Tired of the same dull store-bought tomato ketchup? Prepare to transport your taste buds to a tropical island paradise with this sweet and spicy ketchup, infused with the tangy sweetness of fresh pineapple and the fiery kick of crushed red pepper flakes. A touch of savory soy sauce and subtle hints of onion, garlic, and ginger help make this Hawaiian-inspired condiment almost as versatile as it is delicious. Whether you use this ketchup to create your favorite party meatballs, as a spread with mayonnaise for ham or chicken sandwiches, as a glaze for grilled meats or seafood, or simply as a dip for grilled, roasted, or deep-fried vegetables, this sweet ketchup is sure to spice up your menu.
While never a huge fan of ketchup, especially where fries are concerned, I will admit that this specific sweet and tangy condiment is finally starting to grow on me after years and years of refusing to have anything to do with it. Recently, I often find myself surprisingly reaching for it to add flavor to certain foods, especially when it’s a homemade or from-scratch restaurant version. And, after making this Summer Cherry Ketchup & Barbecue Sauce last summer and becoming a full-on, late-in-life, ketchup convert, I just couldn’t wait to test out a pineapple version. Now, while I most likely one hundred percent won’t be dipping my fries in this Hawaiian-inspired ketchup anytime soon, I can promise y’all that I will most assuredly be using it to dip my grilled zucchini and onions in with the utmost happiness this summer. And after that, I’ll be using it to make a grilled chicken sandwich with ham, mayonnaise, provolone, and perhaps even a generous slice of fresh pineapple or these Pineapple Ketchup Ground Turkey Meatballs. This fruity ketchup is one of those recipes you’ll really get to enjoy playing around with, so don’t hesitate to make a batch up as soon as possible and start experimenting. P.S. This recipe is also a great excuse to buy a fresh pineapple. Just in case you need an excuse. But seriously, y’all, who needs an excuse to buy a fresh pineapple? Certainly not this full-on, late-in-life, ketchup convert.
Ingredients:
- 2 Cups Fresh Pineapple, Very Finely Diced
- 1 Cup Ketchup
- 3 Tablespoons Low-Sodium Soy Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar, Packed
- 2 Tablespoons Rice Wine Vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon Honey
- 1 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1/4 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
- 1/4 Teaspoon Finely Ground Black Pepper
Directions:
- Place all of the ingredients into a medium stainless steel or non-reactive metal pot. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 25 minutes, stirring often.
- Allow the ketchup to cool for 30 to 60 minutes.
- Using a blender, purée the ketchup until smooth.
- Transfer the ketchup to an airtight, lidded glass jar or bowl and refrigerate until use.
Suggestions:
- Make sure to use a stainless steel or non-reactive metal pot to make this recipe, due to the acid in the pineapple, ketchup, and vinegar.
- This recipe works great with super-ripe pineapple. If your pineapple is firm and not quite ripe, the ketchup will not be as sweet, and it will not have as much pineapple flavor. You may need to add additional brown sugar.
- Don’t have rice wine vinegar on hand? Replace it with white vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
- Refrigerated, this ketchup will last at least a week. You can freeze this ketchup for future use if you choose. Just make sure that you freeze it in an airtight container.
- This sauce can be used to make party meatballs, sandwiches, as a grill sauce, or as a ketchup to dip grilled or fried vegetables into. The possibilities are endless.
Improvements:
- Use fresh ginger or fresh garlic for this recipe. Measure with your heart.
- Replace the ground ginger with finely chopped candied ginger. You’ll need approximately 1 tablespoon.
- Instead of onion powder, add 1/2 cup of finely diced onion to the ketchup mixture.
- Instead of traditional tomato sauce, serve this ketchup with these Three-Meat Pork Meatballs with Parsley.
- Add a 1/4 cup of dark rum or spiced rum to this ketchup.
- For a Hawaiian twist, replace the apricot and apple sauce in this Southern Hash Browns & Ham Sheet Pan Bake with this sweet and spicy ketchup.
Ingredients:
- 2 Cups Fresh Pineapple, Very Finely Diced
- 1 Cup Ketchup
- 3 Tablespoons Low-Sodium Soy Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar, Packed
- 2 Tablespoons Rice Wine Vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon Honey
- 1 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1/4 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
- 1/4 Teaspoon Finely Ground Black Pepper
Directions:
- Place all of the ingredients into a medium stainless steel or non-reactive metal pot. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 25 minutes, stirring often.
- Allow the ketchup to cool for 30 to 60 minutes.
- Using a blender, purée the ketchup until smooth.
- Transfer the ketchup to an airtight, lidded glass jar or bowl and refrigerate until use.
PIN THIS RECIPE
Don’t let this recipe slip away. How often do you find a recipe intriguing, yet forget where to find it when you finally get the hankering to make it? Instead of digging through old posts or wandering aimlessly around on the internet, why not Pin this recipe to Pinterest where you can find it when you eventually need it? Simply Pin the image above and you’ll have it when that time comes. You can follow us HERE on Pinterest or simply click HERE to find all of our pin-worthy recipes.
