Pineapple Salsa

Move over, tomatoes! This fresh, easy pineapple salsa recipe adds the perfect sweet & spicy finish to tacos, salads, burritos, and more.

Pineapple Salsa in a bowl

When I moved to Austin, I discovered how fantastic fresh salsa could be. Whether made with tomatoes, tomatillos, chiles, or fruit, fresh salsas were always tangier, juicier, and more flavorful than their jarred counterparts. Of course, it wasn’t long before I started making my own at home, and this easy pineapple salsa recipe is one of my favorites. With just 7 ingredients, it couldn’t be simpler to make. Delectably sweet, spicy & juicy, it’s the perfect topping for grilled veggies (or grilled meats, if you’re not vegetarian) and all sorts of Mexican-inspired dishes. I hope you love it as much as I do!

Pineapple Salsa Recipe Tips

Want to make the best pineapple salsa out there? Check out these tips before diving into the recipe!

  • Small pieces are your friends. Be sure to chop all the fruit and veggies in this recipe finely – it may seem time-consuming, but it has a huge payoff, as it really allows their flavors to mix & meld, and you get a little of everything in each bite.
  • Using leftover (or pre-cut) pineapple will save you time. This recipe calls for just 2 cups of pineapple, so it’s a great one to make when you have leftover pineapple in the fridge. If you don’t, buy pre-cut pineapple to make this recipe quick & easy. Or break down a whole pineapple and freeze the leftovers to make avocado smoothies for breakfast!
  • Make it to your taste! This recipe is fun & flexible, so make it how you like it! Add more jalapeño if you want it spicier or extra lime if it’s not tangy enough. Try adding red bell peppers for crunch, or stir some mango into the mix. Alternatively, check out my mango salsa, my peach salsa, or my kiwi salsa verde for more fruity salsa ideas!

Pineapple Salsa Recipe Ingredients

What to Serve with Pineapple Salsa

I first made pineapple salsa for these stuffed peppers, and I’ve been in love with it ever since. You can find it in the recipe for these nachos or this burrito bowl, but it would also be excellent with any of these dishes:

Even better, top it onto a DIY-burrito bowl with cilantro lime rice, veggies, black beans, and guacamole or serve it on its own with plenty of tortilla chips and margaritas to drink!

The salsa will keep well in the fridge for up to a week, so prep it ahead and top it onto salads, bowls, tacos, and more all week long!

Pineapple Salsa

If you love this pineapple salsa recipe…

Make sure to try my tomatillo salsa, pico de gallo, or cilantro lime dressing next!

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Pineapple Salsa

rate this recipe:
5 from 69 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Serves 4
Make this easy pineapple salsa for a fresh summer appetizer, or top it onto your favorite Mexican dishes for a sweet & spicy pop of flavor.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups diced fresh pineapple
  • ¼ cup diced red onion
  • ½ jalapeno, diced
  • Juice and zest of lime
  • ½ cup cilantro
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • tortilla chips, for serving

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, combine the pineapple, red onion, jalapeño, lime juice and zest, cilantro, garlic, and sea salt. Season to taste and chill until ready to use.

 

22 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Mel
    12.03.2023

    5 stars
    Crowd favourite. I have made this a few times now and it is a winner each time

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      12.05.2023

      I’m so glad it’s been a hit!

  2. Gary LaBelle
    08.04.2023

    Is there a good substitute for the cilantro, or can I just leave it out? A couple of us are not cilantro fans…

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      08.04.2023

      Hi Gary, you can skip it, or for a different flavor profile, you could substitute fresh basil. Hope you enjoy!

  3. Carla @ Foodie Digital
    12.06.2022

    5 stars
    I recently made this salsa to top Hawaiian poke bowls (made with salmon, rice and veggies). This recipe worked very well on the bowls and everyone was raving about the flavours. Leftovers were quickly scooped up with tortilla chips the next day.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      12.07.2022

      Hi Carla, I’m so glad it was a hit!

  4. Blonda
    07.28.2022

    5 stars
    I have made this recipe three times. Today it is for coconut shrimp tacos. It is fast and simple and soooo pretty-licious. My Costa Rican pineapple was a bit tart so I added some jalapeno simple syrup I keep on hand for margaritas. Is Taco Thursday a thing? Who cares .. I am celebrating.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      07.31.2022

      I’m so glad it’s become a favorite!

  5. Laurie
    06.21.2022

    Can this salsa be canned?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      06.22.2022

      Hi Laurie, no it’s meant to be fresh. I’d search specifically for a salsa recipe that works for canning, there would probably be some preserving ingredients added.

  6. BB
    06.13.2022

    5 stars
    I made 4 versions of this with varying heat levels of peppers and it all turned out awesome! The ratios of flavors in this recipe are perfect.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      06.18.2022

      I’m so glad you’ve loved it!

  7. Terri Lauderbaugh
    10.25.2021

    5 stars
    This salsa is fantastic. I made it to go with pork belly tacos. My husband said it’s the best salsa he’s ever tasted. Thank you for the recipe!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      10.25.2021

      I’m so glad you both loved it!

    • Sandy dieter
      05.18.2022

      5 stars
      Love pineapple salsa with grilled salmon!

  8. Marc
    10.07.2020

    5 stars
    This page is a must for all ages ! Many great taste and many recipes are easy-to-use with low prep time.
    Thank you

    • Hayley
      06.02.2023

      5 stars
      Can I make this the day before – I’ve made it before and loved it

      • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
        06.02.2023

        Yep! The salsa keeps well for several days in the fridge.

  9. Justin Hanger
    02.20.2020

    5 stars
    Your tips are amazing! IT is very helpful Article.

  10. Ada Orie
    07.18.2019

    Wow you have expanded my snacking list. I usually focus on guacamole but now I want to expand on salsa. I appreciate your variety of salsas. The small prep time is appealing. Thank you for being a resource to your readers.

  11. 5 stars
    Sounds yum. I’d replace the cilantro with mint though.

  12. Nabeela from nabeelaskitchen.blogspot.com
    07.05.2019

    What excellent use of pineapple!

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Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.