Juicy, warm, and meltingly sweet, this Tequila Grilled Pineapple gets a mouthwatering char from the grill and a layered flavor boost from tequila, cilantro, and Southwestern spices.
Easy Grilled Pineapple with a Grown-Up Twist
If you love classic grilled pineapple, meet its boozy cousin: Tequila Grilled Pineapple. This adult-friendly version combines sweet, ripe pineapple with the earthy agave notes of tequila, bright cilantro, and a touch of smoky spice. It’s a simple way to elevate a summer side or dessert for backyard gatherings.
Grilling intensifies the pineapple’s natural sugars and adds a sweet-smoky char that pairs beautifully with a tequila-based glaze. The result is a balanced mix of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors that works equally well on its own or as a component in other dishes.
What You’ll Need
This recipe uses a few straightforward ingredients and takes minutes to prepare. It’s a summer staple that’s easy to scale for a crowd.
- Skewers: Soak bamboo skewers in water for 30 minutes before grilling to prevent burning.
- Pineapple: One large pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into wedges (or chunks).
- Tequila: About ¾ cup to make the glaze.
- Cilantro: Roughly ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro for brightness.
- Brown sugar: ⅓ cup light brown sugar to enhance caramelization.
- Paprika & Chili powder: ¼ teaspoon of each for smoky and slightly spicy notes.
How to Choose the Best Pineapple
Pick a pineapple that’s beginning to turn golden with a touch of green. Avoid fruit that’s uniformly green (likely underripe) or showing brown, withered leaves (overripe). Give it a gentle squeeze: the flesh should yield slightly but not be soft. Finally, smell the base—ripe pineapple has a sweet, fruity aroma. If it smells off or bitter, pass on it.
How to Cut a Pineapple
- Trim the top and bottom, then stand the pineapple upright and slice away the outer rind in vertical strips.
- Remove any remaining “eyes” with a small knife.
- Cut into slices, wedges, or chunks and remove the tough core from each piece. If you slice rounds, a small cookie cutter can help remove the center core.
How to Grill Pineapple
This comes together quickly and grills in about ten minutes.
- Prep grill & skewers: Preheat the grill to medium. Cut pineapple into roughly 2-inch cubes and thread onto soaked bamboo skewers (6–8 skewers).
- Make the tequila glaze: Whisk together tequila, chopped cilantro, brown sugar, paprika, and chili powder until smooth.
- Grill: Oil the grill grates lightly. Place skewers on the grill and brush all over with the tequila glaze. Cook about 10 minutes, turning and basting occasionally, until nicely charred and warmed through.
- Serve: Remove from the grill and serve warm as a side, dessert, or topping.
Tips for Making Tequila Grilled Pineapple
These quick tips will help you get the best results:
- Grill pan option: If you don’t have an outdoor grill, a cast-iron grill pan or skillet works well indoors.
- Swap spirits: Not a tequila fan? Rum or whiskey both make excellent alternatives.
- Under-ripe pineapples: Slightly underripe fruit can still turn out great—grilling draws out sugars and caramelizes the surface.
Variation Ideas
Try these variations to tailor the dish to your taste:
- Simple sugar: Grill pineapple with a sprinkle of raw or turbinado sugar for a classic sweet finish.
- Honey butter & cinnamon: Sprinkle cinnamon while grilling, then drizzle with a mix of honey and melted butter for a pineapple-upside-down-cake vibe.
- Spicy sriracha: Mix 1 tablespoon sriracha with 1 tablespoon mayonnaise and drizzle over the finished pineapple for a sweet-spicy contrast.
What to Serve with Grilled Pineapple
Serve warm as a simple side or use it as a topping for sweet and savory dishes. Some great pairings include:
- With ice cream: Warm grilled pineapple is delicious over vanilla or coconut ice cream for a boozy dessert.
- With steak or chicken: Use it as a fruity side to grilled meats—its sweetness complements savory, charred flavors.
- With cocktails: Garnish margaritas or other summer drinks with a piece of grilled pineapple for extra aroma and flavor.
Tequila Grilled Pineapple
Ingredients
- 1 large pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into wedges
- ¾ cup tequila
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
- Preheat the grill to medium heat.
- Cut the pineapple into roughly 2×2-inch cubes.
- Thread the pineapple onto soaked bamboo skewers (6–8 skewers) and set aside.
- Whisk together tequila, chopped cilantro, brown sugar, paprika, and chili powder in a mixing bowl.
- Brush the grill grates with a little oil, place the skewers on the grill, and baste generously with the tequila mixture.
- Cook about 10 minutes, turning and basting occasionally, until charred and warmed through.
- Remove from the grill and serve warm.
Equipment
- Grill or grill pan / cast-iron skillet
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. Values may vary by ingredients and tools used.
More Recipes with Fruit
Fruit-forward dishes are perfect for warm weather. Try these easy recipes next:
- Easy Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
- Easy Strawberry Pavlova Nests
- Mango Strawberry Frozen Yogurt