Pineapples have this perfect balance of sweet and tangy, making them ideal for all kinds of foods, from appetizers and side items to main entrees and desserts. They also have a strong tropical flavor that can help you bring a little taste of sand and sun into your home. Whether you’re looking for something sweet or savory, this list should have you covered. Now, let’s get to the good stuff!
1. Watergate Salad
For something that takes 10 minutes or less to pull together, Watergate salad certainly is delicious. All you’ll have to do is combine all the ingredients – pistachio pudding mix, crushed pineapples, chopped nuts, whipped topping, and mini marshmallows – and mix thoroughly- Then, let it chill in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving it. It’s fluffy with bits of crunchiness from the nuts and sweet with a slight tang from the pineapples. It’s a delightful combination of contrasts, and you will love it.
2. Hawaiian Pizza
Although it takes a little time for the dough to rise, homemade pizza is remarkably easy to make. You can, of course, use pre-made pizza crust if you prefer, but they don’t have the same robust flavor as their homemade counterparts. Once your dough is ready, the preparation process is quick, taking only 10 to 15 minutes, if that. The pineapple chunks give the pizza a sweet, tropical flair that makes it so much better than “regular” pizza.
3. Do Nothing Cake
Contrary to the name, do nothing cake actually requires you to do a little work, but that amount of work is so tiny that it’s almost nonexistent. If you can mix ingredients, grease a pan, pour, turn the knob on the oven, and stir, you can make this cake. The ingredients are simple, and the coconut, nuts (I use pecans), and pineapples give it a fantastic taste.
4. Pineapple Cobbler
This five-ingredient cobbler requires only 10 minutes of prep time and minimal hands-on effort to make. The crust is warm, flaky, and perfectly crispy, and the pineapples are sweet, tender, and melt-in-your-mouth good. It tastes best served hot and topped with vanilla ice cream.
5. Pineapple Angel Food Cake
If you like light, refreshing cake with a spongy texture and sweet, cool icing, you’ll love this one. Use whatever angel food cake mix you like best, and add a can of crushed pineapples to the batter. Bake it until it’s soft and springy, then cover it with whipped cream and shredded coconut (optional). I also like to put a few chunks of pineapple on top for extra goodness.
6. Easy Pineapple Bars
These soft, dense bars are like lemon bars but sweeter, and the coconut drizzle is so amazing, you’ll never want to top anything with simple powdered sugar again. They work well as desserts, breakfast pastries, or even as sweet, mid-day treats.
7. Ambrosia Salad
In ancient Greece, ambrosia was the food of the gods; its literal translation is immortality. Ambrosia salad won’t grant you eternal life in the real world, but it will delight your tongue and taste buds, especially if you freeze it and serve it like ice cream. It’s fluffy, light, and super tasty, requires no cooking, and is ready for the fridge in about 15 minutes. Mix the crushed pineapple, mandarin oranges, Cool Whip, sour cream, shredded coconut, and mini-marshmallows in a large bowl. Then cover it and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Again, freezing it turns it into an even more exciting treat.
8. Pineapple Coleslaw
Even if you’re not a big coleslaw lover, you may want to give this recipe a try. The pineapple adds a tangy sweetness to the slaw that completely alters its taste. Plus, it takes only 15 minutes to whip up.
9. Punch Bowl Cake
Punch bowl cake is so pretty, and it tastes so good, which is why I make it a lot more often than is strictly necessary. There’s just so much good stuff in that bowl! Between the bananas, cake, walnuts, vanilla pudding, pineapples, coconut, cherry pie filling, and whipped cream, it’s hard to pick a favorite layer. Let’s just say they’re all scrumptious and leave it at that.
10. Hawaiian Chicken
Hawaiian chicken is tender and juicy – succulent, really – and has a fantastically complex flavor. There’s the smokiness from the soy sauce, garlic, and actual smoke from the grill. Then there’s the sweetness from the coconut milk, brown sugar, and pineapples. It’s an excellent combination.
11. Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
In less than an hour, you can have this soft, sweet pineapple upside-down cake ready to serve. My only suggestion is to substitute pineapple juice for the water in the recipe. It gives the cake an intense pineapple flavor and makes it so moist that it almost melts when it hits your tongue.
12. Pineapple Pie
If you’re like me, when you hear the word “pie,” you think of an apple, peach, chocolate, cherry, key lime, or pumpkin pie. Heck, I even think of a pizza pie or chicken pot pie before pineapple. I have to say, though, I’m so glad I discovered this recipe. It requires only five ingredients and takes 35 minutes to make. The crust is warm and flaky, and the pineapples are sweet, tangy, and tropical. Eating this pie makes me think of warm summer days on the beach, a pina colada in my hand. It’s the ultimate summer dessert, and you need to try it.
13. Millionaire Pie
Every time I make this pie, I make this joke, but it’s just so fitting that I can’t help myself. Want to know why they call it millionaire pie? Because it’s so rich and tastes like a million bucks! It’s my silly, cheesy “dad” joke, even though I’m not a dad, but it’s also fitting. With a graham cracker crust, toppings that include maraschino cherries and pecans, and a filling made from pineapples, whipped topping, lemon juice, cream cheese, and sweetened condensed milk, this pie can’t help but be insanely rich. At the same time, though, it’s beyond delicious. Every bite tastes better than the one before it. So yeah, my joke may be cheesy, but it’s also true.
