Pineapple Sauce

This easy Pineapple Sauce is a golden, silky, not-too-sweet sauce to spoon over sliced ham, pork, or chicken dishes. With only 5 ingredients and in just 5 minutes, you can whip up this impressive sauce for a holiday or weeknight meal. Pairs perfectly with our Crockpot Ham.

All you need to get started are these 5 simple ingredients, plus a small pot, a small bowl, and a whisk.

1. Pineapple juice – Find this in a can in the juice aisle or buy a 20-ounce can of pineapple chunks in 100% juice and strain out the juice to use (that’s the cheapest option).
2. Honey – Our recipe is set apart from others in that we use honey instead of brown sugar. Not only is honey a real food ingredient but it has a distinct flavor and color that pairs well with the pineapple juice and Dijon.
3. Dijon mustard – This ingredient adds acidity and pungency to balance out the sweetness, making the sauce more complex-tasting.
4. Salted butter – Adds a little salt, some much-needed fat for any good sauce, and helps create the silky texture.
5. Cornstarch – This will be combined with a little water to create a thickener, so the sauce has some body to it.

How to Make Pineapple Sauce

As I mentioned, it only takes 5 minutes or less to create this sauce from start to finish.

Bring pineapple juice, honey, Dijon, and butter to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 5 minutes.

In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water until smooth.

Add the cornstarch slurry to the sauce and whisk until thickened, another 1 minute. Transfer to a gravy boat or serving dish. 

Can I make pineapple sauce in advance?

Yes, you can make pineapple sauce up to 3 days in advance. Warm over low heat in a pot on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Do I have to use the cornstarch to thicken it?

You don’t have to add the cornstarch slurry, but the pineapple sauce will be more like juice consistency and very thin if not. An alternative thickener is to use arrowroot powder instead. Be sure to follow the package directions when using that thickener, since it reacts differently than cornstarch.

Can I baste a ham with this sauce while it cooks?

I tried basting my ham with it, but the sauce just fell off and didn’t add any flavor. I found that making this 5-minute sauce and drizzling it over the ham was a MUCH easier and tastier method.