Easy Pineapple Salsa Recipe - Savory Nothings (2024)

20 minutes mins

| 12 Comments |

5 from 15 votes

Jump to Recipe | Updated: | by Nora

This easy Pineapple Salsa is the perfect healthy dip for chips, or serve it as a topping for grilled chicken or fish.

Easy Pineapple Salsa Recipe - Savory Nothings (1)

We love nothing more than making a meal out of chips and dip during the hot summer months. But since that’s kind of… not the healthiest, I like to at least make sure one of our dips is filled with fruit and veggies.

This pineapple salsa is an absolute favorite – and so easy to make, it is an absolute staple for us during hot days!

Jump to:
  • Ingredients you’ll need
  • How to make Pineapple Salsa
  • Recipe tips
  • Serving ideas
  • Printable recipe
  • More easy dips and salsas
  • Comments

Ingredients you’ll need

Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities!

Easy Pineapple Salsa Recipe - Savory Nothings (2)

Ingredient notes

  • Pineapple: I love using fresh, but canned pineapple in juice works very well, too.
  • Sweet peppers: If you don’t like green pepper, feel free to use two red instead. I would recommend adding a chopped green onion as well if you’re skipping the green pepper, just to get some of that sharper taste in there. Otherwise, I find the salsa a little too sweet.
  • Cilantro: If you’re not a fan of cilantro, feel free to use chopped parsley instead.
  • Lime juice: I use fresh lime juice because it helps keep the pineapple from browning better than bottled. Feel free to use bottled, but I would recommend you eat the salsa right away.
  • Honey: I prefer using a mild, runny honey for this recipe. It mixes better into the dressing and doesn’t overwhelm the flavor of the other ingredients.
  • Add heat: Feel free to add some de-seeded, chopped Jalapeño or chilies to the salsa for heat.

How to make Pineapple Salsa

Once you have all of your ingredients prepped, add them to a bowl.

(I have instructions for how to cut a pineapple and how to cut a bell pepper in those separate posts, if you’re new to cooking.)

Then, whisk together the dressing ingredients in a small bowl or measuring jug.

  • Easy Pineapple Salsa Recipe - Savory Nothings (3)
  • Easy Pineapple Salsa Recipe - Savory Nothings (4)

Then pour over the dressing and immediately toss to evenly coat all of the ingredients and mix everything well.

  • Easy Pineapple Salsa Recipe - Savory Nothings (5)
  • Easy Pineapple Salsa Recipe - Savory Nothings (6)

If you want to present this in a pretty way to serve for a party or special event, I recommend hollowing out half of a pineapple and spooning the salsa inside to serve!

I usually use a new pineapple and carefully hollow it out with a sharp paring knife, then chop and freeze it for smoothies. That way I don’t need to worry about being overly careful with getting the pineapple out intact enough to dice for the salsa, and can just focus on keeping my pineapple boat looking great.

Easy Pineapple Salsa Recipe - Savory Nothings (7)

Recipe tips

  • You can dice your ingredients as chunky or as small as you like. I generally keep it chunky-style if I want to serve it as more of a side salad, and dice it finely if I want to serve it with chips as a dip. I took the photos for this salsa on two different days, the salsa in the pineapple is diced smaller and the salsa in the ingredient and step-by-step photos is cut chunkier.
  • Pineapple browns over time after it’s cut, so please do not skip the lime juice in the recipe. It helps to keep the pineapple looking fresh.
  • If you have picky eaters who will find a piece of onion the size of a breadcrumb, just serve chopped red onion on the side. Ask me how I know ?
  • You can make the salsa up to 24 hours ahead of time and keep it covered in the fridge. Keep in mind, it’s quite flavorful and your fridge will probably gather some smells while the salsa is in there.
Easy Pineapple Salsa Recipe - Savory Nothings (8)

Serving ideas

We love this as an appetizer or snack with chips. But it’s also a great topping for baked or grilled chicken or fish. We love it over Lemon Grilled Chicken, or Lemon Garlic Baked Cod!

And it’s also the perfect healthy side for my Coconut Oven Fried Chicken, or for Crispy Oven Fried Fish.

PSIf you try this recipe, please leavea review in the comment section and add a star rating in the recipe card – I appreciate your feedback! Follow along onPinterest,FacebookorInstagram.

Printable recipe

Printable Recipe Card

Easy Pineapple Salsa Recipe - Savory Nothings (9)

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Easy Pineapple Salsa

This easy Pineapple Salsa is the perfect heathy dip for chips, or serve it as a topping for grilled chicken or fish.

Recipe by Nora from Savory Nothings

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Recipe details

Prep 20 minutes mins

Total 20 minutes mins

Servings 6 servings

Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 1 small pineapple chopped (about 3 cups)
  • 1 small red pepper diced
  • 1 small green pepper diced
  • ½ red onion chopped
  • ¼ cup cilantro chopped
  • ¼ cup lime juice from about 1-2 medium-large limes
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Add pineapple, both peppers, red onio and cilantro to a medium bowl.

