Easy Caramelized Pineapple Recipe
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Often when I'm cooking a meal and find myself short one side dish, I'll go to my standby of caramelized pineapple. (At home, we actually call this dish "fried pineapple".) It may sound a little crazy, but it's really good and so easy to make.
VIDEO: How to make caramelized pineapple:
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If you prefer step-by-step instructions, keep reading to see exactly how I made this easy caramelized pineapple recipe.
How to make caramelized pineapple
All you need is a can of pineapple chunks and some brown sugar. Make sure you get the pineapple that comes in its natural juices, not the kind that comes packed in syrup. For a 20oz can of pineapple, I use about 1/2 cup of brown sugar.
Start by draining the pineapple (save the juice for breakfast tomorrow morning). Put the drained pineapple into a dry skillet. Sprinkle the brown sugar on top and turn the heat on medium-high.
Almost immediately, you'll notice lots of liquid in the pan as the sugar melts and the pineapple gives off some of its juice.
Soon the syrup will begin boiling and letting off lots of steam.
Once the steam has stopped, the water is all gone from the syrup, and it's done. Be careful not to overcook it, or you risk the caramel burning or getting too thick and hard.
Serve immediately. (Leftovers can be stored in the fridge and are also tasty served cold)
The result is a wonderfully easy and versatile dish that goes great on a dinner plate with pork chops or grilled chicken. It's also equally yummy served over ice cream or cake for dessert!
How to serve caramelized pineapple
Caramelized pineapple (or as I like to call it, "fried pineapple") is so versatile and you can serve it on its own or as a topping for numerous other dishes.
Here are five great ways to serve caramelized pineapple:
- Drizzle over vanilla ice cream
- Spoon over pineapple upside down cake for added pineapple punch
- Serve with your roasted ham at Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter
- Top grilled chicken or pork chops
- Add a little soy sauce and sriracha and serve with Chinese food
Ideas for tweaking this caramelized pineapple recipe
Here are four great ways to tweak this caramelized pineapple recipe to bring a whole new taste profile:
- Add sauteed onions for a more savory taste
- Try using fresh pineapple for a brighter, bolder flavor
- Sprinkle in some red pepper flakes for a spicy twist
- Add a splash of Tia Maria or another liqueur for a grown-up ice cream topping
Other easy side dish recipes
Here are ten more great recipes we have developed that are worth a try:
- Estonian Onion Jam
- Tusker House Orzo Pasta Salad
- Elotes Mexican Street Corn
- Candied Green Olives
- Pumpkin Cheese Fondue
- Old Bay Deviled Eggs
- Classic Cheese Ball and Crackers
- Bubble Bread from the Bubble Room
- Greek Tzatziki
- Dried Beef Roll-Ups
Caramelized Pineapple
Our quick and easy caramelized pineapple is so versatile, it works great on its own as a side dish, as a dressing for pork or chicken, or as a dessert topping for cake or ice cream.
Ingredients
- 20 oz can of pineapple chunks in natural juices
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
Instructions
- Drain the pineapple. (save the juice to drink later!)
- Put the pineapple into a dry skillet.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar over the pineapple.
- Heat on medium high until simmering, noting the steam coming from the water as it evaporates.
- When the steam stops, watch carefully and only cook until a syrupy consistency, and do not allow to overcook or burn.
- Serve immediately or store leftovers in the fridge.
28 comments so far:
I made this tonight and both my husband and I loved it! Thank you for sharing it.
That's great, Sheryl. Did you save me some? :)
just made these for dinner they are great. I added some onions for a twist.
Love, I just made these for my boyfriend (who is a very picky eater) and I. He loves this recipe! It's delicious!
Diandra, glad you guys loved it!
Made this.....didn't like it...neither did hubby
I'm using it to top my pineapple upside down cakecup cakes!
I just made them, because my dad's coming home. I added some candied cherries and it tastes fantastic! love it!
Made this with fresh pineapple for breakfast...we served it over buttermilk pancakes. It was great!
At a splash of Tia Maria liquor to taste. Serve over ice-cream
Sheilagh, that sounds delicious!
Tried this with a bit of red pepper added at the end, great with Asian food!
Lisa, that sounds like a delicious addition! Thanks for sharing.
I add these to mashed sweet potatoes. Tasty!
I made this and topped pork chops with it, super delicious! Thank you for fast, easy caramelized pineapple recipe!
Connie, that sounds delicious!
Put a spoonful at the bottom of a lime posset. Fabulous!
Liz, I had to look up lime possets and wow, they look delicious! I bet the pineapple would be a wonderful addition.
Quick and easy to make. Rich and perfect as a topping for ice cream, thank you for posting this! :)
Hi there, I know this is an old post, but it looks delicious! Do you not add a knob of butter?
Ellie, thank you! I have not tried adding butter to it, but if you try it out, please let us know how it tastes.
Years ago I worked at an authentic Chinese restaurant (think no peas and carrots in your fried rice - beansproats, onions, scallions and egg instead). They taught me quite a few of their recipes. Often they would add seasonal fruit to the dishes.
I did use sesame seed oil to coat the pan. If eating as a dessert, I would use butter. The glazed pineapples were added to homemade fried rice. Thank for such an easy delicious recipe!
Debbie, what a great story. I bet you have some good recipes in your arsenal!
Used this to top French toast along with some shredded coconut, coconut whipped cream, and a caramel toffee sauce. Perfect addition! Thanks for the recipe!
Wondering if i can do this with crushed pineapple?
Shawntel, that's an interesting idea! We haven't tried it, but if you do please let us know how it goes. My gut tells me you would need to drain the pineapple very well to get rid of all the excess moisture that comes with crushed pineapple.
I decided to make these pineapples but used them in a burger and it worked really well
Francis, that is an amazing idea! I'll have to try that soon.