Grilled Pineapple Slices

I’ll show you how easy it is to cut fresh pineapple into rings and grill it! It’s a deliciously healthy sweet side or dessert you’ll love when the weather is warm.

Lately I’ve been eating a bowl of pineapple almost every single day so it’s safe to say its my favorite fruit. While it’s yummy fresh, it’s truly extra special when grilled. The juices are released in the grilling process and those slices get beautifully caramelized. There’s just no better fruit to grill!

Some people add brown sugar or butter, but you don’t need to add a thing. These slices come out perfect with nothing but the pineapple itself and a little oil or oil spray. That’s it.

I enjoy making these pineapple slices to serve as a side paired with grilled steak, chicken, or fish. You can find all my grilling recipes here. You can also use this recipe for a simple healthy dessert when you need just a little something sweet after a meal.

Ingredients for Grilled Pineapple Slices

• Pineapple
• Olive oil or oil spray

How to Select a Ripe Pineapple

It’s pretty easy to pick out the perfect pineapple and there are lots of methods for it. These are my three favorite tips.

• Look at the color of the outside of the pineapple. If it’s mostly dark green then it’s underripe. If it’s mostly dark yellow or orange then it’s overripe. You want your pineapple to be somewhere in the middle with some green and plenty of orange/yellow.
• A ripe pineapple is going to feel heavier than an underripe pineapple because it’s juicier.
• Gently squeeze the sides of the pineapple. It should be firm but give slightly. If it doesn’t give at all, it’s not ripe enough. If it gives a lot, it’s too ripe.

How to Cut Pineapple Rings

1. Lay the pineapple on its side on a cutting board. Carefully slice off the top (the leafy crown) and bottom of the pineapple.
2. Then stand the pineapple up so the bottom is sitting on the cutting board. Carefully slice the rind off the outside of the pineapple. Work slowly so you don’t remove too much of the flesh. If it’s looking too much like a hexagon you can trim smaller pieces to clean it up and achieve more of a circular look.
3. Then turn the pineapple so it’s laying on its side again. Use a sharp knife to slice the pineapple into circles that are roughly ½-inch thick.
4. Lay each circle flat on the cutting board. Use a paring knife or a small cookie cutter to remove the core from each pineapple slice. Now you have perfect pineapple rings!

How to Grill Pineapple Rings

1. Preheat the grill to medium heat.
2. Oil the grill grates or spray both sides of each pineapple ring with an oil spray. This helps to prevent sticking as they cook.
3. Spread pineapple rings on the grill grates in an even layer so they’re not overlapping.
4. Grill pineapple for 3 to 5 minutes. Make sure you have grill marks before flipping. Flip, and grill remaining side for another 3 to 5 minutes or until you have grill marks and pineapple is tender.
5. Remove from the grill and serve immediately.

Does grilling pineapple make it sweeter?

Yes! Any time we caramelize an ingredient we’re going to bring out its natural sweetness.

How do you keep pineapple from sticking to the grill?

A little oil on the grill grates or sprayed directly to the pineapple slices will reduce the likelihood of sticking. You also want to avoid flipping the pineapple too often or too early. Flip carefully and only after the pineapple has softened and achieved those grill lines we want.

How to Store Leftover Grilled Pineapple

You can refrigerate in airtight containers in your refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. Serve cold or warm on the stovetop or in the microwave.

How to Serve Grilled Pineapple

I enjoy grilled pineapple as a side with a grilled protein like my Ultimate Marinated Grilled Chicken or Grilled Fajita Chicken. My Roasted Potato Wedges and Herb Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Broccoli would also be great additions to the meal.

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