  • Whisk together lime juice, olive oil, honey, ground cumin and salt.

  • Pour dressing over salsa ingredients in bowl and toss well. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24h before serving.

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Notes

Ingredient notes

  • Pineapple: I love using fresh, but canned pineapple in juice works very well, too.
  • Sweet peppers: If you don’t like green pepper, feel free to use two red instead. I would recommend adding a chopped green onion as well if you’re skipping the green pepper, just to get some of that sharper taste in there. Otherwise, I find the salsa a little too sweet.
  • Cilantro: If you’re not a fan of cilantro, feel free to use chopped parsley instead.
  • Lime juice: I use fresh lime juice because it helps keep the pineapple from browning better than bottled. Feel free to use bottled, but I would recommend you eat the salsa right away.
  • Honey: I prefer using a mild, runny honey for this recipe. It mixes better into the dressing and doesn’t overwhelm the flavor of the other ingredients.
  • Add heat: Feel free to add some de-seeded, chopped Jalapeño or chilies to the salsa for heat.

Recipe tips

  • You can dice your ingredients as chunky or as small as you like. I generally keep it chunky-style if I want to serve it as more of a side salad, and dice it finely if I want to serve it with chips as a dip. I took the photos for this salsa on two different days, the salsa in the pineapple is diced smaller and the salsa in the ingredient and step-by-step photos is cut chunkier.
  • Pineapple browns over time after it’s cut, so please do not skip the lime juice in the recipe. It helps to keep the pineapple looking fresh.
  • If you have picky eaters who will find a piece of onion the size of a breadcrumb, just serve chopped red onion on the side. Ask me how I know ?
  • You can make the salsa up to 24 hours ahead of time and keep it covered in the fridge. Keep in mind, it’s quite flavorful and your fridge will probably gather some smells while the salsa is in there.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 117kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 1gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 198mgPotassium: 266mgFiber: 3gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 825IUVitamin C: 117.5mgCalcium: 27mgIron: 0.8mg

Nutrition is an estimate.

More recipe information

Suitable for: Gluten Free

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine: Mexican

Recipe first published on 06/20/2019. Updated with better text, step by step photos and better recipe directions on 04/10/2021.

More easy dips and salsas

  • Chunky Avocado Salsa
  • Avocado, Mango and Black Bean Salsa
  • 5 Minute Homemade Fresh Salsa
  • Easy Homemade Guacamole
  • Homemade Chipotle Mayo
  • Copycat Chick-Fil-A Sauce

Easy Pineapple Salsa Recipe - Savory Nothings (16)
About Nora
When I got married to my professional chef husband, I realized I had to step up my game in the kitchen. Now I share my favorite foolproof family recipes here on Savory Nothings: Chef-approved, kid-vetted and easy enough for everyday home cooks like you and me! Learn more.

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Comments

  1. Deborah says

    I am not a big fan of limes. (l know that may be strange!)
    So, could you sub lemon, orange, or even grapefruit for the lime in this Pineapple
    Salsa recipe?

    Reply

    • Nora says

      Yes Deborah, of course! I think orange in particular would be quite lovely in this recipe.

      Reply

  2. Mary says

    Easy Pineapple Salsa Recipe - Savory Nothings (19)
    This recipe is money! Served over shrimp and coconut rice, leftovers over salmon patties and with tortilla chips. Restaurant quality!

    Reply

    • Nora says

      I’m so glad, Mary!

      Reply

      • L says

        Easy Pineapple Salsa Recipe - Savory Nothings (20)
        So delicious! Will make it again and again!

        Reply

  3. Mary says

    This recipe is money. Perfect with shrimp, served leftover salsa with tortilla chips and over salmon patties.

    Reply

    • Nora says

      I’m so glad, Mary!

      Reply

  4. Docmike says

    Just like a restaurant would serve. Thank you.

    Reply

    • Nora says

      I’m so glad!

      Reply

  5. Stacey Sickinger says

    Easy Pineapple Salsa Recipe - Savory Nothings (21)
    Great over almond crusted halibut

    Reply

  6. Kathy Colwell says

    Ate this on Mexican food night with chips as an appetizer and then ate it over fresh grilled redfish in the half shell the next night. It was so easy and so very tasty. I added a little bit of chopped spicy peppers (Tabasco peppers from our garden) for a little kick.

    Reply

    • Nora Rusev says

      Your serving suggestions sound delicious, Kathy. Thanks for the inspiration!

      Reply

Easy Pineapple Salsa Recipe - Savory Nothings (2024)

FAQs

Easy Pineapple Salsa Recipe - Savory Nothings? ›

Add pineapple, both peppers, red onio and cilantro to a medium bowl. Whisk together lime juice, olive oil, honey, ground cumin and salt. Pour dressing over salsa ingredients in bowl and toss well.

