Easy Pineapple Salsa

Name: Easy Pineapple Salsa
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 3 cups diced pineapple (about 1 pineapple); 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced; ½ small red onion, diced; 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded, diced; 1 lime; ¼ teaspoon cumin; Salt to taste

Jump To Recipe by Liz Thomson May 3, 2022 This post may contain affiliate links.

This easy pineapple salsa is sweet and crunchy! It’s a delicious dip for chips, but it’s also great on tacos or veggie burgers!

The other day, I wanted to make salsa, but I found myself tomato-less. Salsa without tomatoes? Was it possible? Spoiler alert: Yes, it’s possible. This sweet and spicy pineapple salsa is delicious with your favorite tortilla chips, but it’s even great on top of a black bean burger. I’ve also eaten it with a fork, but that’s nothing new.

I made this over Memorial Day weekend, and it was a perfect cookout side dish because it was easy to make ahead of time. You can even make it a day in advance, and it’ll only get better. Just keep it in the fridge in an airtight container until you’re ready to serve it.

How to Pick a Good Pineapple

According to Healthline, “A ripe pineapple should have a firm shell but be slightly soft with a bit of give when you squeeze it. Pineapples that are completely solid or hard when squeezed are unlikely to be fully ripe. Ripe pineapples should have a firm shell that is slightly soft when squeezed.” Of course, you could also buy pre-cut pineapple to save yourself some time! Look for a bright yellow color with no visible bruises or browning.

A pineapple on a plate, with Pineapple salsa

Substitution Ideas

If you like things extra spicy, you can add more jalapeno. If you want to keep it milder, skip the jalapeno altogether.
If you don’t have a red onion, you can substitute a shallot instead. This will also have a more mild flavor if you don’t like the taste of raw onions.
You could use a yellow or orange bell pepper in place of red. I don’t recommend green peppers, because they aren’t as sweet.

Once you’re done chopping your ingredients, this comes together quickly! Technically you could make this with cans of diced pineapple and save a few minutes of chopping, but I recommend fresh if possible.

What to Serve With Pineapple Salsa

This pineapple salsa is perfect when you’re looking for a salsa without tomatoes, or you’re craving something on the sweet side. I mentioned it would be good on a black bean burger, but it would also be delicious on tacos and salads! And of course, you can just dip your favorite chips in and enjoy!