Pineapple Rice
Tropical, sweet, savory, spicy, and absolutely delicious. That’s what this pineapple rice is all about. It’s the best combo of sweet and spicy!
Try pairing this delicious combo of flavors with Spicy Honey Chicken and Sweet Potato Kebabs for the ultimate summer meal!
Pineapple Rice
If you’re not a fan of rice wait till you try this Hawaiian rice. It’s packed with simple fresh ingredients of the summer that give old boring rice so much flavor with a nice spicy kick!
The combination of crushed pineapple combined with spicy red chili flakes and refreshing lime juice make this rice truly the best. Crushed pineapple adds sweetness and texture, while the red pepper flakes balance out the sweetness, and lime juice adds freshness.
Just like our shrimp pineapple fried rice, it’s very easy to make too! You literally add everything into a small saucepan and let it do its thing.
You can’t go wrong with this side dish.
Pineapple Rice Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe:
- Water: Cold tap water is fine here for cooking the rice.
- Crushed pineapple: It normally comes in 8-ounce and 20-ounce cans. You will need one 8-ounce can or 1 cup of crushed pineapple for this recipe.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar and cane sugar both work for this recipe. I personally love cane sugar since it’s minimally processed than granulated sugar.
- Butter: Butter adds richness and prevents the rice from clumping together. Go with unsalted butter.
- Kosher salt: You’ll need 1/2 teaspoon of salt for this recipe. Since salt varies, I recommend you taste the rice before serving and add more if desired.
- Red chili flakes: Chili flakes add the heat to the rice. You only need a little to taste it too. But if you like it spicier, add a little more.
- Rice: Basmati rice or jasmine rice both work. Just make sure it’s not quick-cooking rice.
- Lime: You’ll need the juice of half a lime, which is about 1 tablespoon.
- Cilantro: Chopped cilantro adds a burst of fresh flavor. It’s not complete without it. Use as much as you like!
How to Make Pineapple Rice Recipe
This Hawaiian rice recipe comes together pretty simple. I used basmati rice (jasmine works well too!) Both are aromatic varieties that make a great alternative to plain long-grain white rice.
Sometimes I rinse the basmati to wash off any dust and excess starch and sometimes I do not. Either way is fine. I do not notice a big difference.
- Step 1: To a small saucepan, add water, pineapple, sugar, butter, salt, and chili flakes. Cover and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Stir in rice and reduce heat to low.
- Simmer for 15 minutes, partially covered, until all of the water is absorbed. The rice will have a slight bite to it after 15 minutes and that’s what you want.
- Step 2: Remove the saucepan from heat and let the rice steam another 5 minutes, completely covered.
- Step 3: Fluff rice with a fork. Stir in lime juice and chopped cilantro, to taste.
Serve as a Side Dish
Pineapple rice is the perfect side dish. Here are some entrées that would go well:
- Cilantro Lime Chicken
- Balsamic Grilled Chicken
- Coconut Chicken with Cilantro Lime
- Easy Spicy Shrimp Tacos
- Yogurt Marinated Chicken Kebabs
- Cilantro Lime Chicken Sliders
Video: How to Make Pineapple Rice
Love rice side dishes? Try our Mexican Beans and Rice, Cilantro Rice, Cauliflower Rice Pilaf, or Mexican White Rice.
More Favorites from Little Broken
Pineapple Rice
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Category: Side
- Method: Simmer
- Cuisine: American
Description
Tropical, sweet, savory, spicy, and absolutely delicious. That’s what this pineapple rice is all about. It’s the best combo of sweet and spicy!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple in pineapple juice (1 cup)
- 2 tsp. sugar
- 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 – 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1 cup basmati or jasmine rice, not quick-cooking
- Juice 1/2 lime (about 1 Tbsp.)
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine water, pineapple, sugar, butter, salt, and red pepper flakes. Cover and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Stir in rice and bring back to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, and simmer, partially covered for about 12-15 minutes or until all of the water is absorbed. The rice will be almost done with a slight bite to it.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and let the rice steam for another 5 minutes, covered. Fluff rice with a fork. Stir in lime juice and chopped cilantro. (I love cilantro so I usually go heavy but you can add as much as you like). Taste for salt and if needed add more.
Notes
- Pineapple: For best results, use canned crushed pineapple in pineapple juice. I do not recommend fresh pineapple.
- Sugar: Both granulated sugar and cane sugar work for this recipe. Cane sugar is minimally processed so I personally like to use that more.
- Leftovers: Leftover rice will keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days. It reheats very well too. To reheat the rice, add the rice to a non-stick skillet with little fat, such as butter or swirl of oil and heat, stirring occasionally, over medium heat.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 115
- Sugar: 6.2 g
- Sodium: 4.4 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Carbohydrates: 20.8 g
- Protein: 1.4 g
- Cholesterol: 7.6 mg
Recipe published in June 2015. Updated in June 2020.
This was awesome! Served with grilled marinated island style pork ribs. YUM!
