Grilled Pineapple Chicken Salad

Nothing says summer cooking like a big delicious and filling salad. This Grilled Pineapple Chicken Salad is the perfect crowd pleaser or easy weeknight meal. Made with perfectly grilled chicken breasts, grilled caramelized pineapples, fresh and crisp romaine, cucumbers, red onions, cherry tomatoes, and creamy avocado. Tossed with a sweet and zesty honey-lime dressing.

Grilled Pineapple Chicken Salad

This Grilled Pineapple Chicken Salad is a crowd pleaser and great for a summer barbecue. It’s also super easy to make and great for a weeknight dinner. Especially during those summer days when it’s 100 degrees outside and the last thing you want is to turn on the stove. Much less the oven!

This salad has everything you ever want from a salad. It’s filling, crunchy, fresh, loaded with protein, and a good hint of sweetness. This recipe comes with its own Honey-Lime Dressing which perfectly compliments it. 

What you will find is the best part of this salad, aside from its flavors, is its freshness. It seriously is on a whole other level! The fresh romaine, pineapple, and all other ingredients are refreshing making this the perfect summer salad.

Furthermore, this salad is also very filling. Which makes it a great easy and quick weeknight dinner. This salad has a good serving of protein since it calls for a good amount of chicken. Lean protein is an essential part of a healthy diet. Pineapples are also very filling and contain a lot of health benefits.

Ingredients needed to make Grilled Pineapple Chicken Salad:

• Fresh Pineapple– Fresh pineapple cut into circles. You will some olive oil to rub on your pineapple slices for grilling.
• Chicken Breasts– You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs.
• For Chicken– Olive oil, pink sea salt, black pepper, thyme, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes.
• Fresh Vegetables– Romaine Lettuce, Red Onion, Cucumber, Cherry Tomatoes, Avocado
• For Honey-Lime Dressing– Olive oil, honey, lime, garlic powder, pink sea salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.

Equipment needed to make Grilled Pineapple Chicken Salad:

• Pineapple Corer– To make perfect circles. If you don’t have one, use a knife to cut the skin from the pineapple. The cut them into circles. Use a spoon to remove the core from each slice.
• Grill– If you don’t have a grill, use a cast iron skillet or griddle to cook your chicken and pineapple.
• Serving Salad Bowl– To toss and serve salad in.

How to make Grilled Pineapple Chicken Salad:

• Step 1– Start by cutting off the skin of your pineapple. Remove core and slice into circles. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over pineapple rings and rub on both sides of each. Pat dry chicken breasts and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle chicken with salt, black pepper, dried thyme, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Mix chicken well making sure it’s well coated with oil and seasonings. 

• Step 2– Turn grill on medium-high heat and preheat for about 10 minutes. Place chicken and pineapple slices on grill. Grill chicken for 7 minutes on each side. Grill pineapple rings for 3-4 minutes on each side. 

• Step 3– While pineapple and chicken grill, chop your romaine, thinly slice onion and cucumbers, halve tomatoes, and peel and slice avocado. Set prepped veggies to the side. 

• Step 4– In a small mixing bowl, combine and whisk all the ingredients for the dressing; extra virgin olive oil, lime juice, honey, garlic powder, pink sea salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes. 

• Step 5– Once chicken is done grilling, slice into strips. In a large serving bowl, layer all of the ingredients for salad; start with chopped romaine then layer cucumber, onions, tomatoes and avocados over romaine. Then add sliced gilled chicken and grilled pineapple.

• Step 6– When ready to serve, pour dressing over salad and give it a good toss. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Tips and Substitutions:

1. Use pineapple corer to slice pineapple- They’re inexpensive and makes cutting a pineapple so easy. You don’t even have to cut the skin off and it slices pineapple into perfect circles.
2. Add some spices to chicken breasts before grilling for more flavor- For this recipe I like to use rice vinegar, pink sea salt, garlic powder, paprika, and dried parsley to season my chicken. 
3. Switch up your bed of lettuce- Use arugula, baby spinach or any other green as a substitute for romaine.

Honey-Lime Dressing for your Grilled Pineapple Chicken Salad:

This Honey-Lime Dressing goes perfect with the rest of the ingredients in this salad. It’s just as fresh as all the other ingredients. This dressing is sweet, tangy, with a bit of a kick. Just the perfect blend to take this salad to the next level of deliciousness. 

How to serve Grilled Pineapple Chicken Salad:

I love making this chicken salad for my family all summer long. I usually make it for lunch or a light summer dinner. My go-to way for prepping and serving this salad is by making a huge bowl and layering all the ingredients. When ready to serve, I add the dressing and toss the salad together. Then everyone can serve themselves as much as they want.

Grilled Pineapple Chicken Salad FAQ’s:

How do you know if a pineapple is ready to be cut? 

There are a few ways you can tell if a pineapple is ready to be cut open.

1. Color and the texture- If the pineapple is a yellowish color yet still has hints of green then it’s good to go. When it’s too green it’s not ready. Too yellow, hinting at a brownish color, means it’s starting to go bad.
2. Smelling it- If you smell the bottom of a pineapple and it has that sweet pineapple smell then it’s a good sign it’s ready.
3. Tugging on its leaves- If you gently tug the leaves and they easily come off then that also means the pineapple is ripe enough to be cut open.

How do you cut a pineapple?

The easiest way to cut a pineapple is by using a pineapple corer. Cut the top of the pineapple off, then proceed to insert the corer inside of the pineapple. Then you just have to twist it up and the skin will be removed from the fruit. This tool will also remove the pineapple’s core. Hence it being a corer. Then Just slice your pineapple into circles to be grilled for your Grilled Pineapple Chicken Salad.

