Blog - Cooking On The Ranch

Pickled Pineapple, Quick and Easy

August 23, 2022 By Lea Ann Brown 44 Comments

Pickled Pineapple is a surprising treat. Just add water, vinegar, salt and spices and sweet pineapple chunks are transformed into a wonderful tangy relish. Quick and easy.

Where Did I Learn To Make This Recipe?

This pickled pineapple recipe comes from my hometown in Kansas. A recipe from a series of cookbooks created from a compilation of recipes published each day in the local newspaper, The Hutchinson News.

This recipe was from the book which featured recipes from 1952-1955.

Good old fashioned farm country cooking recipes.

With all that said … we like anything pickled, so when I spotted this recipe for pickled pineapple I had to give it a try.

Incredibly easy, it simply states “serve with poultry, meat or fish“.

Following instructions, I ended up with a tangy sweet and sour relish topping for my pan fried pork tenderloin medallions = delicious combo.

If you’ve never pickled fruit, you’re missing out on an explosion of unexpected flavor. Another one of my favorites is this recipe for Pickled Strawberries. Another amazing topping for pork.

Let’s take a look.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Pineapple: Fresh, or canned pineapple chunks.
White Vinegar: or Apple Cider Vinegar
Sugar
Cinnamon Stick
Whole Cloves
Salt

Pro-Tip: Use Kosher salt. It dissolves quicker and will bring a more pure salt flavor to the finished product.

Step by Step Instructions, It’s Easy

This quick pickled pineapple recipe is so easy, with just a few minutes of hands on time.

Chopped fresh pineapple on a blue cutting board.

Step 1: If using fresh pineapple, remove the skin and core and chop pineapple into small bite-sized pieces. If using canned chunked pineapple, drain pineapple and reserve syrup.

Making pickled pineapple pickling syrup.

Cooking pineapple chunks in pickled pineapple syrup solution.

Step 2: Place drained syrup from canned pineapple into saucepan. If using a fresh pineapple, use ¾ cup of pineapple juice or water.
Step 3: Add vinegar, sugar, salt and spices. Simmer uncovered for ten minutes. Let cool at room temperature for about 30 minutes and place the pickled pineapple and syrup into a container and store in the refrigerator.

Pickled Pineapple FAQ’s

How Long Will Pickled Pineapple Last?

Stored in an airtight container, like a mason jar, in the refrigerator, it will last 2 weeks.

Does The Pineapple Get Mushy?

Actually no, as long as you’re not using an overly ripe pineapple. The short 10 minute cook time is perfect to infuse a pickled flavor to pineapple without cooking the fruit too much.

Can I Make This Recipe Spicy?

Yes. Omit the cloves and cinnamon stick. Add one sliced jalapeno pepper and ¼ cup of lime juice. A few springs of cilantro will add another layer of Southwestern flavor.

How Long Does It Take To Pickle Pineapple?

From start to finish, you’ll have quick pickled pineapple in less than 30 minutes. And even quicker than that if you’re using canned pineapple rather than fresh. You’ll eliminate the peeling and chopping process. However, refrigerate for 24 hours before using for best flavor.

How To Use It

Pan Seared Sliced Pork Tenderloin = easy.

So you’ve got pickled pineapple, now what? It’s is a perfect topping for pork. (Our preferred use). Season sliced pork tenderloin with salt and pepper, or even a little Monterey Steak Seasoning. It only takes a few minutes to pay fry them. Quick to cook for a super easy dinner.

Sweet pickled pineapple chunks. A great pickled relish for any meat entree.

Sprinkle it over grilled chicken breasts.
How about a topping for fish tacos or shrimp tacos?
We’ve enjoyed this relish on grilled steak tacos.
Use them as a relish for hotdogs for that irresistible sweet, tangy and salty experience.
Or even toss them in coleslaw.

This easy pickled pineapple is such a unique and delicious treat, I hope you give the recipe a try. It’s an exciting condiment that you’ll want to sprinkle on about everything.

Serving tip: To add even another layer of flavor, sprinkle pickled pineapple with some fine chopped sweet onion or shallots before serving over your favorite main course.

More Things You Might Want To Pickle

And don’t miss this recipe for Refrigerator Pickled Jalapenos. A recipe from Denver landmark, The Fort Restaurant. They use their pickled jalapenos to make a peanut butter stuffed appetizer.

