Glazed grilled pineapple is an easy delicious summer side dish. With a buttery caramelized brown sugar glaze, it also makes a great dessert when combined with ice cream.
Introduction
Grilled pineapple rings or spears should become one of your everyday grilled side dishes. Ultra easy to do with rave-worthy results.
Grilling any fruit will bring out all the hidden flavor and sweetness. Add in the caramelized glaze and you have a great treat.
My Rating
A very high four or low five mainly because it is not a "main event" dish, but it is an easy grilled pineapple recipe.
šAbout Pineapple
Let's talk pineapple first. You can pick up fresh whole pineapple or buy a precut cored which is much easier. I don't recommend canned pineapple since the slices are thin.
How to Pick a Fresh Pineapple
1) The pineappleās top (the crown) should be vibrant with no wilted, brown, loose, or falling out leaves.
2) Feel the fruit for firm skin with a slight give; you donāt want fruit that feels spongy or has soft spots. It should also be heavy.
3) Smell the bottom of the pineapple which is the sweetest spot on the fruit and should smell fragrant,
4) The color should be vibrant with some yellow-gold color around the eyes and base of the fruit. A ripe pineapple can be totally green, but it is impossible for you to tell, so avoid totally green pineapples. There should usually be more yellow than green, with no white or brown coloring.
5) The āeyesā of the pineapple are the roundish skin segments that cover the pineapple. The larger, the better, they should be free of mold, and flatter is better. They get bigger and flatter with ripening.
How to Store a Pineapple
Generally, you will just keep a whole fresh pineapple at room temperature for a few days. You can extend that by refrigerating in a perforated plastic bag.
Once prepared, the pineapple will store well for 2-3 days.
How to Cut a Pineapple
1) Cut off the crown and bottom.
2) Stand the pineapple up and cut away the peel off in strips, deep enough to remove the eyes.
3) If making rings, use a corer to remove the core. For spears, you can core first or time after cutting spears.
š„£The Glaze
The glaze is just melted butter with some brown sugar and cinnamon. Melt the butter and mix the other ingredients.
If you wish, you can substitute honey for the brown sugar. While the honey may be a bit sweeter, many of the recipes I compared used a lot more sugar, so it should be fine. But generally, 2 teaspoons of honey will replace 1 tablespoon of brown sugar.
šØāš³How to Grill Pineapple
- Preheat the grill on high, or if grilling something else, prepare an area for the pineapple. A lower temperature may be used. Be sure to clean and oil the grates well. Either gas or charcoal grill may be used.
- Trim pineapple into rings or spears.
- Mix the glaze and dip or brush on the pineapple slices or spears.
- Grill directly on the grates flipping every 3-4 minutes until the nice color and grill marks. Usually 6 to 8 minutes total. A grill pan may be used.
āFAQs
Not a good idea. It is thinner and softer, so it will tend to fall apart on the grill before you get the caramelized glaze.
Yes, honey is a little sweeter, so for the one tablespoon of brown sugar, use ā of that, which is two teaspoons of honey.
Grilled pineapple is the perfect side dish for grilled chicken, pork, or steaksāserve it on the side or top of a burger. Also, it makes an outstanding dessert when topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Yes, place it under a broiler and flip as needed. Or, if you have an inside electric grill or griddle, it will work.
Store in the refrigerator after being grilled for 3-4 days. Serve cold or warm briefly in the microwave.
šGrilling Side Dishes
Grilled Stuffed Tomatoes: Italian Style
Grilled Carrots with Honey Glazed
This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.
š¼ļøStep-by-Step Photo Instructions
I like to start with a "cored" pineapple to save time and work. But trimming a fresh whole pineapple works well.
Preheat grill on high. If grilling something else, a lower temperature. Be sure to clean and oil the grill grate well. Works well on a gas or charcoal grill.
In a bowl with a relatively flat bottom, melt 4 tablespoons butter in a microwave. About 25 seconds should do it. Mix in 1 tablespoon brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
Cut the pineapple into rings about Ā¾ inches. You can use pineapple spears instead if you wish.
Dip into the glaze covering all sides and place directly on the grill.
Flip in 3-4 minutes. Total grill time 6-8 minutes.
Serve hot as a side dish or with vanilla ice cream for dessert.
šRecipe
Grilled Pineapple with Brown Sugar Cinnamon Glaze
Ingredients
- 1 fresh pineapple
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat grill on high. If grilling something else, a lower temperature. Be sure to clean and oil the grill grate well. Works well on a gas or charcoal grill.
- In a bowl with a relatively flat bottom, melt 4 tablespoons butter in a microwave. About 25 seconds should do it. Mix in 1 tablespoon brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
- Cut the pineapple into rings about Ā¾ inches. You can use pineapple spears instead if you wish.
- Dip into the glaze covering all sides and place directly on the grill.
- Flip in 3-4 minutes. Total grill time 6-8 minutes.
- Serve hot as a side dish or with vanilla ice cream for dessert.
My Private Notes
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- Be sure the grill is well cleaned and oiled.
- You can substitute honey for the brown sugar. 2 teaspoons of honey will equal 1 tablespoon of brown sugar.
- Your time on the grill will vary by the surface temperature. About 3 minutes per side on high, a few more minutes if medium.
- You can use rings of about Ā¾ inches thick or wedges.
- You may use a grill pan if you want or just on the grates. Either way, a good coat of oil is needed.
- Cook until changing color and nice grill marks.
To adjust the recipe size:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition Estimate
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Originally Published July 28, 2017. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Susan Hamilton
I grilled this alongside precooked kielbasa last night. My anti-pineapple skeptic friend devoured it! Next time, to avoid the crazy flare up I had, after the grill is medium-hot I'll turn off one side & place the pineapple there. I cooked each side 5 minutes.
I've got to say...the whole meal was delish!
Sue
Made this tonight and the first time I had grilled pineapple. Fantastic!! Easy to make and delicious. Had some plain and some with a little scoop of vanilla bean Halo ice cream. Happy 4th of July to me! Thanks for the recipe!
Sheila
I was looking for a healthy and yet delicious dessert and I ended up with your post. This looks really good with combined with vanilla ice cream. Thank you for this awesome idea. Will be serving this on our next family get together.
Leslie
Easy and delicious, also used strawberries and grapes