Easy Air Fryer Pineapple

The air fryer turns ordinary pineapple into a sweet, caramel-coated delight without any grilling needed. The first batch I made filled my home with such an amazing smell that everyone wandered into the kitchen asking what smelled so good. This super easy treat only needs 4 simple ingredients and takes less than 20 minutes total. You can serve it with your main meal or have it as a better-for-you sweet treat that still feels like you're spoiling yourself.

I found this idea by accident when hunting for a quick after-dinner treat during a get-together last summer. My grill was busy cooking the main dishes, so I threw some pineapple chunks into the air fryer just to see what would happen. My friends nearly started arguing over who got the last pieces, and now I always cook twice as much when people come over – it vanishes so fast!

Basic Ingredients

• Fresh pineapple: Skip the canned stuff completely – you absolutely need fresh for the right kind of browning. Pick one that gives off a sweet smell near the bottom and feels slightly soft when you press it.
• Pure maple syrup: You need the genuine stuff to get that wonderful sticky coating. I've switched to honey when I had to, and it's okay, but maple syrup gives you a richer, more interesting sweetness.
• Butter: You can leave it out if you must, but it adds a richness that changes this from pretty good to totally amazing. Either salted or unsalted works fine – go with what you like best.
• Ground cinnamon: Just a small amount brings out the sweetness without taking over. If cinnamon isn't your thing, you can leave it out or try cardamom for something different.

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Cooking Steps

Get Your Pineapple Ready

First, take off all the rough outer skin from your pineapple, making sure to dig out all those little brown spots too. Cut away the hard middle part, then slice into rings or half-circles about half an inch thick. If they're too skinny they'll break apart; too chunky and they won't get that nice brown edge. Put your cut pineapple in a bowl and set it aside.

Whip Up Your Coating

In a little bowl, mix together melted butter, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Stir it around until everything's blended well. This easy mixture is what changes plain old pineapple into something really special. Pour this tasty coating all over your cut pineapple.

Mix and Set Up

Softly toss the pineapple chunks so each piece gets covered with the coating. Don't be rough or you'll break them – I just use my fingers for this part. Then carefully put the pieces in one layer in your air fryer basket. A little bit of touching is fine, but don't stack them on top of each other.

Cook Till Golden

Cook at 380°F for around 12-15 minutes total, turning each piece over halfway through. Start looking at them around 10 minutes since different air fryers cook differently. You want pieces that have turned a nice golden color with slightly browned edges. That's where all the yummy flavor comes from!

My grandma always made grilled pineapple during our summer visits to her place in Florida. She always said it was her "family secret" though I found out later it was just butter and brown sugar! This air fryer version reminds me of those nice evenings on her back porch, but I'm happy I can make it any time of year now, even during our awful Midwest winter months when nobody wants to go outside to grill.

Tasty Combinations

This sweet pineapple goes amazingly well with spicy foods – the sweetness balances out the heat perfectly. Try it next to jerk chicken or spicy shrimp tacos for a meal with tropical vibes. For dessert, nothing beats warm pineapple with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream or some whipped coconut cream on top. The mix of hot and cold creates such an amazing eating experience.

Tasty Twists