Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Popular Ingredients 17 Recipes That Use Fresh Pineapple This sweet-tart fruit isn't just for piña coladas. Bring the tropics home with recipes for other cocktails, as well as smoothies, sides, and mains. By Real Simple Editors Real Simple Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter An article attributed to "Real Simple Editors" indicates a collaborative effort from our in-house team. Sometimes, several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The REAL SIMPLE team strives to make life easier for you. They are experts in their fields who research, test and clearly explain the best recipes, strategies, trends and products. They have worked for some of the most prestigious brands in lifestyle journalism, including Apartment Therapy, Better Homes & Gardens, Food & Wine, the Food Network, Good Housekeeping, InStyle, Martha Stewart Living, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parents, POPSUGAR, Rachel Ray Every Day, and Vogue. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 27, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: © 2014 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc. It's not known for its subtlety, and to prove it, we compiled a list of 17 recipes that use fresh pineapple to pack a punch of flavor. This tropical fruit boosts any recipe—whether it's for an appetizer, dessert, or anything in between—with an unmistakable sweet tang. The next time a recipe calls for pineapple, skip the canned fruit aisle and reach for a fresh one. They may look intimidating, but they're easy to carve into wedges, rings, or chunks. Fresh pineapple comes with no added sugar or preservatives, and lasts for a week or two in the fridge. If you choose canned pineapple because of how long it lasts in your pantry, fresh pineapple can compete on that angle too, because it's easy to freeze. Spread wedges, rings, or chunks on a parchment-lined baking sheet and set them in the freezer. After 1 to 2 hours (or overnight), store the pineapple pieces in freezer-safe containers or bags to use within a year. So don't shy away from the next 10-for-$10-sale on fresh pineapples. Peruse our list of pineapple-centric recipes, light your tiki torches, and let us help you pull off the best tropical-themed party of the summer. 01 of 17 Baked Cinnamon Roasted Pineapple Steve Giralt These sweet, tangy roasted pineapples are a triple threat: They make breakfast a treat when served atop yogurt, granola, or a shmeared bagel.Plate them for dinner alongside pork, ham, or chicken for a sweet tropical vibe.Try them as a dessert topping for ice cream or pound cake. Try It: Baked Cinnamon Roasted Pineapple 02 of 17 Chicken Adobo Victor Protasio Arguably the signature dish of the Philippines, "adobo," which is Spanish for "dressing," refers to the spicy marinade or seasoning typically made from chili peppers, vinegar, spices, and herbs. In this pineapple-forward version, fresh pineapple sweetens the marinade and doubles as a garnish. Try It: Chicken Adobo 03 of 17 Carrot-Pineapple Smoothie Grant Cornett Pineapple teams up with orange juice and banana to create this smooth and frothy refresher. Healthy and dairy-free, you can whip this up in just 5 minutes, making it an any-time-of-day pick-me-up. Try It: Carrot-Pineapple Smoothie 04 of 17 Kale Smoothie With Pineapple and Banana Christopher Baker Drink your veggies! Coconut milk gives this smoothie a creamy, rich consistency while pineapple and banana add sweetness. Swap out the kale for spinach or use a little of both. Try It: Kale Smoothie With Pineapple and Banana 05 of 17 Tropical Fruit Salad Victor Protasio If you could take a bite of a tropical vacation, it would probably taste like this dreamy salad. Pineapple shares the spotlight with papaya, mango, and kiwi in a lime juice-based dressing that sits atop a bed of creamy coconut yogurt. Finish with a dusting of coconut flakes, and enjoy in a tropical print sundress and wide-brimmed hat. Try It: Tropical Fruit Salad 06 of 17 Shrimp and Pineapple Tacos With Black Bean Salad José Picayo Thread shrimp and pineapple onto skewers and broil for a quick, tasty taco filling. Alternatively, keep the oven turned off and set the skewers and tortillas on the grill for a light, bright summer supper. Try It: Shrimp and Pineapple Tacos With Black Bean Salad 07 of 17 Pork and Pineapple Tacos Charles Masters Swap the canned pineapple in this recipe for fresh to lift this dish to greater heights. Pineapple lends a sweet juiciness while chili powder and jalapenos bring the heat. Try It: Pork and Pineapple Tacos 08 of 17 Cauliflower Tacos al Pastor Victor Protasio For a vegetarian version of a Mexico City favorite, this recipe swaps pork with cauliflower florets. A flavorful marinade coats the cauliflower, onion, and pineapple while they roast, and then these veggie tacos are topped with a drizzle of zesty avocado salsa that'll make them your new favorite. Try It: Cauliflower Tacos al Pastor 09 of 17 Tropical Pizza Charles Masters You knew it was coming. When it comes to pineapple, nothing is more hotly contested than its suitability as a pizza topping. Maybe this is the recipe that turns pineapple pizza nay-sayers into yay-sayers. Try It: Tropical Pizza 10 of 17 Boozy Dole Whip Debbie Galbraith/Getty Images This adults-only, pineapple-banana-flavored cross between a smoothie and soft-serve mimics the mega-popular treat that used to be sold exclusively at Disney parks. Skip the coconut rum to make this smooth, creamy treat kid-friendly. Try It: Boozy Dole Whip 11 of 17 Sweet and Tangy Baked Beans Greg DuPree The "tangy" comes from your favorite BBQ sauce, while the "sweet" comes from—you guessed it—pineapple. With an assist from brown sugar, fresh pineapple chunks sweeten and brighten this standard side with an unexpected twist. Try It: Sweet and Tangy Baked Beans 12 of 17 Glazed Chicken and Pineapple Victor Protasio Winner, winner, grilled chicken and pineapple dinner! Pineapple juice joins ketchup, honey, and soy sauce for a classic Hawaiian-style chicken marinade. Skin-on chicken thighs share the grill with fresh pineapple half-rings for a sweet 30-minute summer entrée. Try It: Glazed Chicken and Pineapple 13 of 17 Maple-Glazed Salmon With Pineapple Sang An This dish balances sweetness from a maple syrup glaze and fresh pineapple chunks with Dijon and jalapeno, resulting in a spicy-sweet main course. Instead of broiling the salmon, pineapple, and jalapeno, consider giving them a turn on the grill for a smoky, charred twist. Try It: Maple-Glazed Salmon With Pineapple 14 of 17 Sparkling Pineapple Ginger Ale Yunhee Kim Garnished with fresh pineapple triangles, this mocktail helps turn your backyard party into a tropical island retreat. Add a little rum to this refreshingly fizzy drink for an instant cocktail. Try It: Sparkling Pineapple Ginger Ale 15 of 17 Piña Colada Charles Masters If you're looking for a tropical escape, you can't go wrong with this classic cocktail. Forget the mix and blend your own with cream of coconut, fresh pineapple juice, fresh pineapple garnish, and of course, rum. Try It: Piña Colada 16 of 17 Pirate Passion Fruit Mule You don't have to drink this tropical cocktail with a parrot on your shoulder or an eyepatch, but it would make for a fun party! This recipe calls on fresh pineapple and passion fruit to give a classic Moscow mule a tart, tropical twist. Try It: Pirate Passion Fruit Mule 17 of 17 Celery, Cucumber, and Pineapple Juice Smoothie Levi Brown It takes only 5 minutes and a blender to make this non-dairy, fruit-and-veggie smoothie. For best results, freeze pineapple chunks on a baking sheet for 1 to 2 hours before tossing them in the blender. Try It: Celery, Cucumber, and Pineapple Juice Smoothie Here's How to Grow Pineapple Houseplants With Store-Bought Pineapples Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit