• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Eat Love Eat
  • Recipes
  • About Us
  • Work with Me
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • 30 Minute Recipes
  • Recipes
  • About Us
  • Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • 30 Minute Recipes
    • Recipes
    • About Us
    • Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ร—
    Eat Love Eat ยป Recipes ยป Chicken

    Pineapple Chicken Marinade

    Published: Jun 27, 2020, Last Modified: June 16, 2022, By Sasha Hooper ยท This post may contain affiliate links.

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Flipboard
    • Yummly
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pineapple chicken marinade with cilantro and jalapeno pin.

    This vibrant and zingy pineapple chicken marinade is made with sweet pineapple, zesty lime and spicy jalapeรฑo. It takes less than 10 minutes to prepare, perfect for marinating chicken or as a dressing for salads.

    Pineapple chicken marinade in a jar with cilantro, lime and jalapeno around.

    This sweet and spicy pineapple chicken marinade with jalapeรฑos is our new favourite sauce to add flavour to whatever we're grilling. It's quick to whip up, stores well and gives you that kick of flavour that keeps you going back for more.

    It's peak grilling/barbecue season right now and we're so ready for it! There are few things better than dining al fresco at this time of year. It just feels so luxurious and relaxing! Grilling season is all about phenomenal turkey burgers, making the most of beautiful seasonal vegetables, incredible kabobs and of course, marinated grilled chicken.

    We know you'll love using this marinade for your grilling sessions. Be sure to use the links below to get to where you need and leave a comment and rating on the recipe as we love hearing from you.

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this marinade
    • What ingredients do I need?
    • How to make pineapple chicken marinade?
    • Ways to use this marinade
    • Recipe tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Related recipes
    • ๐Ÿ“– Recipe
    • ๐Ÿ’ฌ Comments

    Why you'll love this marinade

    Here are some reasons you'll love this pineapple chicken marinade:

    Versatility - this marinade can be used for any protein from chicken to tofu, on vegetables or even fish. It can also be used as a dressing or even as a dipping sauce.

    Vegan - despite its name this marinade is completely vegan if you wish, just use maple syrup instead of honey.

    Flavour - with all the pineapple, jalapeรฑo and lime juice, this marinade packs a punch and certainly adds to any grilling you do.

    Make ahead - this is so quick and easy to prepare ,you can whip it up in minutes and store it in a jar in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    What ingredients do I need?

    You'll need just a few simple ingredients to make this zingy pineapple chicken marinade:

    Ingredients for the marinade with labels.

    Pineapple chunks - fresh pineapple makes up the base of this marinade. It adds lots of sweetness and that characteristic tropical pineapple flavour.

    Jalapeรฑos - jalapeรฑos add a subtle heat and their incredible green and grassy flavour.

    Aromatics - garlic is always welcome in a marinade along with cilantro or coriander leaf to give you that citrusy freshness and finished with a splash of lime juice.

    Honey or maple syrup - we use this to add a touch of sweetness and to help the marinade caramelise.

    How to make pineapple chicken marinade?

    It couldn't be easier to make this fresh and vibrant pineapple jalapeรฑo marinade:

    Process of pre and post blending the marinade in a blender jug.
    1. Simply gather together your ingredients and place them into a high-powered blender. Blend on high speed until the marinade is bright green and smooth. It will be pourable so there's no need to add any extra liquid to help it blend.
    2. Store the marinade in a sealed jar or other container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Use as a marinade for chicken or other meat or drizzle over grain bowls or salad.

    Ways to use this marinade

    Here are some suggestions on how to best utilise this pineapple marinade:

    Kabobs - this marinade is perfect for chicken kabobs, giving you a great sauce to baste the skewers whilst cooking them to give them extra bark and flavour.

    Dressings - you could use this as a dressing for a chopped salad like this Sweet Potato Kale Salad and maybe switch up the apples and other add ins to something more seasonal like peaches or pineapple.

    Vegetables - Brush some of this pineapple jalapeรฑo marinade over your vegetables before you grill them, you won't regret it!