Thank you Rhonda! So glad to hear you enjoyed this pineapple rice recipe.
Loved….
Instead of sugar I used 1sp of Organic honey, and Korean style red peppers.
Taste amazing!
Thank you! I appreciate your feedback. I love that you sub honey in place of sugar. Gotta try that next time.
This pineapple rice… just WOW! So good with grilled fish tacos!
Thank you Dina!
I really like this idea of adding pineapple to rice! I am thinking of grilling the pineapple and adding it to the mix and some bbq chicken. SO GOOD
Ohh…that would be so good! Grilled pineapple..yum.
I absolutely love the sweet and spicy contrast in this pineapple rice, Katya! What a cheery looking dish and so tasty too!
Thank you Julia!
I just tried the recipe and my rice was not done after 20 minutes. I used basmati rice (on the ingredient list) and did everything instructed. Also it says on the package of rice I bought to cook for 45 minutes ????
Was it a blend you were using? As those may require more time. Usually basmati rice is done in 15-20 minutes.
Could this recipe be used in a pressure cooker
I’ve never tried it in a pressure cooker so I can’t really answer with certainty.
This is extremely easy to make and also a very healthy and flavorful recipe to create this at home, Last time I visited this website for create the good rice recipe.
Thank you!
I never get rice to cook correctly, so I need tios beofre ai try this delicious recipe. the recipe says to add all of the ingredients into the water you boil then add the rice… any tricks to getting it right? One of your comment replies mentioned cooking the rice first then adding everything so I got confused
You want to cook everything together as indicated. The crushed pineapple and the spices will flavor the rice. AFter 15 minutes I would taste the rice to make sure it is done. There’s no big tips. Just use low heat and keep the rice partially covered. I hope you give it a try. Let me know if you have any more questions. Thanks!
Loved this! Was a little nervous about it bc my family can be picky eaters. It was a hit. I served it with Caribbean jerk chicken. Used the basmati rice. However, instead of water I used low sodium chicken broth. Will definitely be adding this to my arsenal!
Thank you Molly! So happy it was a hit. Thank you for your feedback!
OMG thank you for this recipe!!!!! I made it with shrimp in coconut oil and cayenne pepper which added more kick!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!
SO good! I followed recipe to a t, except didn’t have cilantro. It was incredibly easy to make, came out perfect, and was seriously delicious! We (adults and kids) loved it on its own and with pulled pork. Making second batch, after first when went in 24 hrs and I got a request for MORE! Thanks for the recipe. It’s a keeper!
So happy you loved it! Thanks so much.
Wait…do you use uncooked rice? Is there a kind of rice that cooks in 15 minutes? Maybe I’m just used to brown rice, but that seems really fast to me. Let me know–I want to make this for company soon and don’t want to mess it up. 🙂 Looks delicious!
It’s probably more like 15-20 minutes depending on your stove and cookware used. But you basically want to cook the rice and then add all the add ins. Hope you enjoy it Wendy. Thanks!
OH MY LAWD, I made this pineapple rice with my Hawaiian pork chops and sautéed sweet potatoes the only thing I did different was cooked the rice with the lime juice and instead of butter used coconut oil. BONKERS!!!
That’s awesome John! So happy you loved it.
Served this rice (exactly by the recipe) with teriyaki pork loin. Phenomenal!!
That’s awesome! So glad you loved it. Thanks so much Gin!
I made this last night and it was so good! It was the perfect amount of heat and was cut by the lime and cilantro. Yum! I added a ton of cilantro though because I love it.
So delish – thanks so much for sharing!
That’s great! So glad you enjoyed it Helen.
This was yummy! I added toasted cashews and finely grated candied ginger! It was perfect with my Citrus marinated grilled chicken skewers!
Thanks!
Thank you for sharing Monique! Sounds delicious and glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Paired your recipe with Teriyaki Chicken and just perfect together!!! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Sounds delicious! Thanks Jaxie!
Over the top … I grilled Hawaiian Chicken Kebabs (Cooking Classy blog) served with this tropical rice (used basmati) for Mother’s Day and this is a family keeper! Be certain to use the red pepper flakes as it brings a slight bit of heat to the back of the tongue! I added a bit of lime zest and 1/2 tsp sesame oil (reduce butter to 1/2 TBSP) during cooking. Thanks for sharing, Kayta!
Thanks so much for your awesome feedback Leann! So happy the rice worked well with the hawaiian chicken.
This rice is phenomenal! I live in a dorm and I don’t have access to a kitchen. However, I was able to make this whole meal in a rice cooker with no problem. So good & filling.
That’s so awesome Rhyan! Glad you were able to make it and enjoy it. Appreciate your feedback 🙂
Rhyan, did you follow the recipe exactly while using your rice cooker?
I’ve been searching for the perfect pineapple rice recipe and I’ve found it here! Thank you so much.
Thanks so much Vicky! I hope you enjoy it.
Hello,
Do you have the measurements for a crowd of 75? Thank you
Hi Toni: I’m sorry but I do not.