Pineapple Grilled Salmon With Teriyaki Sauce

This delicious grilled salmon gets intense flavor from pineapple and teriyaki sauce. It’s a great healthy recipe for a summer evening.

sprinkling sesame seeds onto pineapple grilled salmon

Pineapple grilled salmon is a tropical twist on heart-healthy salmon. This recipe combines the bright tropical flavor of pineapple, savory teriyaki sauce, and buttery salmon that leave you wanting more.

Sometimes you just need an escape from a routine workweek. David and I love grilling out when the weather is nice. It’s an escape for both of us, and it helps to break up the monotony of a 5-day grind.

This salmon recipe is perfect for doing just that. It’s super easy to prepare, and the pineapple and fish are ready in about 20 minutes. The pineapple serves as an edible “plank,” so you don’t have to worry about soaking cedar planks or disposing of them.

Enjoy the nice weather outside and grilled food from your barbecue on a weeknight.

Let us show you how to make this recipe!

How To Cut Pineapple Planks

The planks come from the outer edges of the pineapple, so you don’t end up cutting or chewing on the toothy core.

Lay the pineapple on its side. Cut off the leafy top and about ½-inch off the bottom.
Stand the pineapple up on the flat-cut end. Steady the pineapple with your non-cutting hand. Start from the top and slice downward following the curve of the fruit, cutting off a ¼-inch thick rind and discard. Repeat until you have worked your way around the pineapple and all of the rind has been removed.
With the pineapple still standing upright. You should be able to tell where the core is. Slice down next to the core on each side to create 4 pineapple “planks.” Reserve any leftover pineapple to serve with rice or refrigerate for another time.

ingredients for pineapple grilled salmon

Ingredients You’ll Need To Make Pineapple Grilled Salmon

It’s important to find the freshest salmon possible. I highly recommend Sitka Salmon Shares if quality salmon is unavailable where you live.

The recipe card at the end of this post provides a detailed list of ingredients.

Salmon: for this recipe, you need 4 salmon fillets. King Salmon, Coho, and Sockeye are all good choices; use the freshest salmon possible.

Seasoning: Keep it simple. This salmon is bursting with flavor without any fancy rubs or spice blends. Simple kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper are enough.

Pineapple: one fresh whole pineapple. Look for pineapple that gives slightly with a gentle squeeze. I usually pull one of the leaves from the crown. It should give and break off and not be hard to pull out.

Teriyaki Sauce: It’s so easy to make teriyaki sauce, so I always make my own. When you make your own sauce, you can control what goes into it, especially the sodium. It has just the right amount of sweetness without being too sweet. I share the full recipe in the recipe card below. Feel free to use store-bought if you prefer.

Garnish: I use lightly toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onion. I love how the mix of back and white sesame seeds looks with the green onions against the dark teriyaki sauce and pink flesh of the salmon. Both are optional.

brushing teriyaki sauce onto pineapple planks

How To Make Pineapple Grilled Salmon

Detailed instructions are provided in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Preheat: Set up the grill for indirect heat and preheat to 350 degrees F.
Make the Sauce: Make the Teriyaki Sauce.
Cut the Planks: Cut the pineapple planks.
Grill the Pineapple: 3-5 minutes on each side, basting each side as you turn it over.
Cook the Salmon: Place the grilled teriyaki pineapple planks on the indirect side of the grill. Lay a salmon fillet on top of each plank. Grill over indirect heat, brushing every 10 minutes with teriyaki sauce. Cook until the internal temp of the salmon is 135-140 degrees F, or the fish begins to flake, and the pineapple is tender. About 30 minutes.
Rest: Allow the salmon to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Serve: Garnish with scallions and sesame seeds and serve with steamed rice, broccoli, or sides of your choice.

Tips

Use any leftover teriyaki sauce for serving.
Try to select or cut the salmon fillets to fit the pineapple planks.
The pineapple salmon comes together quickly, so it’s best to have everything prepared and ready to go before grilling.
Use short skewers to help hold the salmon on top of the teriyaki pineapple planks. (Remember to soak wooden skewers before using.)

removing pin bones with needle nose pliers

FAQs

Can I cook pineapple plank salmon in the oven?

YES! Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Baste the pineapple in teriyaki sauce and bake on a foil-lined pan for 5 minutes. Then lay the salmon on and bake, brushing with teriyaki sauce every 10 minutes for about 20-30 minutes. Cook time depends on the thickness of the plank and the salmon. Use an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness.

Can I use pineapple slices instead?

Yes, but you will need to use a grill pan or bake the fish in the oven to keep it together.

How do you grill salmon so it won’t fall apart?

Grilling the salmon on a plank, whether cedar or pineapple, will ensure the salmon doesn’t fall apart.

Do I grill the salmon with the skin on or off?

For this recipe, we recommend that you remove the skin. The skin tends to become rubbery when it is cooked on the pineapple.

What is the white stuff that comes out of the salmon when it cooks?

The white stuff that comes out of salmon when it’s cooked is just albumin or coagulated protein. It is harmless. To control the amount of fat that albumin released from a salmon, bring the temperature up very slowly and do not overcook it. Overcooking salmon will cause even more albumin to form and dry out the fish.

pineapple grilled salmon with rice and broccoli on plate

This salmon recipe is so good! We hope you’ll make it soon. Let us know what you think. Leave us a comment and a star rating below. We value your opinion and appreciate your time.

See ya on the mountain!

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