    Meat - despite this being called pineapple chicken marinade, this will also work perfectly well with beef, pork or shrimp. We're particularly fond of it on a skirt steak for a taco.

    Dipping - use this as a dipping sauce for some vegetable cruditรฉs, chips, crisps or crackers. It's super tasty and vibrant for summer!

    Recipe tips

    Follow these tips to ensure complete success every time using this marinade:

    Marinade time - leave meat proteins to marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes but preferably longer, up to about 8 hours, or overnight if using thick whole muscles or a maximum 1-2 hours if doing cubes of meat. Pineapple contains enzymes that will break down the protein and tenderise meat but too long will affect the final texture. If using with fish, don't marinate for more than 30 minutes.

    Spiciness - depending on how hot you like your food you can adjust the heat by removing the seeds from the chillies before blending them if you prefer.

    Storage - this marinade keeps once made for up to 5 days in a jar or air tight container in the fridge ready for whenever you want to use it.

    Recipe FAQs

    Does pineapple tenderise chicken?


    Pineapple contains bromelain, a group of digestive enzymes that break down the collagen fibres in chicken whilst marinating. It is a wonderful way to tenderise and make the chicken breast more succulent. However, if you over marinate the chicken, it will produce an unpleasant texture in the final product. Stick to 1-8 hours of marinating to be safe. These enzymes only work from fresh pineapple, not canned or pasteurised juice.

    Chicken breast grilled with pineapple chicken marinade served on a platter with a salsa.

    Related recipes

    If you love this pineapple jalapeรฑo marinade for your grilling this summer you need to check out our other grilling recipes, here are some to get you started:

    • Salmon slider on parchment lined baking sheet with lime mayo and chilli jam and a skewer.
      Blackened Salmon Sliders
    • A veggies burger loaded with slaw on a wooden board.
      Veggie Burgers with Chipotle Kale Coleslaw
    • Jalapeรฑo turkey burger on a plate loaded with smashed avocado and pickled red onions.
      Jalapeรฑo Turkey Burgers
    • Three vegan tacos with refried beans and asparagus with pickled onions on top.
      Vegan Tacos with Refried Cannellini Beans and Asparagus

    Love this recipe? Leave us a 5-star โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ rating in the recipe below and don't forget to leave a review in the comments section underneath the recipe. We love hearing from you!

    Why not follow along with us on our social media channels @Instagram @Facebook and @Pinterest and tag us with #eatloveeats when you've tried one of our recipes!

    ๐Ÿ“– Recipe

    Pineapple chicken marinade in a jar with lime, pineapple and jalapeno around it.

    Pineapple Chicken Marinade

    A vibrant, zingy pineapple chicken marinade to whip up in under 10 minutes. The perfect marinade for chicken, beef, shrimp or fish in grilling season.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe โญ๏ธ Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 cup
    Author: Sasha Hooper

    Equipment

    • Stick blender
    • Blender

    Ingredients 

    • 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
    • 2 jalapeรฑos
    • 2 cloves garlic
    • ยฝ cup fresh coriander/cilantro leaves
    • 4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
    • 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
    • โ…› teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

    Instructions

    • Add all of the ingredients to a high powered blender and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust lime juice, honey and salt to taste.
      1 cup fresh pineapple chunks, 2 jalapeรฑos, 2 cloves garlic, ยฝ cup fresh coriander/cilantro leaves, 4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice, 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, โ…› teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • Use to marinate chicken and meat, brush on vegetables or drizzle onto grain bowls and salads.
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Notes

    • Marinate whole chicken breasts from 1-8 hours, if doing diced chicken or a protein, marinate for a maximum of 30 minutes to an hour.ย 
    • Pineapple chicken marinade can be stored in a jar in the fridge for up to 5 days before using. Stir or shake well before using.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cup | Calories: 115kcal | Carbohydrates: 14.2g | Protein: 0.6g | Fat: 7.1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 584.4mg | Potassium: 132mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 12.2IU | Vitamin C: 20.8mg | Calcium: 25.5mg | Iron: 0.3mg
    Course Grilling, Marinade
    Cuisine American
    Diet Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Did you make this recipe?Leave a comment below with how you got on and don't forget to give the recipe a rating โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ. You can also tag @eatloveeats on Instagram - we love to see your creations!
    « Beetroot Avocado Feta Salad
    Pineapple Chicken Kabobs »
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Flipboard
    • Yummly

