Fresh, sweet, and colorful Pineapple Salsa is the talk of every party. Scoop it up with tortilla chips or sprinkle it over Grilled Chicken, tacos, or Blackened Salmon.

Pineapple Salsa: the recipe that started it all
Jackie took me to Bobby Flay's restaurant, Mesa Grill, for the first birthday I spent with her. Sadly, the New York location has since closed. But it was a beautiful restaurant, and we had a table on the second level overlooking the dining room and kitchen. I ordered chargrilled chicken breast topped with pineapple salsa. It was served with a cornbread stuffing, in a corn husk steamed to perfection. The dinner ended with a decadent chocolate bread pudding. The whole evening was amazing.
Jump to:
For weeks we talked about that pineapple salsa. We both craved it. It inspired me to create my own version. I did it, she loved it, and Superman Cooks was born.
This recipe is near and dear to us because of this memory, but also because it tastes so darn good! It only takes 6 ingredients, and it's great for dipping, or as a topping for Grilled Chicken, Fish Tacos, and Black Bean Quesadillas.

Ingredients
- PINEAPPLE: fresh pineapple makes the best salsa. Do not used canned pineapple or frozen pineapple.
- GARLIC: fresh garlic cloves, minced
- CILANTRO: fresh cilantro, chopped
- RED PEPPER: fresh red bell pepper, finely chopped
- LIME: room temperature lime (for juicing)
- SALT: we like Kosher salt or sea salt
*see recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Slice pineapple into quarters, removing core and skin. Dice into ½" pieces. Place in mixing bowl.
- Chop fresh cilantro and red pepper. Add to pineapple.
- Mince garlic and add to pineapple mixture.
- Roll lime on cutting board to prepare for juicing.
- Slice lime in half. Squeeze lime juice into pineapple mixture.
- Add kosher salt.
- Enjoy immediately or refrigerate for up to two days.

Top tip
When you make this salsa you may have leftover pineapple. Place pineapple spears or slices on the grill over low heat. Grilling pineapple releases all the juiciness in the fruit.
Variations
- ADD TOMATOES: add a ½ cup of fresh, diced tomatoes to give this recipe a hint of traditional salsa flavor.
- ADD SOME HEAT: add some finely diced jalapeños (1 pepper, finely diced) to give this some spice.
- PEACH SALSA: our Peach Salsa recipe substitutes fresh chopped peaches for pineapple and adds a kick of jalapeño .
Serving suggestions
- CHIPS AND SALSA: serve with crunchy tortilla chips. Don't forget the Pink Pomegranate Margaritas!
- TACOS & QUESADILLAS: we love Pineapple Salsa on layered into Black Bean Quesadillas or sprinkled over Short Rib Tacos.
- CHICKEN: a generous spoonful of Pineapple Salsa over Grilled Chicken adds a sweet pop of flavor (see photo). Don't forget the Cilantro Lime Rice!
- BURGERS & SANDWICHES: we love a Turkey Burger or Pulled Pork Sandwich topped with Pineapple Salsa!

Storage
STORE salsa in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Do not Freeze.
FAQ
Yes! In fact this salsa tastes better after it has been refrigerated for at least 30 minutes. This gives the flavors time to combine and marinate.
Pineapple salsa can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.
Unfortunately no. Canned pineapple is to watery and will not make good salsa.
Related recipes
🍅 Making this recipe?
- Please feel free to reach out with questions. We're happy to help.
- If you enjoyed it, please leave us a comment with ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pineapple Salsa recipe
Fresh, sweet, and colorful Pineapple Salsa is the talk of every party. Scoop it up with tortilla chips or sprinkle it over grilled chicken.
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
- ½ fresh pineapple
- 2 cloves of garlic
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro
- ¼ cup fresh red pepper
- 1 lime (at room temperature)
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
Instructions
- Slice pineapple into quarters, removing core and skin. Dice into ½" pieces. Place in mixing bowl.
- Chop fresh cilantro and red pepper. Add to pineapple.
- Mince garlic and add to pineapple mixture.
- Roll lime on cutting board to prepare for juicing.
- Slice lime in half. Squeeze juice into pineapple mixture.
- Add kosher salt.
- Enjoy immediately or refrigerate for up to two days.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Category: Side Dish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ½ C
- Calories: 56
- Sugar: 8.6 g
- Sodium: 209.2 mg
- Fat: 0.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 13.8 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: salsa, pineapple, appetizer, party, topping, chicken, pork, Mexican, cilantro, dip,
Leave a Reply