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    Home » Recipes » Appetizer

    Pineapple Salsa Recipe

    Updated: Feb 24, 2025 · by Tonia Larson

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    ↓ JUMP TO RECIPE ↓ JUMP TO VIDEO

    This pineapple salsa recipe has a delicious combination of sweet and spicy. It can be served with grilled chicken or fish or as an appetizer with chips.

    Pineapple Salsa in pineapple bowl

    Summertime calls for bright colors and bright flavors! This Pineapple Salsa definitely fits the bill.

    I remember when I first heard about fruit salsa, I wondered why anyone would want to put fruit in their salsa (even though tomatoes are technically a fruit).

    And then I tried it and I realized that I love it as much as I love fruit in my salads like a Raspberry Parmesan Chicken Salad or a Citrus Salad.

    When making this recipe, I remembered seeing a fruit salad in a pineapple bowl, and I knew that this salsa would look gorgeous in a pineapple bowl as well.

    How To Make Pineapple Salsa

    cutting the pineapple bowl for pineapple salsa

    To make the pineapple bowl, cut about 1/3 of the pineapple off, leaving the stem attached to the larger piece of the pineapple.

    making a pineapple bowl for pineapple salsa

    Make a cut around the outer edge of the pineapple fruit.

    Cutting Pineapple Bowl

    Make cuts through the center. Then, use a metal spoon to loosen and scoop out the pineapple chunks.

    Pour the extra juice out of the pineapple bowl so that it is empty. Dice enough of the pineapple to measure one cup. Save the rest for another purpose.

    Homemade Pineapple Salsa ingredients in bowl

    In a small bowl, mix together diced pineapple, diced tomatoes, diced peppers, minced onions, chopped cilantro, lime juice (I love Nellie & Joe’s if I don’t have fresh limes), salt and pepper.

    Pineapple Salsa in Pineapple Bowl

    Transfer the salsa to the pineapple bowl.

    Pineapple Salsa Bowl with wooden spoon

    Store in the fridge or add a small bamboo serving spoon and enjoy!

    This pineapple salsa is delicious on everything from tacos to nachos and chicken to fish. Or just scoop it up with some of your favorite tortilla chips.

    Recipe Tips

    1. If you like your salsa spicy, add diced jalapenos.

    2. When using freshly squeezed lime juice instead of the bottled kind, warm the limes in the microwave for 15-20 seconds to get the most juice out of them.

    3. For the one cup of diced bell peppers, use any mix of red, yellow, orange and green peppers. The more colorful the better!

    4. Serving Suggestions: Serve with chicken, pork, fish, or shrimp, add to rice, spoon on top of tacos. Serve as a side dish salad or as an appetizer with tortilla chips.

    5. If you want to double the recipe but only have one pineapple to use for a bowl, you can double the recipe and just keep refilling the pineapple bowl. Or try cutting the pineapple in half so that you have two bowls.

    cilantro for pineapple salsa

    5. What can we use instead of cilantro? Some of my readers have used parsley in place of the cilantro. Or you can skip the cilantro. If you are missing the green color, try adding diced green peppers.

    7. Can this recipe be made ahead of time? You can let the salsa sit in the fridge for a few hours or even overnight to let the flavors mingle but keep in mind that the pineapple serving bowl won’t be quite as fresh looking the next day.

    8. What kind of onions should I use? I used red onions in this recipe, but you can swap it out with your favorite onion.

    9. What else could I add to this pineapple salsa? Try adding minced garlic, diced mangos, diced cucumbers, black beans, diced green onions, or corn.

    Pineapple salsa in a pineapple bowl.

    More Salsa Recipes

    Do you love homemade salsa? Here are a few more of our favorite salsa recipes.

    • Peach Salsa
    • Restaurant Style Salsa
    • Watermelon Salsa
    • Mango Salsa
    • Corn Salsa
    Pineapple salsa in a hallowed-out pineapple bowl.