14. Pineapple Fiesta Salad
This black bean salad is phenomenal. Whether you serve it on the side or as a topping – a la pico de gallo – people will love it. I like to use it as a salsa substitute and serve it with warm tortilla chips. It’s sweet, savory, and zesty all in one.
15. Pineapple Carrot Cake
Do you love carrot cake? Do you love pineapples? If the answer to both is yes, then this is the dessert for you. Pineapple carrot cake has all the nutty earthiness of carrot cake, along with the sweet tropical flavor of pineapples. If you like, you can also add the traditional carrot cake spices – nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.
16. Granny Cake
If you had a gramma who loved to bake, the smell of this granny cake baking in the kitchen will bring back all kinds of memories for you. The base is a simple white cake, but the sweet glaze and topping of brown sugar and walnuts transform it into something so much better. And if you think it smells good while cooking, wait until you take that first rich, warm bite.
17. Pineapple Cupcakes
These pineapple cupcakes are easy to make, and with only 100 calories each, they’re a big hit with almost everyone. Simply prepare the yellow cake mix as the box instructs. Then add a can of crushed pineapples to the batter and bake them as usual. Once they’re done, ice them with Light Cool Whip to finish off the tasty, low-cal treat.
18. Hawaiian Banana Bread
I’m not usually a gambler, but I’d almost be willing to bet that Hawaiian banana bread is the best banana bread you’ll ever eat. It’s similar to any other banana bread recipe you have. However, the can of crushed pineapples and the maraschino cherries add a layer of fruitiness that’s missing from most banana bread. It’s also a little moister and less dense than traditional banana bread recipes.
19. Pineapple Cheesecake
All you need to make this zesty, totally amazing pineapple cheesecake is sugar, graham cracker crumbs, butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, crushed pineapples, and whipped topping. There’s no cooking involved, and pulling it together takes less than 15 minutes. Just be sure to let it chill for a few hours before serving it. As with all cheesecakes, the colder it gets, the better it tastes.
20. Pineapple Upside-Down Donuts
These unique treats take the yumminess of pineapple upside-down cake and fuse it with the cinnamon and buttery goodness of baked donuts. They take about 30 minutes to make, and the pineapple slices bake themselves into the donuts. So not only do these taste great, but they also look lovely.
21. Baked Pineapple Salmon
This baked salmon is as gorgeous as it is scrumptious, and it packs an unbelievable amount of flavor. The fish has the traditional umami flavor, while the pineapple slices add a bit of tropical sweetness. The onions and garlic provide an earthy, herby taste, and there’s even a bit of heat in the dish, as well. It really does combine everything you could want into one beautifully presented dish. Note: If you aren’t a fan of cilantro, you can substitute chives instead.
22. Pineapple Salsa
All you need for this simple, tangy salsa is an onion, canned pineapple, jalapeño, lime, cilantro, and a dash of salt. It takes 10 minutes to make, and it has a great, garden-fresh tropical taste that you just can’t beat.
23. Pineapple Oatmeal Cookies
Oatmeal cookies have never been my favorite. They just aren’t sweet enough for me. If I want to indulge in a cookie, I want it to taste like a cookie. These pineapple oatmeal cookies, though, are a different story entirely. There’s nothing like biting into an oatmeal cookie and expecting the mild molasses flavor only to be surprised by a bright, bold burst of pineapple.
24. Fresh Fruit Cocktail Salad
If you can wash and slice fruit, you can make this superb fruit cocktail salad. Add whatever ingredients you want. Just be sure you save the syrup from the canned fruits to use as “salad dressing” to coat the salad.
25. Pina Colada Quick Bread
♬ If you like pina coladas… ♬ Then you’ll love this pina colada quick bread recipe. Infused with the robust flavors of coconut, pineapple, and cinnamon, this bread is moist, soft, and insanely good. It truly puts most other quick breads to shame. Just be sure you make enough because it isn’t easy to make yourself share.
26. Pineapple Coffee Cake
This cake has the dense, crumbly texture of coffee cake, the sweet, tropical flavor of coconut, and the nuttiness and crunchiness of added walnuts. It tastes great served with coffee, of course, but it’s also ideal for tea time.
27. Pineapple Casserole
If you’re one of those people who enjoys fruit and cheese, you’ll go crazy for this casserole. It takes 35 minutes to make and only requires seven ingredients. For those of you who think Ritz crackers, pineapples, and cheddar cheese sound odd together, I’d advise you to try it first. It’s a sweet and salty delight, and it might just surprise you.
28. Pineapple Coconut Bread
This bread is somewhat similar in taste to the pina colada quick bread, but it takes a little longer to make. Furthermore, it has a crispier outer texture than the quick bread and is more dense and chewy. If you’re looking for a sweet, pineapple-flavored bread that’s more filling and works well as chunky sandwich bread, you might want to go for this one instead. Click on a star to rate it!
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