August 31, 2022
Review RecipeBrown Sugar Grilled Pineapple
This brown sugar grilled pineapple is sweetened with a delicious brown sugar glaze and comes off the grill nice and juicy to create a sweet side dish for all your grilled meals.
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Table of Contents
This brown sugar grilled pineapple is one of the easiest and most delicious ways to cook this tropical fruit. The naturally sweet pineapple gets an extra boost from the brown sugar glaze, and the addition of the cayenne pepper helps balance the sweetness with a touch of smoky heat.
Brown Sugar Grilled Pineapple Ingredients
You’ll need:
- 1 fresh whole pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into 8 spears
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- vegetable oil spray for grill
PRO TIP:
You can buy a pre-peeled and cored whole ripe pineapple from your grocery store’s produce department. This will significantly reduce your prep time as the pineapple prep takes a lot of time in this recipe.
SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS
CAYENNE PEPPER: Use guajillo or ancho chili powder instead of the cayenne pepper. You can also use a dash of sriracha or regular hot sauce for a little kick. If you don’t like spice, you can leave out the cayenne pepper entirely.
BROWN SUGAR: Dark brown sugar can be substituted for light brown sugar for a deeper molasses-like flavor.
How to Make This Brown Sugar Grilled Pineapple Recipe
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
You can cut the pineapple into rings instead of spears. Be sure not to cut the slices of pineapple too thinly, or they will fall apart when grilling.
STEP ONE: Place the pineapple spears in a large mixing bowl and sprinkle with the brown sugar, cayenne, vanilla extract, and salt. Toss to combine.
STEP TWO: Cover the pineapple with plastic wrap and let marinate in the brown sugar mixture for 30 minutes at room temperature. You can also place the pineapple in the refrigerator to marinate overnight. You will have a few tablespoons of liquid in the bottom of your bowl. Do not discard it.
STEP THREE: Preheat your grill pan over high heat and spray with cooking spray just before adding the pineapple.
PRO TIP:
If you don’t have an indoor grill pan, you can grill this outdoors. Use grill plates if your grill grates are too far apart for the small pineapple spears.
STEP FOUR: Grill pineapple for 1 to 2 minutes on each side.
STEP FIVE: While the pineapple is grilling, place the excess marinade liquid in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 90 seconds or until bubbly and syrupy. Set aside.
STEP SIX: Remove the grilled pineapple to the serving platter and drizzle it with the excess marinade syrup just before serving.
How To Serve
This dish is best served warm or at room temperature. However, it can also be served cold on top of a salad. Prepared on an outdoor grill, the pineapple will have a smoky flavor as well that will make it the perfect side dish with grilled chicken, pork tenderloin, and grilled potatoes.
For more delicious recipes that feature this yummy fruit, our bacon-wrapped pineapple and pineapple chicken kabobs are two more amazing recipes.
MORE GRILL RECIPES
Storage
IN THE FRIDGE: Leftovers of this delicious pineapple can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
IN THE FREEZER: This recipe is best made fresh, and we don’t recommend freezing it.
Marinated in a simple mixture of brown sugar and smoky cayenne pepper, this juicy pineapple is the perfect addition to any grilled meal. You will love how easy it is to make and how well the amazing pineapple flavor comes through once grilled.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I make this ahead of time and freeze it?
This recipe is best served fresh. We don’t recommend freezing it, or the pineapple will become mushy.
Can I make this on an outdoor grill?
You can make this simple recipe on an outdoor grill or even on a griddle like a Blackstone if you don’t have an indoor grill pan.
How do I keep the pineapple from sticking to the grill?
Spray your grill with nonstick cooking spray or brush it with olive oil to prevent the pineapple from sticking.
More Recipes You’ll Love
Brown Sugar Grilled Pineapple
This brown sugar grilled pineapple is sweetened with a delicious brown sugar glaze and comes off the grill nice and juicy to create a sweet side dish for all your grilled meals.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 46 minutes
Servings 8
Ingredients
- 1 fresh pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into 8 spears
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- vegetable oil spray, for grill
Instructions
- Place the pineapple in a large mixing bowl and sprinkle with the brown sugar, cayenne, vanilla extract, and salt. Toss to combine.
- Cover the pineapple with plastic wrap and let marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature. You can also place the pineapple in the refrigerator to marinate overnight. You will have a few tablespoons of liquid in the bottom of your bowl. Do not discard it.
- Preheat your grill pan over high heat and spray with cooking spray just before adding the pineapple.
- Grill the pineapple for 1 to 2 minutes on each side.
- While the pineapple is grilling, place the excess marinade liquid in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 90 seconds or until bubbly and syrupy. Set aside.
- Remove the grilled pineapple to the serving platter and drizzle it with the excess marinade syrup just before serving.
Notes
- You can buy a pre-peeled and cored whole ripe pineapple from your grocery store’s produce department. This will significantly reduce your prep time as the pineapple prep takes a lot of time in this recipe.
- You can cut the pineapple into rings instead of spears. Be sure not to cut the slices of pineapple too thinly, or they will fall apart when grilling.
- If you don’t have an indoor grill pan, you can grill this outdoors. Use grill plates if your grill grates are too far apart for the small pineapple spears.
Nutrition
Calories: 84kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.05g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 39mg | Potassium: 134mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 92IU | Vitamin C: 54mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 0.4mg
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Comments
Bob and Sandra T Davis says
GREAT