This easy pineapple salsa recipe is vibrant, festive and oh-so-delicious. It’s fabulous on so many of your favorite Tex Mex-inspired entrees, and it’s also perfect as a clean, wholesome dip with chips and veggies.
The citrus flavor and juicy sweet pineapple plays perfectly against the spicy addition of jalapeño for a flavor explosion you won’t be able to resist!
As you surely know by now, I love alllll the fiesta flavors. Give me a touch of spice in almost anything and I will crave it endlessly!
This pineapple salsa recipe is the most delicious combination of sweet and spicy flavors. It’s an explosion of flavor that is truly irresistible! Even better, it’s also fresh, healthy, colorful and so beautiful to serve.
It’s the perfect dip for parties because while it’s wildly flavorful, it’s also gluten, nut and dairy free, which means it can accommodate people with allergies.
Salsa is always the perfect addition to any game day or Cinco de Mayo gathering! Love salsa as much as we do? Don’t miss this incredible round-up of salsa recipes… there’s one for any occasion!
The flavors of cilantro and lime are perfectly matched. We use this combination often – you’ve got to try my cilantro lime baked chicken, fresh crema de cilantro, and this incredible cilantro lime vinaigrette for salads.
Let’s get this fiesta started!
Why You’ll Love this Pineapple Salsa
- Easy to Make
- Fresh Ingredients
- Wholesome and Nutritious
- Vegan
- Common Allergen Free (no dairy, gluten or nuts)
- Great as a Topping OR Dip
- Gorgeous to Serve
★★★★★
5 STAR REVIEW
“We just made this tonight and it was SO GOOD! Can’t wait to try it with the chorizo tacos next. Thank you!”
— SAM—
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Fresh Pineapple – yes, fresh is always best in this recipe. Canned pineapple just isn’t quite the same, but if that’s all you have access to, it will work in a pinch! Learn How to Cut a Pineapple here.
- Red Bell Pepper – a little crunchy, a little sweet, and a LOT of color to create a beautiful rainbow in this pineapple salsa!
- Red Onion – another colorful and fragrant, distinctive addition to this salsa. Don’t skip the onion, it’s an important part of any salsa recipe!
- Jalapeño – you might think you don’t like spice, but I promise that adding jalapeno to this recipe is perfection – the spicy flavor balances out the sweet and tangy pineapple perfectly.
- Cilantro – if you love fresh cilantro as much as we do, it’s a must here! However, I know some people have a huge aversion to this herb, so skip if you insist!
- Lime Juice – again, fresh is best here. If you don’t have any fresh limes on hand, though, feel free to add bottled lime juice instead.
Variations
- Replace the pineapple with another fruit – strawberries, mangos, cranberries etc.
- Switch the fresh red pepper with roasted red peppers instead, for even more texture.
Tools to Use
- Cutting Board
- Chef’s Knife
- Try a Pineapple Corer (It might just change your life!)
How to Make Pineapple Salsa
- Finely dice your ingredients – make sure to de-stem the cilantro and Jalapeño, removing the seeds.
- In a serving bowl, combine the pineapple, bell pepper, onion, cilantro, and jalapeño.
- Add freshly squeezed lime juice and stir to combine.
- Season to taste – you can add additional lime juice, a little salt and pepper, or even some of the pineapple juice for a sweeter flavor.
Tips
- Can’t chop pineapple? No time? Or maybe you don’t want to learn? Just buy the fresh cut pineapple at your local grocery. It’s more expensive, of course, but just as delicious and the work is done for you!
- Or, try the pineapple corer linked in the tool section above.
- Instead of red pepper, you can use orange or yellow. However, green bell peppers aren’t quite as sweet and I would choose a more colorful, sweet pepper here.
- While you can use your food processor for this fresh salsa, I don’t recommend it. The pineapple is so soft that it’s much better when diced. Yes, it will take some time – but it’s SO WORTH IT!
- Worried it’s too spicy for you? Cut back to less Jalapeño to suit your tastes.
Love pineapple everything? Don’t miss our pineapple simple syrup recipe!
Creating a Pineapple Bowl
Often, you’ll see tropical flavors like pineapple being served in a traditional pineapple boat for parties! This is such a fun, festive way to serve anything, as it really sets the mood and style of your event.
Instead of the classic pineapple boat where the stem and leaves remain, I kept things simple!
- I just sliced the pineapple in half across the center horizontally.
- You’ll simply score the pineapple across the center and then slice along the edges as you remove the juicy fruit inside!
This creates the most charming display piece and immediately lets your guests know what flavor to expect as they dip!
Serving Suggestions
In addition to being an incredible dip to serve with tortilla chips, this fresh fruit salsa recipe is a delicious topping for an assortment of protein entrees!
- Serve with Chorizo Tacos alongside this Crema de Cilantro.
- Keep it lean by serving with a classic baked or roasted protein. This baked chicken recipe is a moist and juicy option that is very neutral in flavor, so this salsa would be incredible on top!
- This pineapple salsa is the perfect addition to your favorite tacos! It would work beautifully with chicken, pork, fish and shrimp flavors.
- Add it to your favorite fresh salads for lunch! My cilantro lime dressing would be perfect in combination with this salsa on a fresh green salad. Throw in some chicken or black beans for extra fiber and protein, and you’ve got a killer light and healthy lunch!
Dietary Considerations
- Gluten Free
- Dairy Free
- Nut Free
- Vegan
How to Store
- Room Temperature – This salsa can sit out at room temperature for up to two hours, and should then be moved to the fridge.
- Refrigerator – This pineapple salsa is best when served fresh, but it will keep well in the fridge for up to three days. Cover tightly with plastic wrap or store in a sealed container.
- Freezer – Don’t freeze this fresh pineapple salsa, as it will change the texture and consistency.
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More Tex Mex Flavor
Pineapple Salsa
Ingredients
- 1 whole pineapple diced
- ½ red bell pepper seeded & diced
- 1 jalapeño seeded & diced
- ½ red onion diced
- ¼ cup cilantro chopped
- 1 lime juiced
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Finely dice your ingredients – make sure to de-stem the cilantro and Jalapeño, removing the seeds.
- Add fruit and vegetables in a large mixing bowl.
- Add lime juice and cilantro and toss.
Julie’s Tips
- Can’t chop pineapple? Just buy the fresh cut pineapple at your local grocery. It’s more expensive, of course, but just as delicious and the work is done for you!
- Instead of red pepper, you can use orange or yellow. However, green bell peppers aren’t quite as sweet and I would choose a more colorful, sweet pepper here.
- While you can use your food processor for this fresh salsa, I don’t recommend it. The pineapple is so soft that it’s much better when diced.
- Worried it’s too spicy for you? Cut back to less Jalapeño to suit your tastes.
- This pineapple salsa is best when served fresh, but it will keep well in the fridge for up to three days. Cover tightly with plastic wrap or store in a sealed container.
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
I would like to know if I could process this
I Rate this Recipe, “10”!… On a Scale from “1 – 10”!…
I just saw the answer in the recipe. Sorry!
I am making this for a party. Can you tell me about how many this recipe serves? It looks wonderful.
We just made this tonight and it was SO GOOD! Can’t wait to try it with the chorizo tacos next. Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed it! I can’t get enough of those fresh flavors!