    Pineapple Salsa Recipe

    This pineapple salsa recipe has a delicious combination of sweet and spicy. It can be served with grilled chicken or fish or as an appetizer with chips.
    4.47 from 418 votes
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    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 10
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    Video

    Ingredients

    • whole pineapple to use as the bowl
    • 1 cup diced pineapple
    • 1 cup diced bell peppers any combination of red, orange, yellow or green peppers
    • 1 cup diced Roma tomatoes
    • ⅓ cup chopped cilantro
    • ¼ cup minced red onion
    • 4 tablespoon lime juice about 2 limes or use bottled lime juice
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon diced jalapenos optional

    Instructions

    • To make the pineapple bowl, cut about 1/3 of the pineapple off, leaving the stem attached to the larger piece of the pineapple. Make a cut around the outer edge of the pineapple fruit and make cuts across the middle too. Use a metal spoon to loosen and scoop out the pineapple chunks. Pour the extra juice out of the pineapple bowl so that it is empty.
    • Dice enough of the pineapple chunks to make one cup of diced pineapple to be used for the salsa and save the rest for another use.
    • In a small bowl, mix together diced pineapple, diced tomatoes, diced peppers, minced onions, chopped cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper.
    • Transfer the salsa to the pineapple bowl for serving.
    • Store in the fridge.
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    Notes

    • You can let the pineapple salsa sit for a few hours, or overnight, in the fridge to let the flavors mingle but remember that the pineapple bowl won’t look as fresh the next day.
    • This recipe makes 2 1/2 cups. Serving size is 1/4 cup.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1/4 cup | Calories: 43kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Sodium: 31mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Author: Tonia Larson

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      Cottage Cheese Cheesy Bread

    About Tonia Larson

    Hi! I’m Tonia, the owner and recipe creator at The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 14+ years! My family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and delicious desserts include mouthwatering photos, dynamic videos, and step-by-step instructions to help you cook at home.

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    Comments

      4.47 from 418 votes (405 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Stacy says

      May 13, 2016 at 7:41 am

      I love pineapple salsas! FYI – They are so delicious on grilled fish tacos!! Thx for your recipe. 🙂

      Reply
    2. Sharon says

      May 12, 2016 at 1:09 pm

      This is delicious as is. If you want to take it over the top and make it a meal, add grilled shrimp. I tossed the shrimp in a little Tejin and grilled. It was wonderful.

      Reply
    3. Jamie says

      May 11, 2016 at 8:16 am

      Do you use red onion or white onion? The recipe is not specific but there is red onion used in the photo.

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        May 12, 2016 at 8:49 am

        Hi Jamie! You can use your favorite onion. I typically use red onions. Best of luck! ~Tonia

        Reply
    4. Cathy says

      May 8, 2016 at 2:20 am

      Could you can it and store it for later?

      Reply
    5. Wayne says

      May 7, 2016 at 4:47 pm

      If there is one thing that my daughter loves, loves, loves, is pineapple. With salsa? Why not! I think this will bring it over the top and look forward to making this soon 🙂

      Reply
    6. Sophie C says

      May 1, 2016 at 3:17 am

      We had a pineapple salsa at a restaurant & I wanted to recreate at home, came across this recipe & never thought to serve in a pineapple! Brilliant idea! Thank you

      Reply
    7. Trish says

      April 12, 2016 at 2:29 pm

      I too see a glob of something red topped on the bowl of ingredients. It is part of the 4 picture collection.

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        April 13, 2016 at 8:27 am

        Sorry about that! That is a photo from another salsa recipe that I linked ot at the end of the blog post in case reader might be looking for other salsas. That one is for a fruit salsa.

        Reply
    8. Claudia says

      April 7, 2016 at 3:56 pm

      In the second picture it shows some kind of sauce being added but I don’t see what it is in the recipe.

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        April 7, 2016 at 11:24 pm

        I am seeing an image of a pineapple being sliced into chunks in the second image. This is the one: http://www.thegunnysack.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Pineapple_Bowl.jpg Can you give me more information as to what you are seeing?

        Reply
    9. Joan says

      April 6, 2016 at 5:02 pm

      What of the red onion is too spicy. Do you use less?

      Reply
      • Lori Cole says

        April 7, 2016 at 12:02 pm

        One thing you could do is soak the red onion in ice water for a little while first — that takes away a lot of the heat.

