16 Savory Pineapple Recipes for Bright, Speedy Meals
The sweet, juicy fruit takes on a new life in these main courses and side dishes.
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Whether you love pineapple upside-down cake or piña coladas, there's no denying that pineapple is a delicious, succulent fruit that instantly transports our taste buds to the tropics. While pineapple is normally thought of as an ingredient for sweet recipes such as smoothies, cocktails, and dessert, it also lends itself to so many creative savory recipes. We're introducing you to some inspiring ways to cook with pineapple and instantly upgrade your dinner routine in the process.
Start with our Hawaiian Turkey Burgers, seen here. Ground turkey burgers with savory flavors such as soy sauce and sesame oil are grilled, then topped with thick slices of charred pineapple. The combination of the sweet fruit with the salty, aromatic ingredients in the burgers is absolutely spectacular. We also have several taco and fajita recipes that use pineapple as a topping. The yellow fruit takes center stage in these Grilled Pork-and-Pineapple Tacos—pork tenderloin, sliced onion, and pineapple rings are each grilled and piled high into corn tortillas. Don't forget the classic toppings such as salsa, shredded cabbage, and cilantro. If you're craving seafood, take a bite out of our Spicy Shrimp Fajitas with Grilled Pineapple Pico; cooling pineapple cuts the heat from shrimp, which are tossed in chipotle-in-adobo sauce. The entire meal comes together in just 35 minutes, which makes it great for serving any night of the week.
Pork and pineapple make a great team in this healthy stir-fry, as well as this bowl which calls for broiling all of the ingredients together. They also work hand-in-hand in our recipe for Grilled Pork Tacos al Pastor, which gets plenty of heat from achiote paste and chipotle chiles in adobo sauce. Serve the mixture in warm corn tortillas and top with our Smoky Chipotle Salsa for even more spice.
See how pineapple shines in these 16 savory recipes—they're a breeze to prepare and your family will love them.
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Grilled Pork-and-Pineapple Tacos
The beauty of tacos is that just a few simple ingredients can create big flavor. In this recipe, grilled, chopped pork tenderloin is tucked into corn tortillas along with grilled pineapple and onions.
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Spicy Shrimp Fajitas with Grilled Pineapple Pico
Shrimp is one of the most beloved proteins out there; here, it shines when tossed with chipotle-in-adobo sauce and lime zest and juice. Combine with charred pineapple, and it's one bite that's full of sunshine.
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Spicy Pineapple-Peanut Salad
Serve this simple side salad alongside fish or grilled meat for a summery dinner. Thinly sliced pineapple is topped with shallots, chopped peanuts, serrano chile peppers, and fresh mint in this bright, easy-going recipe.
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Spicy Pork-and-Pineapple Stir-Fry
Try your hand at stir-fry with this colorful recipe loaded with vegetables. Chopped white onion, red bell pepper, green beans, and pineapple are sautéed with Sriracha and cornstarch until crisp and tender, and the sauce is thickened.
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Grilled Pork Tacos al Pastor
Inspired by al pastor, a traditional Mexican taco, this recipe gets lots of flavor from chipotle chiles in adobo sauce and achiote paste (which is made from a mix of annatto seeds, orange juice, and chile peppers).
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Hawaiian Meatballs
Whether you serve these as an appetizer or over strands of spaghetti squash, the combination of sweet pineapple and savory, fatty ground pork is a spectacular one.
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Broiled Spicy Pork and Pineapple
For an easy, breezy dinner, all of the ingredients for this dish are broiled in the oven. From juicy pineapple to flavorful pork loin chops, it's a fast and flavorful dinner that the whole family will love.
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Red Curry Chicken Stir-Fry
Red curry paste reinvigorates the same old chicken breast that you're used to; the meat shares the space in a wok with snow peas, pineapple, and an entire cup of fresh basil leaves.
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Red Onion, Pork, and Pineapple with Sriracha-Pineapple Marinade
How fun (and delicious!) are these grilled kebabs? Sriracha sauce and pineapple juice create a well-balanced marinade for the meat, onions, and pineapple chunks.
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Thai Coconut Chicken with Pineapple Salsa
Pineapple and coconut milk bring sweetness, ginger brings warmth, and Thai chile peppers add spice to this dish that's somewhere in between a stew and stir-fry.
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Broiled Chicken Thighs with Pineapple-Cucumber Salad
Fatty, forgiving, flavorful chicken thighs—oh, how we love them. They're rubbed with a combination of lime zest and chili powder and served alongside a refreshing salad.
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Beef and Pineapple Red Curry
The warm, spicy flavors in red curry paste elevate green beans, diced pineapple, and sirloin steak. Cool coconut milk balances the heat for a bite that will please one and all.
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Broiled Sweet-and-Spicy Salmon with Pineapple
When salmon and pineapple are broiled with maple syrup, they become sweet and caramelized. Serve over sticky rice for the perfect 20-minute meal for four.
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Jerk Pineapple Pork Chops
Inspired by the flavorings of traditional jerk chicken—think allspice, dried thyme, garlic, and chile peppers—this genius pairing of pineapple and pork is absolutely delicious.
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Ceviche with Tropical Fruit and Habanero
Ideal as an appetizer for entertaining, the acid from lime juice and orange juice gently "cooks" the red snapper as it chills in the refrigerator. Afterward, the fish is tossed with mango, pineapple, tomatoes, and hot chile peppers.