Spicy Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Pineapple Bites
Sweet and spicy is my favorite flavor combination and it shines bright in this craveable bite sized appetizer. If you have never had these juicy, sweet, spicy bacon wrapped pineapple bites, you are not living life right! Every time I make them the first question I am asked is “are there more?” The simple combination of the sweet pineapple chunk and brown sugar pair flawlessly with the salty bacon and add a little heat and you won’t be able to stop eating these bacon-wrapped pineapple bites. If you love sweet, salty, and spicy flavors, you will love this easy appetizer recipe. They are the perfect handheld bites, only require six ingredients, and will be a hit at your next party! Full printable recipe card below.
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Ingredients
This easy bacon pineapple appetizer is the perfect addition to your party menu. Here are my notes on ingredients for the best results and how to make them with or without the spice.
Fresh Pineapple – The best way to make these is with a fresh whole pineapple because of the size of the pineapple pieces. I have never tried this with canned pineapple, but I feel like the pieces are too small and may burn since the canned version usually includes additives and preservatives. If you are running short on time I would buy the pre-sliced fresh pineapple at your local grocery store.
Bacon – Who doesn’t love some crispy delicious bacon! For this recipe I used regular bacon from Costco that was hickory smoked. But I have also made these with flavored maple bacon and skipped the brown sugar and spices and they also turned out really good!
Dark Brown Sugar – Dark brown sugar has more molasses and is a little sweeter than light brown sugar and I think it pairs better with the spices but you can use either one here.
Spices – To make these bacon bites a little bit spicy I use a mixture of red pepper flakes, cayenne, and black pepper and add it to the brown sugar. These are not overly spicy but if you do not like spicy food you can omit the cayenne and red pepper flakes and just use the pepper and brown sugar.
Dippers – If you want a dipper for these I think BBQ sauce is the best choice, but honestly, we never use sauce because they are THAT good on their own.
Cutting the Pineapple
For best results, use a fresh whole pineapple and cut it into 1-2 inch chunks. If you cut them too small it will be difficult to wrap them in the bacon slices. If you cut them too big they will be awkward to eat. A one and a half inch chunk of pineapple makes just the right bite sizes. See details here on how to cut a whole pineapple.
Assembling the Bites
I found the best way to make these is to start by cutting the bacon strips in half while they are stacked in the package, right down the middle. Then take each piece of bacon and wrap it around the pineapple chunk. When you get to the end, secure the bacon piece with a toothpick. Note, this is done with raw bacon and the pieces of bacon should not be cooked before wrapping them around the pineapple.
Once all the pineapple pieces are wrapped in bacon, roll them in the brown sugar and spice mix to coat them. This will create a sweet crust on the bites while they cook.
Cooking Bacon Bites
To keep your bacon crispy and to prevent the pineapple bites from cooking in bacon grease, I line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top. This way the bacon remains elevated and doesn’t become overly greasy. The foil also protects the pan. As they bake the brown sugar will caramelize and get stuck to the bottom of the pan. This makes for easy clean up too.
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Print
Spicy Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Pineapple Bites
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 32 pieces 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Warning! These sweet and savory bites are highly addictive! Take your appetizers to the next level with these spicy brown sugar bacon wrapped pineapple bites. The saltiness of the bacon paired with the sweet pineapple and brown sugar create the perfect compliment to each other with a little bit of heat. This easy appetizer uses simple ingredients and is always a huge hit at parties!
Ingredients
- 1 Whole Pineapple cubed
- 1 lb of Bacon
- 1/2 cup Dark Brown Sugar
- 3/4 tsp Black Pepper
- 3/4 tsp Crushed Red Pepper
- 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top and spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Cut a fresh pineapple into one and a half inch chunks and set aside.
- Open a package of bacon and cut it down the center to create two pieces of bacon for every strip in the package.
- Wrap each piece of raw bacon around a pineapple chunk. When you get to the ends of the bacon, secure the bacon piece with a toothpick.
- In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and cayenne.
- Roll each pineapple bite in the sugar and spice mixture coating on all sides.
- Place each piece of pineapple wrapped in bacon on the prepared baking sheet with the wire rack.
- Cook the bacon wrapped pineapple bites for 20-30 minutes until the bacon is cooked all the way, flipping halfway through. Cooking times will vary depending how crispy you prefer your bacon.
Notes
You may have leftover pineapple pieces depending on the size of the whole pineapple.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Looking for more great appetizers? Try my sweet and smoky bacon BBQ deviled eggs, buffalo chicken dip wonton cups, sausage cream cheese stuffed mushrooms, crab puffs on English muffins, or my sausage onion and goat cheese puff pastry appetizer.
Storage and Reheating
I recommend making these right before serving to ensure the bacon is crispy. If you have leftovers you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
While you can microwave leftovers, these reheat the best in the oven on 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
When to Make Bacon Pineapple Bites
These are the simplest things to make and I could seriously eat them every day! Next time you need a party appetizer, want a sweet and savory treat, or are watching the weekly football games, you have to try these! They are a great finger food for holiday parties, dinner parties, brunch, Super Bowl Sunday, or any time you have a craving! I made them for Thanksgiving and Christmas appetizers and I am already getting requests to make them again! And did I mention they are also gluten free? Win win!
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