple will change after it has been frozen and defrosted though.

Defrost: Defrost in the fridge and make sure it it fully defrosted before serving.

Extra Tips

  • Swap the vegetables to things like corn, celery, courgette (zucchini) or avocado.
  • Store in the fridge for a week or in the freezer for two months.
  • This is really good with grilled pineapple, as it brings out the sweetness.
  • You can use canned pineapple instead of fresh, but fresh is always best. Using canned means that this can be enjoyed all year round.
A pineapple boat filled with salsa, surrounded by chopped herbs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is pineapple salsa spicy?

This is a fresh, sweet and slightly spicy salsa. There is a little pickles jalapeno in this to give it a kick of heat, however you could use less if you don't like spice, or you could add more if you love it.

Can you use canned pineapple?

We used fresh pineapple as it's really cheap in the summer and so juicy. However, in a pinch you could use canned pineapple. Use a can of pineapple chunks and follow the recipe as normal.

Can you make pineapple salsa ahead of time?

Yes, and we would recommend this as it really allows all the flavours to come together.

Can I make pineapple salsa in a blender?

No, we wouldn't recommend making pineapple salsa in a blender like you can with other salsas. This one is meant to be chunky.

More Salsa Recipes

  • Salsa picante in a round bowl.
    Salsa Picante
  • Restaurant style salsa in a bowl with some tortilla chips.
    Restaurant Style Salsa
  • Sweetcorn salsa in an oval serving dish.
    Sweetcorn Salsa
  • A blue bowl of mango salsa with two tortilla chips stuck in it.
    Mango Salsa

If you’ve tried this pineapple salsa recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

Recipe

A halved and hollowed out pineapple fulled with salsa.

Easy Pineapple Salsa

By: Dannii Martin
This easy Pineapple Salsa is a must at a summer BBQ! A zesty and light, chunky salsa that's colourful, a little sweet and a little spicy.
A circular logo saying GF.
Gluten Free
the words low fat in a white circle.
Low Fat
An illustration of a v-shaped plant in a pot.
Vegan
5 from 44 votes
Pin Print Save recipe Saved!
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep: 5 minutes mins
Total: 5 minutes mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 96kcal
Allergens:
No Common Allergens

Ingredients

  • 1 Pineapple - halved, flesh removed and diced
  • 1 Red bell pepper - diced
  • 1 Red onion - diced
  • 1 Lime - (juice only)
  • 15 g (1 cups) Fresh coriander (cilantro) - finely chopped
  • 4 tablespoon Pickled jalapenos
  • 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Slice 1 Pineapple in half length-ways and scoop out the flesh.
  • Chop the pineapple into chunks and mix with the other ingredients.
  • Fill the pineapple halves with the salsa and serve.

Recipe Tips

  • Swap the veg to things like corn, celery, courgette (zucchini) or avocado.
  • Store in the fridge for a week or in the freezer for two months.
  • This is really good with grilled pineapple.
  • You can use canned pineapple instead of fresh.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 96kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 125mg | Potassium: 416mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 1503IU | Vitamin C: 112mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.

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Comments

  1. Catstello says

    April 18, 2016 at 1:04 pm

    5 stars
    Your recipes always look so great! I really need to start cooking more.

    Reply
  2. Rebecca says

    April 18, 2016 at 12:40 pm

    5 stars
    Omg this looks delicious. I am definitely going to make this after a quick stop at Tesco for some pineapple!

    Reply
  3. Harriet Emily says

    April 17, 2016 at 10:58 pm

    5 stars
    I love salsa!! It's so refreshing and delicious. This recipe is beautiful Dannii! I love the addition of grilled pineapple. Such a great idea! Yum!

    Reply
  4. marcie says

    April 17, 2016 at 10:32 pm

    I LOVE salsa, and one of my favorites is pineapple! I've never grilled it however, and I definitely need to try that!

    Reply
  5. Emily Rose says

    April 17, 2016 at 12:59 pm

    5 stars
    This sounds so good! I'm a massive fan of pineapple and salsa so it's definitely one for me to try!

    Reply
  6. Charlotte says

    April 16, 2016 at 8:09 pm

    This sounds lovely! I would have never thought about putting pineapple in salsa! x

    Reply
  7. Alida @My Little Italian Kitchen says

    April 16, 2016 at 5:54 pm

    I do love salsa and pineapples too! Very inventive recipe. I love the grilled taste too.

    Reply
  8. nicol says

    April 16, 2016 at 2:59 pm

    5 stars
    this looks amazing. ive never been much of a salsa fan but i do like the sound of pineapple

    Reply
  9. Jessica says

    April 16, 2016 at 12:30 pm

    5 stars
    Salsa never went wrong with my taste. I would love to try this recipe!

    Reply
  10. Rebecca Smith says

    April 16, 2016 at 12:12 pm

    I might have to make this for my other half, he adores pineapple! I would have never thought to have made this!

    Reply
  11. Charli Bruce says

    April 16, 2016 at 9:58 am

    This sounds absolutely delicious, I would have never thought to put pineapple in a salsa like this!

    Reply
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