Best Pineapple Salsa

Our Best Pineapple Salsa is sweet and hot and perfect with chips or as a condiment for meat. This fruit salsa recipe comes together in minutes and is also delicious served with your favorite South of the Border or Tex-Mex recipes!

Ingredients for Pineapple Salsa

Pineapple is the star of this recipe, bringing a sweet, juicy, and citrusy flavor.

Orange and red bell pepper for crunch, color, and a bit of sweet.

Jalapeños for heat and flavor – add as much or as little as you like.

Red onion for a crisp crunch and a mild bite that balances the pineapple’s sweetness.

Cilantro for that authentic salsa flavor – brings all the flavors together. 

Lime juice and orange juice for added citrus flavor.

Sugar and salt brighten and bring out the flavor of the other ingredients.

Pineapple Salsa – Step by Step

1. Chop or finely dice pineapple, bell pepper, onion, jalapeño, and cilantro.
2. Juice a fresh orange and lemon.
3. Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl. 
4. Serve at room temperature.

Pineapple Salsa Variations

Swap half the pineapple for mango or peach for an even sweeter, more tropical flavor.

Add diced avocado for a creamy texture and a more mellow salsa.

Grill the pineapple before chopping to add a warm, smoky flavor.

Tips for finding a ripe pineapple 

Smell the bottom of the pineapple. It should smell sweet and fruity.

Look for a more yellow outer skin – not green.

If a leaf pulls out of the crown, it’s ripe.

Check the “eyes” (the hexagon-shaped skin with a “spike” in the middle). The eyes and the spike should lay flat and not poke out. 

How to ripen a pineapple faster

Place your pineapple next to bananas or apples in a fruit bowl or in a brown paper bag. These fruits release ethylene gas that speeds up ripening. 

Sweet pineapple tip

Before cutting the pineapple, twist off the leaves and turn it upside down on the counter for about 30 minutes. As the pineapple ripens, the sugars settle at the bottom. Turning the pineapple upside down will more evenly distribute the sugars throughout the pineapple. 

tips for making pineapple salsa

Ensure you have a ripe pineapple.

Turn pineapple upside down for 30 minutes before cutting.

Adjust the heat by adding jalapeños one at a time. To reduce the heat, remove jalapeño seeds before mincing and discard. For added heat, chop jalapeño and include seeds in the salsa. 

If the onion flavor is too strong, soak onion slices in ice cold water for 30 minutes to keep the crisp texture and reduce the sharp flavor. When ready to use, drain, blot dry, and chop. 

How to cut a pineapple

Use a long, sharp, narrow kitchen knife. 

Cut off the leaves about 1/2 inch under the base of the leaves. 

Cut off the base of the pineapple. 

Stand the pineapple on a cutting board and slice off the skin, turning as you go. 

Make four lengthwise cuts, cutting around the core of the pineapple. Discard core. 

Cut pineapple into desired size. 

Best Pineapple Salsa complements so many South of the Border or Tex-Mex recipes. Here are a few we love: Ground Beef Enchiladas, Family Favorite Chicken Enchiladas, and 35 Mexican Recipes Your Family will Love! Other salsa recipes at ABK include 10 Minute Restaurant-Style Salsa and Cowboy Salsa.