Twice Cooked Potatoes with Spicy Ketchup
Sweet Bourbon & Pineapple BBQ Sauce
Summer Cherry Ketchup & Barbecue Sauce
Use this Sweet & Spicy Hawaiian Pineapple Ketchup to make these Pineapple Ketchup Ground Turkey Meatballs. This stovetop skillet turkey meatball recipe delivers juicy, tender ground turkey meatballs bursting with sweet and spicy goodness. But the real star of this dish is the sweet and spicy sauce, made with a quick homemade pineapple ketchup that adds an irresistible zing. Whether you’re planning a weeknight dinner or searching for the perfect appetizer for your next party or game day gathering, these turkey meatballs are a versatile crowd-pleaser. Serve them solo, thread them onto skewers with fresh pineapple chunks, or pile them onto mini sliders for a truly unforgettable bite. CLICK HERE for the recipe.
In 2024, we cooked and baked our way through the alphabet with several of our food blogger friends. Every other Wednesday, we shared a new recipe featuring a consecutive letter of the alphabet, starting with A in January and ending with Z in December. CLICK HERE to find all of the 2024 Alphabet Challenge recipes.
Kalamata, Mozzarella, & Tomato Couscous Salad
Crafted with the perfect blend of spices and the subtle sweetness of brown sugar, this homemade jerk seasoning is a lovely way to add a slightly sweet flavorful Caribbean spice profile to your everyday recipes. The amazing versatility of this seasoning mix is what makes it so special. It can be used to grill chicken, shrimp, or fish, however, it can also enhance the flavor of rotisserie chicken salad, roasted vegetables, and even deviled eggs. Don’t be afraid to experiment and get creative with this easy-to-make Caribbean seasoning.
In 2025, we’ll be cooking and baking our way through the alphabet with several of our food blogger friends. Every other Wednesday, for the 2025 Alphabet Challenge, we’ll be sharing a new recipe featuring a consecutive letter of the alphabet, starting with A in January and ending with Z in December.
“A” – Creamy Parmesan Acini di Pepe with Potatoes
“B” – Chocolate Espresso Rainbow Brownie Cookies
“C” – Cheesy Cheddar Taco-Seasoned Corn Chip Dip
“D” – Sun-Dried Tomato Dip with Italian Seasoning
“E” – Cajun Deviled Eggs Garnished with Pickled Okra
“F” – Sausage Meatballs with Vodka Fennel Sauce
“G” – Guinness Stout Crockpot Simmered Corned Beef
“H” – Baked Homemade Buttery Herb Croutons
“I” – Sun-Dried Tomato & Kale Italian Pasta Salad
“J” – Sweet & Spicy Jalapeńo Canned Tomato Salsa
“K” – Sweet & Spicy Hawaiian Pineapple Ketchup
“L” – Chickpea Salad with Lemony Swiss Chard Pesto
“M” – Pineapple Ketchup Ground Turkey Meatballs
“N” – Nut-Free Basil Pesto Chunky Tomato Sauce
“O” – Sheet Pan Italian Olive Oil Summer Vegetables
“P” – Peach Crumble Pound Cake (Cake Mix Recipe)
“Q” – Parmesan Potato & Zucchini Crustless Quiche
“R” – Cinnamon Raisin Vanilla Zucchini Bread Muffins
“S” – Weeknight Sweet Italian Sausage Gravy with Beer
“T” – Budget-Friendly Chunky Potato Soup with Thyme
“U” – Chunky Pumpkin Ancho Unsweetened Cocoa Chili
“V” – Sweet Tea Vodka Vegetable Couscous Soup
“W” – Creamy Butternut Squash Soup with Whiskey
“X” – Rotisserie Chicken Xavier Soup with Fennel
“Y” – Yellow Mustard Seed Giardiniera Deviled Eggs
“Z” – Simple Zero Cream Creamy Butternut Squash Soup
Please make sure to check out the other great “K” recipes below. A huge thanks to A Day in the Life on the Farm for hosting this 2025 Alphabet Challenge event.
- A Fruit Formerly Known as ‘Kaffir’ + Makrut-Kissed Cookies by Culinary Cam
- Cheese Tortellini Soup with Kielbasa and Kale by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Chipotle Lime Shrimp Kabobs by Blogghetti
- Fresh Kielbasa Sheet Pan Dinner by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Kachumbari, Kenyan Salad by Mayuri’s Jikoni
- Khoya/Mawa Gujiya With Dry Fruits by Sneha’s Recipe
- Kimchi Cucumber Pickles by Palatable Pastime
- Kimchi Gochujang Dip by Magical Ingredients
- Kimchi Udon by A Messy Kitchen
- Kiwi Tomato Feta Salad by Food Lust People Love
- Strawberry Kuchen by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
- Sweet & Spicy Hawaiian Pineapple Ketchup by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