        Reply
    10. coco says

      April 2, 2016 at 10:27 am

      bonjour, est il possible d’avoir la recette en francais svp?

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        April 3, 2016 at 12:15 am

        ananas entier
        1 tasse d’ananas en dés
        1 poivrons tasse , en dés ( toute combinaison de rouge, orange, jaune ou poivrons verts )
        1 tasse de tomates Roma , coupées en dés
        ⅓ tasse de coriandre hachée
        ¼ tasse d’oignon coupé en dés
        2 limes
        Sel et poivre
        Facultatif : 1 jalapeno , épépiné et coupé en dés
        Pour rendre le bol d’ananas , coupez environ ⅓ de l’ananas , laissant la tige attachée à la plus grande pièce de l’ananas . Faire une coupe autour du bord extérieur de l’ ananas et de faire des coupes à travers le milieu aussi. Utilisez une cuillère en métal pour desserrer et enlever les morceaux d’ananas . Verser le jus supplémentaire hors du bol d’ananas de sorte qu’il est vide .
        Dice assez de morceaux d’ananas pour faire une tasse d’ananas en dés à utiliser pour la salsa et sauver le reste pour un autre usage .
        Dans un petit bol , mélanger l’ananas en dés , tomates en dés , les poivrons en dés , les oignons émincés , la coriandre hachée , le jus de lime , le sel et le poivre.
        Transférer la salsa dans le bol d’ananas pour servir .

        Reply
    11. Paula voth says

      April 1, 2016 at 10:15 am

      When is it at its best…made the day to serve or the day before

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        April 1, 2016 at 5:18 pm

        We enjoyed it both ways!

        Reply
    12. Kim Brooks says

      April 1, 2016 at 8:09 am

      OK I have a dumb question, Ingredients say 1 whole pineapple and 1 cup pineapple diced, does that mean 1 diced cup from the pineapple scooped out of the whole pineapple or 1 cup in ADDITION to what was scooped out?

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        April 1, 2016 at 9:06 am

        Hi Kim,
        I not a dumb question at all. I’ve updated the instructions to clarify. You need the whole pineapple to use as the bowl. For the salsa, you only need 1 cup of diced pineapple. The rest of the pineapple chunks that were scooped out can be saved for another use. Best of luck!
        ~Tonia

        Reply
      • Mary says

        April 9, 2016 at 5:02 pm

        One cup diced from the pineapple. Save the remaining pineapple for another use.

        Reply
    13. karlene says

      March 31, 2016 at 7:39 pm

      looks delicious will try it

      Reply
    14. karlene says

      March 31, 2016 at 7:38 pm

      Looks delicious!

      Reply
    15. Danielle - The Creative Bite says

      March 31, 2016 at 12:31 pm

      This would be delicious on just about anything!

      Reply
    16. Tally says

      March 22, 2016 at 3:15 am

      Yummy! This looks amazing. My mom used to make something similar

      Reply
    17. Janelle says

      March 5, 2016 at 12:09 am

      I don’t want to leave your website but it’s already 11 p.m and I must get some snooze time! I’m new to your page and I’ve got quite a few recipes picked out for next week that look scrumptious. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

      Reply
    18. Joanne says

      July 29, 2015 at 8:46 am

      Made this last week, lovely colour and presentation. I am not a cilantro lover, so next time I would half the amount of cilantro, i found it a little overpowering. Otherwise it was delicious and a big hit at my lunch group.

      Reply
    19. Happy Valley Chow says

      July 8, 2015 at 9:47 pm

      Wow! That looks absolutely delicious and I love that you used the pineapple as the serving dish. Bookmarked and trying for sure!

      Happy Blogging!
      Happy Valley Chow

      Reply
    20. Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel says

      July 8, 2015 at 4:52 pm

      Oh my heavens, this looks AMAZING. I love all the flavors going on here!

      Reply
    Newer Comments »
    Tonia Larson from The Gunny Sack.

    Hi, I'm Tonia! Welcome to The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 15+ years! Meet Tonia Larson →

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