And the most popular pickling recipe on my site for Old Fashioned Pickled Beets. With step by step instructions, a reliable Ball canning recipe.

If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.

And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Pickled Pineapple Recipe

A delicious relish topping for fish, beef, chicken or pork.

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Brine time30

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free

Servings:

Calories: 226kcal

Author: Lea Ann Brown

Equipment

sauce pan
Jar for storing

Ingredients

20 ounces canned pineapple chunks or 1 medium pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into chunks
syrup from one can of pineapple chunks or ¾ cup pineapple juice or water
¾ Cup Vinegar
1 ¼ Cup granulated sugar
⅛ teaspoon salt Kosher salt preferred
6 whole cloves
1 4-inch stick cinnamon

Instructions

Drain syrup from canned pineapple into saucepan. If using a fresh pineapple, use ¾ cup of pineapple juice or water.
Add vinegar, sugar, salt and spices.
Add chopped pineapple and bring to a boil. Simmer uncovered for ten minutes.
Remove from heat and let cool for about 30 minutes. Transfer to a container and refrigerate covered for up to one week. Let sit in the refrigerator for 24 hours before using … for best flavor.

Notes

Pro-Tip: Use Kosher salt. It dissolves quicker and will bring a more pure salt flavor to the finished product.

Keep pickled pineapple in a wide-mouthed mason jar, or a decorative glass jar. Every time you open the refrigerator, that sparkling yellow pineapple will remind you to use it before it goes bad.

Serving tip: Sprinkle pickled pineapple with some fine chopped sweet onion or shallots before serving over your favorite main course.

Nutrition

Pickled Pineapple … It’s What’s For Pork

Dutch Oven Shredded Chicken Sliders

August 16, 2022 By Lea Ann Brown 24 Comments

Put your Dutch Oven to work for this wonderfully easy BBQ Pulled Chicken. Classic in flavor with a tangy twist, and popular with all. This is an easy Dutch oven shredded chicken recipe that makes a great chicken slider. Your hungry party crowd will thank you.

And speaking of easy chicken dinner, don’t miss this recipe for Rotisserie Chicken Tacos.

Crockpot bbq chicken sandwich with corn on the con and yellow watermelon slices.

What You Can Expect From This Recipe

Bookmark, pin, copy and paste …we do it all the time to save recipes we want to try. But haven’t you run across a recipe that as soon as you lay eyes on it, there’s no need to even close out the screen because you know you’ve got to make it right away?

That’s what happened to me when I this recipe for Dutch Oven Shredded Chicken over at Penny’s Lake Lure Cottage Kitchen.

This is one of those perfect recipes when you need to feed a crowd. One pot Dutch Oven easy, full of sweet and tangy flavor, I can’t imagine anyone turning up their nose at this one. It’s perfect.

I like to serve Dutch Oven Shredded Chicken as sliders. Who can argue with little hand held pulled chicken sliders topped with a scoop of coleslaw? Easy to eat and easy on the palate.

In a nutshell, Dutch Oven shredded chicken tossed in a lively BBQ sauce is piled into soft buns and smothered with creamy coleslaw for some delicious sandwiches. Let your Dutch Oven do all of the work and to please that crowd.

Ingredients to make bbq chicken sliders.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ve probably got all the ingredients on hand to make Dutch Oven Shredded Chicken.

A combination of boneless skinless Chicken Breasts and Chicken Thighs: You can use all breast meat or all thigh meat. I’ve made it with all chicken breasts, or a combo. Both work well.
Pineapple Juice
Hot Sauce: Your favorite brand.
Ketchup
Onion: Sweet onion or yellow onion is recommended.
BBQ Sauce: Your favorite brand.
Brown Sugar: Either light brown sugar or dark brown sugar will work here. Dark Brown Sugar will give you a richer molasses -ish flavor.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Worcestershire Sauce
Slider Buns

Ingredient Subs and Swaps

Pineapple Juice: I recommend using pineapple juice for this recipe, but if you want, substitute orange juice.
Vinegar: You can use about any type of vinegar here. White vinegar will work just fine, a red-wine vinegar would be a good choice, and if you have Sherry Vinegar, give that a try. Sherry vinegar will bring a special and beautiful rich flavor.
Buns: The end flavor of this bbq chicken is a sweet one, so I usually choose regular slider buns. But for a sweeter experience, Kings Hawaiian Slider buns would be a popular choice.

Choose bone in chicken. Whenever a bone is involved, there’s more flavor involved. It will just make the task of shredding the chicken a little bit more time intensive.

Step by Step Instructions – It’s SO Easy

Let your Dutch Oven do the work for you by simply adding boneless skinless chicken and bbq sauce, voila = easy Dutch Oven pulled chicken.

Making bbq sauce for bbq chicken sliders.

Step 1: Add pineapple juice, hot sauce, ketchup, bbq sauce, brown sugar, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce to a small bowl.

Step 2: Using a fork or a whisk, mix and stir until well blended.

Dutch Oven Pulled Chicken with onions on top.

Adding bbq sauce to Dutch oven pulled chicken.

Step 3: Add the chicken breasts and quartered onions to the Dutch Oven.

Step 4: Pour in the BBQ Sauce mixture. Cook 1 ½ hours, covered.

Shredded chicken to make shredded bbq chicken sandwiches.

Step 5: Remove the cooked chicken to a cutting board or sheet pan. Using two forks, shred the chicken for the pulled chicken sliders. Shred small enough to fit on a slider bun. Add about a cup of the sauce from the Dutch Oven and stir well.

Question You May Have?

Can I Cook This Is The Crockpot?

Yes, Unfortunately this is not a dump it and leave it type of meal to cook all day for when you get home from work. Unlike tougher pieces of meat like a pot roast, you can over-cook chicken breasts. Even though they’re swimming in liquid, cooking chicken breasts too long will result in a dry texture. Don’t cook the chicken more than 4 hours.

Can I Use Rotisserie Chicken?

If you’re short on time, rotisserie chicken would be a good option for pulled chicken sliders. Just place the bbq sauce ingredients into a medium saucepan. Simmer the bbq sauce for about 15 minutes so that it will blend flavors and thicken. Add the shredded chicken and heat through.

Can I Use Frozen Chicken For This Recipe?

Absolutely not. Unless you want to risk salmonella poisoning. Only used thawed chicken for Dutch Oven pulled chicken. Why? Frozen chicken will not likely reach the temperature of 165 within the “safe window” of time in the Dutch Oven. It’s just too risky.

What Kind Of BBQ Sauce Is Best For Dutch Oven Pulled Chicken?

That’s completely up to you. Use your favorite brand. For us, I usually grab Stubbs Brand. For a very special treat, make your own bbq sauce like I do for BBQ Meatballs. It’s totally scrumptious.

Pro Tip: Some chicken breasts are injected with a water solution for “plumping” reasons. If you have purchased these you will find it swimming in liquid once it’s cooked. Purchase high quality chicken breasts (recommended) for this recipe. You’ll find the chicken at Whole Foods or reputable quality butcher shops are natural without injected liquids. The end result will be a chicken cooking in natural juices.

What Goes With Dutch Oven Shredded Chicken?

In a perfect world, we’d have access to fresh grown sweet corn and watermelon year round. Here are some other side dish ideas if you’re making this recipe during Winter months.

Smoked Mozzarella Penne Pasta Salad, very popular recipe.
Blue Cheese Potato Salad with Bacon
Spicy Baked Beans
Mexican Mac and Cheese

Topping Ideas

Coleslaw seems like a natural for a traditional topping for these bbq shredded chicken sliders. I’m picky about coleslaw and like this Bobby Flay Coleslaw Recipe. But have some fun and offer guests a selection of toppings.

Smashed avocado.
Dill pickles or spicy pickles.
Slices of fresh or pickled jalapeno.
Red Onion. Even though you have cooked onion in the cooked bbq sauce, a slice of red onion for a topping will add a nice crunch and bold flavor.
If you want to add a creamy topping experience, consider a drizzle of Jalapeno Aioli.

BBQ chicken sliders with different toppings.

If you’re looking for an incredibly easy shredded chicken recipe to feed a crowd, consider this Dutch Oven version. It’s such a great recipe for feeding a football crowd, or to take to a pot luck gathering.

