This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Albertsons. All opinions are 100% mine.
Easy and delicious pineapple kabobs sprinkled with a tiny bit of cinnamon and brown sugar, then grilled to perfection. It has a warm and decadent taste, making it the ultimate healthy comfort food for entertaining, barbecues, or family dinner. Top with a scoop of creamy low calorie ice cream for the perfect summer dessert.
If you haven't ever had grilled pineapple before, you are missing out! It is one of my very favorite flavors, and I have to admit that I enjoy it just as much as a good steak at a barbecue. If that is wrong, I don't want to be right. Needless to say, this recipe is a must-try! Your family and friends will love it!
I like to pair my grilled pineapple with creamy and delicious low-calorie Open Nature® Scandal-less ice creams from Albertsons. Their flavors compliment each other so well, making it a perfect guilt-free treat for summer.
What Does Grilled Pineapple Taste Like?
I first tasted grilled pineapple when I went to a Brazilian restaurant in college and ever since, I have been hooked. There is something about grilling it that makes it take on its own unique flavor and it is one of my very favorite healthy desserts.
Fresh pineapple can sometimes feel like it is hurting your mouth when you eat it. That is because it is acidic and it also contains the enzyme bromelain, which can cause a little bit of breakdown.
If you are a pineapple lover like me though, you're in luck! Cooking or grilling pineapple actually destroys the Bromelain.
How to Season Grilled Pineapple
This is my favorite pineapple- lightly seasoned with cinnamon and brown sugar before grilling to subtly compliment the robust flavor of the fruit.
But, there are many combinations you could try. Here are a few more popular ones:
- sugar, lime and top with coconut
- Sea salt and brown sugar
- chili lime powder
- hot sauce
- teriyaki sauce
- drizzle with honey after grilling
What to Serve with Grilled Pineapple Kabobs
I love to grab some ice cream to put over our grilled pineapple. The creaminess compliments the acidity of the fruit and is so flavorful and delicious.
I found a guilt-free, low-calorie/high protein ice cream that I really love at Albertsons, with no artificial colors or flavors and clean ingredients. At only 240- 370 calories per pint, Open Nature® Scandal-less ice creams have 60-80% less calories than regular ice cream, and 40-50% less fat than regular ice cream.
There are a bunch of flavors of Open Nature ice creams (even sorbet, almond milk, cashew milk, oat milk, and coconut milk options). The ones I like best for this recipe are the Scandal-less Vanilla and Scandal-less sea salt caramel. They are both so, so good. And they're a better value than other low calorie brands.
I shopped at my Albertsons in Meridian, Idaho, but you can also find these ice creams at the Albertsons Companies family of stores. These include Albertsons, Safeway, ACME Markets, Jewel-Osco, Vons, Randalls, Shaw’s Supermarket, Star Market, Tom Thumb and Vons or online.
Grilled Pineapple Tips
This is one of the easiest desserts you will ever make, and here are a couple tips to make it flawless.
1. Preheat the Grill
You want your grill to be completely preheated before adding your kabobs. this sears the outside and nicely caramelizes the sugars.
2. Buy Pre-cut fresh pineapple
I always buy the big tubs of already cut, fresh pineapple at Albertsons and they make my life so much easier. I feel like the price is really comparable to the un-cut ones, but it saves so much time!
3. Soak the Skewers
Soak the skewers for at least 10 minutes before putting the pineapple on them. This is a good rule of thumb anytime you are making kabobs as it prevents the sticks from burning up on the grill.
4. Be conservative with the Sugar
I very lightly sprinkle my kabobs with the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture. Pineapple is naturally sweet so I feel like it doesn't need a lot.
You could even test out your first batch with varying amounts of the cinnamon sugar to see how much you prefer.
Grilled Pineapple Kabobs
Delicious pineapple kabobs, sprinkled with cinnamon and brown sugar then grilled for the perfect summertime dessert!
Ingredients
- 1-2 fresh pineapples cut into chunks dispose of top, shell, and core
- 2 T brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- good olive or canola oil
Instructions
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Soak skewers in water for at least 10 minutes to prevent burning.
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Preheat grill to high or 400 degrees.
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Poke the skewers through 8-10 fresh pineapple chunks each, depending on the size of the chunks. Lay them out on a baking sheet or tray when finished.
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Brush lightly on all sides with good olive or canola oil.
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Mix brown sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl and lightly sprinkle onto the skewers. I just do this lightly on one side, but you can do more, and on both sides if you want a sweeter result.
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Place skewers onto preheated grill. Monitor carefully as they cook. Flip every 2-3 minutes until warmed/cooked through. I flipped my skewers a total of 3 times. The individual chunks may flip and have a mind of their own. It is totally okay if some sides get cooked more than others.
Recipe Notes
For grill and pellets that we use, click my "shop" tab in the menu bar.
Serve with a dollop of ice cream for a delicious summer dessert.
No Grill? No Problem
If you don't have a grill, you can easily do this on the stovetop or the oven in your home.
Grilling Pineapple on the Stovetop
I use a grill/griddle combo that I love (see links up in my "shop" tab) when I need to cook/grill indoors. Just make sure that you heat up your cast iron so that it is nice and hot and follow the grilling instructions. You may need to make adjustments for your personal stove.
Grilling Pineapple in the Oven
Baking pineapple in the oven is delicious as well. Just follow these steps:
- Place your grill pan in the oven and preheat to 400 degrees.
- prepare pineapple as outlined above in the recipe card
- Use an oven mit to remove grill pan from the oven.
- Lay out kabobs on your grill pan and put it back in the oven.
- Cook 7-8 minutes, then turn.
- Cook 7-8 minutes more. You want the sugar to be caramelizing and your kabobs to be golden brown, not burned.
How to Reheat Grilled Pineapple
I always think that things taste best when eaten directly from the grill, but I also love leftovers!
You can reheat pineapple in the microwave by placing on a microwave safe plate and zapping it for 30 seconds to a minute, depending on your microwave.
Then, top with ice cream and enjoy!
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