Grilled Pineapple

This easy Grilled Brown Sugar Pineapple is one of the best things to make on the grill. It comes out sweet with deliciously charred grill marks and can be used in so many ways.

My family loves grilled pineapple with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and coconut sorbet or chopped up in grilled pineapple salsa for fish tacos! It's an easy way to jazz up regular pineapple and is perfect as a sweet side to grilled meats, tacos, burgers, and more.

How to choose a pineapple?

If you want to make really delicious grilled pineapple, it all starts by choosing a ripe, delicious pineapple. If it is too green, it will lack sweetness, and if it is too ripe, it will taste fermented. Here's what to look for:

• Leaves: They should be bright green and healthy. Make sure they aren't shriveled or brown.
• Color: It should be a greenish-yellow in color, with some bright yellow peeking through. If it is really green, it's not ready yet. If it is beginning to turn brown, it's too ripe.
• Squeeze: Give the pineapple a gentle squeeze. It should have just a little give but on the firm side. It shouldn't be soft or mushy.
• Bottom: It should be more yellow and should smell sweet and fresh. If it smells overly sweet, it's too ripe. Also, if the base is browned or at all squishy, it's too ripe.

How to Grill Pineapple

Cut the pineapple into rings or half circles. You can remove the core or simply eat around it. Then, brush the pineapple with brown sugar and let it rest for 10 minutes. This helps bring out the sweetness of the pineapple and also helps it caramelize on the grill.

Make sure your grill is clean, and lightly oil the grates. Place the pineapple directly on the grates and cook for 2-4 minutes per side until nice grill marks have formed and the pineapple starts to brown and caramelize. Flip and repeat.

Pro tip: No grill? Use a grill pan instead!

Cutting a Pineapple for Grilling

Cut off the top and bottom of the pineapple so that it stands easily on a cutting board. Then, simply slice down around the edges to remove the outer skin. I took an extra step to make the pineapple pretty for the photos, but a simple straight cut works great.

Then you have two options. If you want pineapple rounds, you will need to use a pineapple corer. If you eat a lot of pineapples, these are definitely worth the money since they make cutting a pineapple incredibly easy.

The second option is to cut the pineapple in half. Then, use a sharp knife to cut out the core. Basically, you are cutting a long triangle out of each half. Then, cut it into slices.

Recipe and Seasoning Ideas

• Make it spicy: If you love sweet and spicy, add a pinch of cayenne pepper, Tajin, or chili powder to the pineapple before putting it on the grill.
• Add rum: Adults may enjoy soaking the pineapple in coconut rum before placing them on the grill. They only need about 10 minutes in some rum to soak up the flavor, and you can still use the pineapple-infused rum after for a cocktail. For a more subtle flavor, just brush the pineapple with the rum.
• Add curry: For a savory application, consider sprinkling the pineapple with some curry powder. The earthy, savory notes of the curry powder are really good with pineapple.
• Asian flavors: If you plan on using these pineapples alongside an Asian-inspired dish, consider drizzling the pineapples with a bit of soy sauce before placing them on the grill. Sriracha is great as well. Then sprinkle with sesame seeds when they come off the grill.
• BBQ: For a classic barbecue feel, brush the pineapple slices with barbecue sauce. You can leave out the brown sugar or use less since barbecue sauce already contains sugar.
• Add spices: Sprinkle a little cinnamon or nutmeg over the grilled pineapple for a bit of warmth.

Serving Ideas

There are so many different ways to serve these grilled pineapple slices, from sweet options to savory options and everything in between. These will become a summer staple and something you crave all year long.

• Dessert: These make an amazing dessert on their own, but you can take it up a notch with yogurt or ice cream. Consider classic vanilla, coconut, ginger, or any rum-inspired flavors.
• Side dish: Serve these on their own as a side dish with savory grilled dishes like Spicy Barbecue Chicken Thighs, Grilled Pork Chops, and Spicy Grilled Shrimp.
• Salsa: Turn this into the most amazing Grilled Pineapple Salsa by chopping the grilled pineapple and adding red onion, cilantro, jalapenos, tomatoes, and lime juice. Serve it on grilled meats, in Shrimp Tacos, or with Baked Tortilla Chips.
• Salad: Make this a delicious salad with peppery greens like arugula, goat cheese, cucumbers, green onions, and vinaigrette. It also makes a delicious Pineapple Coconut Coleslaw.
• Topping: This is the most amazing topping for Cowboy Turkey Burgers and Grilled Hawaiian Chicken Sandwiches. I also love adding chunks of grilled pineapple to these Pepperoni, Pineapple, and Jalapeno Pizzas!
• Asian-inspired: If you are lucky enough to have leftovers, use them in some Chicken and Pineapple Fried Rice or Pineapple Chicken Stir Fry.

Storage and Reheating

Here's how to store, reheat, and use leftover grilled pineapple:

• Storage: Grilled pineapple will last in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Reheating: Reheat leftover grilled pineapple in a skillet over medium heat for the best texture.
• Leftovers: Enjoy leftovers for dessert in a yogurt bowl, make salsa, or reheat and serve it with your favorite main dishes.