It’s an easy sliders recipe that is guaranteed to wow that crowd.

BBQ Dutch oven shredded chicken sliders.

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Dutch Oven Shredded Chicken Sliders

Put your Dutch Oven to work for these wonderfully easy BBQ Chicken Sliders. Classic in flavor with a tangy twist, and popular with all. This is an easy sliders recipe to feed that party crowd. Dutch Oven Pulled Pork is a tasty way to feed that hungry crowd.

Prep Time10

Cook Time1 30

Total Time1 40

Course: Main Course Sandwiches

Cuisine: American

Servings: sliders

Calories: 213kcal

Author: Lea Ann Brown

Ingredients

1 ½ cups ketchup
½ cup barbecue sauce
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup pineapple juice
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
Tabasco sauce to taste abut 4 shakes for us
1 teaspoon garlic powder
3 pounds Boneless skinless chicken breasts or a combo of boneless thighs and breasts
2 medium onions peeled and cut into fourths
½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
¼ teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
16 Slider buns

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix sauce ingredients and set aside.
Spray inside of Dutch Oven with cooking spray. Add chicken pieces and quartered onions. Pour sauce over chicken and onions.
Cook chicken for 1 ½ hours. Remove chicken from Dutch Oven and shred with two forks.
Add about a cup of the sauce from the Dutch Oven to the shredded chicken. If there's not too much liquid in the pot, return the meat to the pot and set on warm. Serve on heated or grilled buns with coleslaw or guacamole.

Notes

Pro Tip: Some chicken breasts are injected with a water solution for “plumping” reasons. If you have purchased one of these you will find it swimming in liquid once it’s cooked. Which means the bbq sauce will be much thinner and diluted in flavor. Purchase high quality chicken breasts (recommended) for this recipe. You’ll find the chicken at Whole Foods or reputable quality butcher shops are natural without injected liquids. The end result will be a chicken cooking in natural juices.

Can you place frozen chicken breasts in the Dutch Oven? Absolutely not. Unless you want to risk salmonella poisoning. Only used thawed chicken for any chicken recipe. Why? Frozen chicken will not likely reach the temperature of 165 within the “safe window” of time in the oven. It’s just too risky.

Nutrition

Dutch Oven Shredded Chicken Sliders … They’re Whats For Dinner

Avocado Mango Salad with Blue Cheese

August 11, 2022 By Lea Ann Brown 6 Comments

This Avocado Mango Salad recipe is delightful with fresh ingredients and irresistible textures. Topped with blue cheese and bacon bits, a honey lime jalapeno dressing sends this one over the top. It’s simply a salad you won’t forget.

Avocado Mango Salad with blue cheese and bacon.

Why Is This Avocado and Mango Salad So Good?

This is a Rick Bayless salad recipe that I’ve been making for years. It’s a beautiful Mexican themed salad that pairs well with about any entree.

This salad is tropical, bright and lively drizzled with a jalapeno pepper, lime dressing.
The savory aroma of garlic and a hint of sweetness from honey combined with salty bacon and bold tangy blue cheese makes this a very compelling salad.
The textures are a combination of buttery, creamy and crisp.

I adore mangos on so many levels. Puree’d as a base for a Jamaican themed Mango Dressing, or simply sliced over cottage cheese for a healthy snack.

If you’re like me and can rarely walk by those huge bins of bright colored mangoes without picking up a couple, this avocado mango salad will be a great way to enjoy them.

Tip: Choose a ripe sweet mango to make the most of the flavors here.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients to make avocado mango salad.

Butter Lettuce: Butter lettuce is a type of green lettuce related to Boston Lettuce. It has a soft leafy texture that feels like it’s melting in your mouth. The flavor is mild with somewhat of a sweet nuance.
Ripe Mango
Ripe Creamy Avocado
Jalapeno Pepper
Bacon
Garlic
Limes, for juice and garnish.
Blue Cheese: Choose a soft blue cheese, like Maytag.
Olive Oil, either virgin or extra virgin olive oil works well here.
Honey

Ingredient Swaps and Subs

Lettuce: Substitute Romaine lettuce or Red Leaf Lettuce.
Cheese: Crumbled goat cheese is a good stand-in or try Mexican Queso Fresco.