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. rachel newton says

      July 13, 2023 at 11:40 pm

      5 stars
      So delicious. I marinaded my chicken overnight. Cooked it on cast iron and man best flavor. New favorite marinade.
      I did leave out the maple syrup. I figured pineapple was enough sugar.

      Reply
    2. Kate says

      September 25, 2021 at 12:42 pm

      5 stars
      Such a wonderful combination of flavours. Made for a beautifully light and tasty chicken. The leftover chicken was delicious in fajitas the next day!

      Reply
    3. Mel says

      September 22, 2021 at 8:40 pm

      5 stars
      I've been holding onto summer this year :'( I love this vibrant marinade it was so zingy and perfect over chicken I had last weekend

      Reply
    5 from 7 votes (3 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    sasha-profile

    Hi there, Iโ€™m Sasha and Iโ€™m excited that youโ€™re here! At Eat Love Eat, I work with my husband Jacob to create modern and approachable recipes that highlight the magic in simplicity; itโ€™s our passion.

    More about us โ†’

    follow us

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    trending seasonal recipes

    • A bowl of butternut squash and red pepper soup with yogurt and pumpkin seeds on top with a spoon.
      Roasted Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Soup

    • Three bowls of creamy coconut curry chicken soup with a gold spoon, naan and cilantro.
      Creamy Coconut Curry Chicken Soup

    • Sausage ragu with pappardelle in bowls with a fork and herbs in a bowl nearby.
      Easy Italian Sausage Ragu with Pappardelle

    • a bowl of salad with a fork on a light background with pumpkin seeds scattered around
      Beetroot Avocado Feta Salad

    • Various bowls of spiced sweet potato and carrot soup with gold spoons and topped with tahini drizzle and sesame brittle.
      Spiced Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup

    • Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet Recipe in a skillet with a spoon and a napkin around the handle.
      Healthy Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet

    • Raspberry Dark Chocolate Truffles on a plate, one on top with a bite showing the vivid raspberry centre.
      Raspberry Dark Chocolate Truffles

    • Sticky spicy baked chicken wings on a metal tray with lime wedges with a creamy dipping sauce in a small bowl.
      Sticky Spicy Baked Chicken Wings (Easy and Super Crispy!)

    trending right now

    • Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet Recipe in a skillet with a spoon and a napkin around the handle.
      Healthy Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet

    • Sausage ragu with pappardelle in bowls with a fork and herbs in a bowl nearby.
      Easy Italian Sausage Ragu with Pappardelle

    • Plum and almond cake sliced up into portions with spices, plums and almonds around
      Almond Plum Cake (Gluten Free)

    • Beetroot falafel in a bowl served on top of hummus with avocado and leaves and a fork.
      Easy Beetroot Falafel (Vegan)

    • Sticky spicy baked chicken wings on a metal tray with lime wedges with a creamy dipping sauce in a small bowl.
      Sticky Spicy Baked Chicken Wings (Easy and Super Crispy!)

    • A bowl of butternut squash and red pepper soup with yogurt and pumpkin seeds on top with a spoon.
      Roasted Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Soup

    • Salmon slider on parchment lined baking sheet with lime mayo and chilli jam and a skewer.
      Blackened Salmon Sliders

    • Beetroot hummus in a bowl with feta, mint and olive oil on top with crackers around.
      Easy Roasted Beetroot Hummus

    as seen in

    Featured in banner with list of brand logos.

    Footer

    โ†‘ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Work With Me

    Disclaimers

    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    Contact

    • Contact Us

    Copyright ยฉ 2024 Eat Love Eat

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.