The Perfect Pineapple Salsa That’ll Wow Every BBQ Guest

Bright, flavorful pineapple salsa made with fresh ingredients your family will love. Try this easy summer favorite for your next gathering!

There’s something about summer that calls for fresh, vibrant flavors right?! Between our two families and all nine of our kids running around, we’re always looking for something easy and always crowd-pleasing. That why we love this pineapple salsa recipe. It really does check every box. It’s sweet with just the right kick, and it comes together so quickly you’ll wonder why you ever bought the jarred stuff.

The first time we made this, it was a total accident. We had leftover pineapple from a snack tray, half a red onion, and one lonely jalapeño in the fridge. We tossed it all together with lime juice and cilantro, and just like that, a summer favorite was born. Now, it’s our go-to dish for poolside snacks, taco nights, and potlucks. Let’s get to it!

Why Pineapple Salsa is a Summer MVP

We’re obsessed with this pineapple salsa because it is the perfect combination of sweet pineapple and jalapeno heat, which is such a great balance of flavors. It also keeps things interesting when you’re looking for something more fun than the basic tomato salsa to add to your meal. Not only is it delicious, but it’s also perfect for us moms who are always short on time because there is no cooking required, just chop, mix, and chill.

We also love to bring this as our contribution for parties or family dinners too because the items you need are always perfectly ripe and ready during the summer months. You can pair it with tortilla chips, tacos, grilled meats, burgers, or even salads. This is the summer MVP for sure.

Tips to Get the Most Flavor from Your Salsa

We highly recommend using fresh, ripe pineapples for your salsa. You’ll want to look for a golden color and when pressed, it will give slightly. Of course, canned works if you’re in a pinch, but fresh just gives better texture and taste. You’ll also want to balance the ingredients by dicing everything around the same size so it blends easier together and every bit can have the pineapple, onion, and pepper flavors all together. And then make sure you leave about 30-60 minutes for the salsa to chill and let the flavors blend together to make the best flavor.

Make it Your Own

Depending on your affinity for spice, you could adjust the spiciness up or down. If you’re looking for more heat, add a Serrano pepper or some crushed red pepper. If you’re sharing this with littles who might not take to the heat as much, you can use mild bell peppers instead.

Another way to make it your own is to try fun add-ins like diced mango or peaches for extra sweetness. If you’re an avocado lover like we are, you can add in some avocados to make it more creamy. And if you want it to be a little thicker, adding in black beans or corn will make it more substantial and add in some more texture. You can always adjust the acidity too by adding more or less lime juice too.

Make-Ahead & Storage Tips

Let’s talk about some frequently asked questions to make sure your salsa turns out just right.

1. How far ahead can you make pineapple salsa?
   We recommend storing your salsa in an airtight container in the fridge to make sure it stays fresh regardless of when you make it, but you can get away with making this up to 2 days in advance and still have the best flavor.
   
2. Can it be frozen?
   We don’t recommend freezing it because the texture of the pinapples and onions will change too much after it thaws out.
   
3. What can I do with the leftovers?
   You can stir into rice or quinoa bowls, use it as a topping for grilled cheese or wraps, or even spoon it over eggs for breakfast. It’s so good you’ll definitely want it the next day too.

Pineapple Salsa Making Must Haves

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Here are our favorite tools to make this process even easier than it already is.

1. Easy Kitchen Tool Stainless Steel Fruit Pineapple Peeler Corer Slicer Cutter – Peel, core, and slice pineapples in seconds with this easy-to-use tool.
2. Vegetable Chopper – Chop, dice, and slice your veggies faster and safer with this all-in-one kitchen gadget.
3. Spring Chef Stainless Steel Magnetic Measuring Spoons Set – Magnetic measuring spoons that stay neatly stacked and are double-sided for dry or liquid ingredients.
4. Kitchen Metal 2-in-1 Lemon Squeezer – Get every last drop of juice with this heavy-duty, ergonomic citrus squeezer.
5. Nesting Plastic Mixing Bowl Set with Pour Spouts and Handles – Colorful, space-saving mixing bowls with pour spouts and handles for easier meal prep.
6. Food Grade Silicone Rubber Spatula Set – Heat-resistant silicone spatulas that are perfect for baking, cooking, and scraping every last bit.

The Pineapple Salsa Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 Cups finely diced Pineapple
• 1/3 cup minced Red Onion
• 1 Red Bell Pepper cored, seeded and finely
• diced
• 1 large Jalapeno seeds and ribs removed,
  then minced
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• salt to taste

Directions

1. Place pineapple, red onion, jalapeno, bell pepper and cilantro in a bowl.
2. Stir in the lime juice and salt;
3. Eat immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day before serving. We like eating it cold when all the flavors are mixed.
4. Serve!

What would you pair this pineapple salsa with first? Tacos? Chips? Something off the grill? We’d love to hear how you’d serve it… or if your kids sneak it straight from the bowl like ours do. This salsa is one of those little wins that feels like a summer celebration every time. It’s fresh, flavorful, and made for sharing. Don’t forget to stock up on the essentials we linked above to make prep easier. Let us know in the comments what your favorite salsa twist is!

If you enjoyed these ideas, make sure to pin the image below to reference later!