Every once in a while I create a dish that is so darn tasty that I make it twice in one week.
This my friends is one of those dishes. I mean seriously?! Sweet, fresh pineapple stuffed with tender ribs and wrapped in crispy glazed bacon?!
Earlier this week, my husband and I were brainstorming recipe ideas for the Saucy Mama Recipe Contest that I along with 34 other bloggers are competing in to win a chance to cook at the World Food Competition in November. We came up with this unique recipe featuring some of my favorite foods {double pork!} and decided to try it out in our smoker and in our oven. It came out great in both, the oven being slightly quicker and easier. The Saucy Mama Sweet Heat Sauce is a favorite of mine {check out: Sweet Heat BBQ Pulled Chicken} and this tangy marinade is perfect for basting the ribs and bacon. Give this recipe a try and be sure to come back and let me know what you think!
Also enter to win a set of Saucy Mama sauces below to make your own delicious recipe creations!
Bacon Wrapped Pineapple Stuffed with Sweet Heat Ribs
Makes 2-4 servings depending on the size of your pineapple (and your hunger!)
Ingredients
- 12 oz bottle Saucy Mama Sweet Heat Marinade
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless pork ribs
- 1 large pineapple
- 8 slices thick cut bacon
- oil for searing
Instructions
- Place ribs in a large freezer bag and pour 1/2 the bottle of Sweet Heat Marinade on top. Seal and shake. Marinate in the fridge for 2-3 hours.
- For the pineapple: cut in half (leaving the top leaves or "crown" of the pineapple intact) and scoop out inside flesh leaving about 1/4-1/2 inch of pineapple.
- Place hollowed side up on a rack on top of a baking sheet with edges (to catch any bacon drippings).
- Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
- Heat a large cast iron skillet over med heat.
- Add oil to coat the bottom of skillet then remove ribs from bag and place in hot skillet.
- Sear ribs(do not cook all the way through) until they have a nice crust.
- Baste (or simply pour) with additional marinade from the bag then flip over and sear the other side. Discard remaining marinade in bag.
- Remove from pan and add bacon, cooking with the leftover marinade still in the skillet.
- Cook bacon for a couple minutes, where it is still pliable but it has a nice coating of sauce.
- Remove from heat.
- Pour remaining Sweet Heat Marinade in the bottle in a bowl.
- Place two ribs in the center of each hollowed pineapple half.
- Brush ribs with marinade.
- Flip pineapple (with ribs inside) over so the ribs are stuffed inside.
- Lay 3-4 strips (depending on the size of your pineapple) of partially cooked bacon in rows on top of each pineapple half. I like to brush these with additional marinade too.
- Tuck ends of bacon hanging down under the pineapple.
- I place any additional ribs (I usually have 2 left over) in between the pineapple halves on the same cooking rack.
- Place in the center of the oven and bake nice and slow for 1 1/2 hours.
- Remove from oven, brush on a little more marinade on the crispy bacon and let cool slightly then move stuffed pineapple to a cutting board.
- I prefer to cut off the pineapple crown (it will be wilted unless you want to leave it on for presentation) and then slide the pineapple halves on to a plate and serve warm with fresh coleslaw and corn on the cob!
Notes
We also like to make this recipe in our smoker. You can can prepare it the same except do not partial cook the ribs or bacon. I also prefer to leave the ribs out of the pineapple in the smoker so they get the delicious smoked flavor then stuff them in the pineapple before placing on the plates to serve. Smoke for 2 1/2 hours.
This Sweet Heat Marinade is spicy and tangy and perfect for ribs,
chicken, and pulled pork!
Cut the pineapple in half (leaving the top leaves or “crown” of the pineapple intact) and scoop out inside flesh leaving about 1/4-1/2 inch of pineapple.
Place hollowed side up on a rack on top of a baking sheet with edges (to catch any bacon drippings).
Place ribs in a large freezer bag or dish and pour 1/2 the bottle of Sweet Heat Marinade on top.
Seal and shake. Marinate in the fridge for 2-3 hours.
Heat a large cast iron skillet over med heat.
Add oil to coat the bottom of skillet then remove ribs from bag and place in hot skillet.
Add oil to coat the bottom of skillet then remove ribs from bag and place in hot skillet.
Sear ribs(do not cook all the way through) until they have a nice crust.
Baste (or simply pour) with additional marinade from the bag then flip over and sear the other side. Discard remaining marinade in bag.
Remove from pan and add bacon, cooking with the leftover marinade still in the skillet.
Cook bacon for a couple minutes, where it is still pliable but it has a nice coating of sauce.
Remove from heat.
Cook bacon for a couple minutes, where it is still pliable but it has a nice coating of sauce.
Remove from heat.
Place two ribs in the center of each hollowed pineapple half.
Brush ribs with marinade.
Brush ribs with marinade.
Flip pineapple (with ribs inside) over so the ribs are stuffed inside.
Lay 3-4 strips (depending on the size of your pineapple) of partially cooked bacon in rows on top of each pineapple half. I like to brush these with additional marinade too.
Tuck ends of bacon hanging down under the pineapple.
I place any additional ribs (I usually have 2 left over) in between the pineapple halves on the same cooking rack.
Place in the center of the oven and bake at 275 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.
Place in the center of the oven and bake at 275 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.
Remove from oven, brush on a little more marinade on the crispy
bacon and let cool slightly then move stuffed pineapple to a cutting board.
I prefer to cut off the pineapple crown (it will be wilted unless you want to leave it on for presentation).
Slide the pineapple halves on to a plate
and serve warm with fresh coleslaw and corn on the cob!
We also like to make this recipe in our smoker. You can can prepare it the same except do not partial cook the ribs or bacon. I also prefer to leave the ribs out of the pineapple in the smoker so they get the delicious smoked flavor then stuff them in the pineapple before placing on the plates to serve.
Smoke for 2 1/2 hours.
Be sure to enter to win your own set
of Saucy Mama Gourmet Sauces below!
Looks amazing
I would use it on some ribs
I would use the honey Dijon on some chicken tenders and grill them up with a nice fresh salad
I would use the honey barbecue sauce to make some awesome chicken wings!
skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net
I would like to try the Sweet Heat BBQ.
I would grill chicken drumsticks with it.
I would try the pineapple with pork!
I would make bbq pork ribs with the honey bbq sauce – shaunie
I would make the Smoky Garlic Mustard Sweet Potato Skinny Fries.
I would make bbq chicken I'd probably actually have my husband grill it (: YUM~
Definitely would love to use that sweet heat on some ribs.
LOVE the way your recipe looks I would likely make either ribs or grilled chicken but this would be great on almost anything.
ellen beck on form
I would love to grill some chicken breast with the Honey Dijon!! Yum. Also, your recipe looks fantastic!!
I would make me bacon wrapped nut stuffed pork!
I'd make ribs for sure!
Mike, great minds think alike! Looks delish!
I agree…this is Josh Bush's recipe, just tweeked a bit. (and not too much, actually)
Thank you for your comments. I have seen a picture but never another recipe. Glad this recipe is so popular by many different home cooks!
How do you enter for a chance to win the 3 sauces from saucy mama's?
This is last year's giveaway. Enter the 2016 Saucy Mama giveaway here:
https://www.4theloveoffoodblog.com/2016/05/sweet-heat-bacon-wrapped-grilled-corn.html