What is pineapple salsa made of? ›

In a medium bowl, combine pineapple, red pepper, cilantro, red onion, jalapeño, garlic, and lime juice. Stir until well combined. Season with salt, to taste. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

What can I add to my salsa to make it taste better? ›

What can I add to salsa for more flavor?
  1. Lime or lemon for a zip of citrus.
  2. Cilantro for a pleasantly herbaceous tang.
  3. Onions because you know everything's better with onions.
  4. Roasted tomatoes, peppers, or garlic because roasting anything provides a smoky flavor that we love.
Jun 10, 2022

What is the key to good salsa? ›

How to Make Fresh, Homemade Salsa & Common Mistakes to Avoid
  • Don't Choose the Wrong Tomatoes. ...
  • Always De-Seed Your Tomatoes. ...
  • Do Let It Marinate. ...
  • Don't Forget the Acid. ...
  • Don't Be Afraid to Experiment. ...
  • Choose Your Chips Wisely. ...
  • Salt Yes, Pepper No. ...
  • Save the Dried Herbs for Your Soup.
May 22, 2018

What goes best with pineapple? ›

What Goes With Pineapple? Apricot, chilli, coconut, ginger, grapefruit, guava, kiwi, lychee, mango, orange, papaya, pear, persimmon, pomegranate, rambutan, strawberry, sweet potato. Basil, blue cheese, cinnamon, coriander, cottage cheese, macadamia, rosemary, sage. Caramel, crab, duck, tamarind, wild rice.

Why does Mexican restaurant salsa taste so good? ›

A unique blend of fresh tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and lime juice contributes to the vibrant, lively taste of restaurant-style salsa.

What compound gives pineapple its flavor? ›

It has been reported that esters were the most abundant pineapple volatiles, in particular, ethyl hexanoate and methyl hexanoate which have the highest contribution to the pineapple aroma [21].

How do you make salsa not bland? ›

Citrus Juice: Adding a squeeze of citrus juice can brighten the flavors of salsa verde. Try incorporating freshly squeezed lime juice or a bit of lemon ju.

Why put cumin in salsa? ›

Cumin – Its earthy flavor adds complexity to the zesty sauce. Sugar – Just a pinch! It really brings this recipe together, taming the sharp, acidic flavors of the other ingredients. Salt – To make all the flavors pop!

How do you take the bitterness out of homemade salsa? ›

If the problem is just a little bitterness on the tongue, salt is usually the best foil. If you can find out where the bitterness came from by sampling other pieces of your raw ingredients, you can try upping the ratio of other ingredients to temper it.

Should you use yellow or red onions in salsa? ›

The great thing about homemade salsa is you can make it just how you like it! White onion – you can also use a yellow or red onion, but white onion is what is traditionally used to make salsa.

How do you thicken up salsa? ›

Fortunately, there's an easy way to thicken this kind of salsa to your exact liking: tomato paste. A tablespoon or two could be just what you need to tighten up your sauce but do keep in mind that not all salsas are the same.

Why is my salsa bland? ›

Using the wrong amount of salt

Add too much salt to your salsa and it's all you can taste. Add too little and the veggies and herbs can come across as a little bland.

What not to mix with pineapple? ›

07/8Pineapple and milk

A compound bromelain in pineapple when mixed with milk causes a series of problems to your body such as stomach gas, nausea, infections, headache, and stomach pain.

What brings out the flavor of pineapple? ›

A little bit of salt brings out the sweetness in foods. Not only pineapple, but candies and baked goods benefit from this quality.

When not to use pineapple? ›

Some people are allergic to pineapple, which can cause a rash, hives, or breathing difficulties. Avoid pineapple juice if you experience these symptoms when eating pineapple. High amounts of vitamin C can cause nausea, diarrhea, or heartburn.

What is salsa usually made of? ›

Salsa roja or “red salsa” usually includes cooked red tomatoes, onions, and chili peppers. Pico de gallo is a popular form of uncooked salsa made from lime juice and coarsely chopped raw ingredients including tomatoes, onions, and cilantro leaves.

What is authentic Mexican salsa made of? ›

Take the stems off the peppers and throw away the stems. Place the peppers and seeds in the bender. Blend well. Next toss in the stewed tomatoes with juice, 1 jalepeno (sliced), 1/2 yellow onion (quarterd), 1 garlic clove, handful of cilantro, lemon juice, salt and pepper and blend til you have the consistancy desired.

Is pineapple used in Mexican food? ›

Pineapples bring a tropical twist to Mexican desserts with their natural sweetness and complement savory dishes with their caramelized, smoky notes when grilled or used in marinades. One of the most iconic Mexican desserts with fruit is the classic pineapple upside-down cake.

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