How do you make a pineapple ring without a corer?

If you don’t have a pineapple core, don’t worry. You can still easily make pineapple rings using tools you already have. Use a knife to cut the skin from the pineapple. The cut them into circles. Use a spoon to remove the core from each slice.

Do you put eggs in this chicken salad?

This particular chicken salad does not call for eggs. However, you can certainly add them for extra protein and texture. Use hard boiled eggs, crumble and add to your grilled pineapple chicken salad along with the rest of ingredients.

Meal Prepping it:

This grilled pineapple chicken salad is great for meal prep as it easily makes four servings. Grill your chicken and pineapple and keep aside. Prep your veggies (with the exception of the avocado) and keep in a different container. Make your dressing in a keep in a mason jar. Keep everything refrigerated for up to 3-4 days. When you are ready to have your salad, reheat your chicken and pineapple and serve along with all the veggies and dressing. Great for a quick and easy lunch.

Storing and Reheating:

This salad is best when served immediately. Because of the vegetables used and dressing, it will not hold very well in the fridge and it will get pretty soggy. If you fear you will have leftovers, keep your chicken and pineapple separate from the veggies. Only add dressing to the portions you are consuming right away. Keep chicken and pineapple refrigerated for up to 3-4 days. Reheat by placing back on the grill, on stovetop or even air-fryer. You can use the microwave but it will change the texture of both the chicken and the pineapple.

Can this Grilled Pineapple Chicken Salad be frozen?

No. The veggies and grilled pineapple used in this salad do not freeze well. Freezing them will drastically change their texture. However, you can grill the chicken ahead of time and keep it frozen for up to 2-3 month. Thaw-out on the fridge, reheat and prep the rest if the salad.

Like this Grilled Pineapple Chicken Salad? You may also like these salad recipes:

• Adobo Steak and Avocado Salad with Cilantro-Lime Ranch Dressing
• Grilled Mexican Street Corn Salad
• Classic Macaroni Salad (Gluten-Free)
• Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad with Grilled Chicken
• Watermelon Strawberry Salad with Feta
• Southwest Chicken Salad
• Cucumber Herb Salad
• Easy Veggie Pasta Salad (with Easy Homemade Italian Dressing)

Print

Grilled Pineapple Chicken Salad

Nothing says summer cooking like a big delicious and filling salad. This Grilled Pineapple Chicken Salad is the perfect crowd pleaser or easy weeknight meal. Made with perfectly grilled chicken breasts, grilled caramelized pineapples, fresh and crisp romaine, cucumbers, red onions, cherry tomatoes, and creamy avocado. Tossed with a sweet and zesty honey-lime dressing. 

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Keyword Grilled Pineapple Chicken Salad

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 7 minutes

Total Time 17 minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 557 kcal

Author Angelica Arias

Ingredients

For Chicken:

• 2 large chicken breasts
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp pink sea salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

For Salad:

• 1 Pineapple
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 5 cups chopped romaine lettuce
• 1/2 red onion
• 1/2 cucumber
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 avocado

For Honey-Lime Dressing:

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp pink sea salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions

1. Start by cutting off the skin of your pineapple. Remove core and slice into circles. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over pineapple rings and rub on both sides of each. Pat dry chicken breasts and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle chicken with salt, black pepper, dried thyme, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Mix chicken well making sure it's well coated with oil and seasonings.

2. Turn grill on medium-high heat and preheat for about 10 minutes. Place chicken and pineapple slices on grill. Grill chicken for 7 minutes on each side. Grill pineapple rings for 3-4 minutes on each side.

3. While pineapple and chicken grill, chop your romaine, thinly slice onion and cucumbers, halve tomatoes, and peel and slice avocado. Set prepped veggies to the side.

4. In a small mixing bowl, combine and whisk all the ingredients for the dressing; extra virgin olive oil, lime juice, honey, garlic powder, pink sea salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes.

5. Once chicken is done grilling, slice into strips. In a large serving bowl, layer all of the ingredients for salad; start with chopped romaine then layer cucumber, onions, tomatoes and avocados over romaine. Then add sliced gilled chicken and grilled pineapple.

6. When ready to serve, pour dressing over salad and give it a good toss. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Tips and Substitutions:

1. Use pineapple corer to slice pineapple- They’re inexpensive and makes cutting a pineapple so easy. You don’t even have to cut the skin off and it slices pineapple into perfect circles.
2. Add some spices to chicken breasts before grilling for more flavor- For this recipe I like to use rice vinegar, pink sea salt, garlic powder, paprika, and dried parsley to season my chicken. 
3. Switch up your bed of lettuce- Use arugula, baby spinach or any other green as a substitute for romaine.

Nutrition Facts

Grilled Pineapple Chicken Salad

Amount per Serving

Calories

557

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

31

g

48

%

Saturated Fat

 

5

g

31

%

Trans Fat

 

0.01

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

4

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

21

g

Cholesterol

 

72

mg

24

%

Sodium

 

448

mg

19

%

Potassium

 

1253

mg

36

%

Carbohydrates

 

46

g

15

%

Fiber

 

9

g

38

%

Sugar

 

30

g

33

%

Protein

 

28

g

56

%

Vitamin A

 

5722

IU

114

%

Vitamin C

 

132

mg

160

%

Calcium

 

83

mg

8

%

Iron

 

3

mg

17

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*Number of total servings in estimated. Actual number of servings may vary depending on your own personal preference in portion sizes.

**Nutritional values shown are general guidelines for 1 serving using the ingredients listed above. These numbers do not reflect and may vary depending on substitutions, additions and/or different brands and/or other ingredients that may be used. 

 **Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and sponsored content. All the opinions are my own and I only recommend products I use in my own home with my own family.