Questions You May Have

How To Pick A Ripe Mango?

Mangoes are best when they’re ripe. Some mangoes change color when they’re ripe, but the most common mango found in our markets is the Tommy Adkins which keeps its green and red coloring throughout its shelf life. It’s ripe if it’s somewhat flexible with a gentle squeeze and has a sweet smell at the stem end.

How Do You Peel and Slice A Mango?

What a job! But it’s worth every single curse word muttered. First of all, don’t peel the mango before you try to slice it. The flesh is too slimy to handle. And then follow these instruction on Mango.org.

How Do You Choose An Avocado For Slicing?

Ripeness is best determined by pressure not the color of the avocado. Press down on the avocado with your thumb. A good one will have a little give rather than feeling like you’re pressing against a wall. If your thumbprint stays indented or the flesh feels squishy, skip it, as it’s likely overripe. Overripe avocados simply won’t slice well for a salad. Save them to make guacamole

Can I Make This Salad Ahead Of Time?

Unfortunately, aside from preparing the vinaigrette ahead of time, this isn’t a great “make ahead” recipe. It’s so easy to throw together, it’s best to assemble right before serving. If made ahead, the avocado will turn color. You can assemble all ingredients on individual plates and refrigerate covered with plastic wrap, then add the avocado at the last minute, but that seems like more work than it’s worth.

Avocado Tip: Cold air is an avocado’s best friend. Store avocados in the refrigerator to keep them from further ripening. However, If you have a harder underripe avocado, leave it at on the counter at room temperature to ripen.

OXO Tool to slice mangoes for mango cream cheese stuffed french toast

Tip: Purchase a Mango slicer. It works like a charm to slice the flesh away from the pit. Once the two halves are separated, use a sharp knife to cut the flesh into slices. I’ve hardly mangled a mango since I purchased mine.

Step by Step Instructions – It’s Easy

Prepare The Honey Lime Vinaigrette

Cooking sliced jalapeno peppers and garlic cloves in olive oil.

Step 1: Heat a small fry pan over medium high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the jalapeno slices and whole garlic cloves. Cook until jalapeno slices are starting to soften and garlic is starting to brown. About 4 – 5 minutes.

Ingredients for honey lime dressing in food chopper.

How to make honey lime dressing in a food chopper.

Step 2: Scrape all of the ingredients from the saucepan into a food chopper or food processor. Add honey and ½ teaspoon salt and lime juice. Blend until smooth.

Step 3: Build the salad. Place three leaves of butter lettuce on a plate. Alternate slices of avocado and mango over the lettuce. Sprinkle with bacon bits, and crumbles of blue cheese. Garnish with rings of jalapeno pepper and lime wedges. Drizzle with honey lime dressing. A bit of freshly ground black pepper is always welcome. Enjoy.

What To Serve with Avocado Mango Salad

Perfect for any Traditional Mexican Entree, enchiladas, tacos, burritos, etc.
Ideal for a Mexican themed dinner party.
It shines when served next to grilled chicken, seafood, pork or beef.
And don’t forget those burgers.

Variations

Bacon can be replaced with flaked smoked salmon or trout.
Top with grilled chicken breast for an entree salad.
Leave out the bacon to make the salad vegetarian, or replace it with pan-grilled onion slices.
The luscious texture of mango works well with avocado, but so would ripe peach or nectarine.
The jalapeno could be replaced by hot ground red chile (like New Mexico Chimayo Chile)—sprinkle it over the salad rather than blending it with the dressing.
Over-the-Top Crab-Avocado-Mango Salad: Sprinkle a generous portion of crab meat over the avocado mango salad before drizzling with dressing.
Sprinkle with toasted pepita seeds.
Chopped cilantro is always welcome.

This avocado mango salad is one I can never get enough of. Fresh, vibrant and just eating it makes me feel healthy and energetic.

The dressing is light and bright. Made with olive oil and beautifully seasoned with honey, lime juice, garlic and jalapeno. It’s a fresh topping for the tender butter leaf lettuce and a perfect flavor for this mango avocado combo.

More Popular Salad Recipes

And if you’re salad fans like us, don’t miss my post on 9 Secrets To A Remarkable Tossed Salad. A step by step guide on how to make the best tossed salad ever. And don’t miss my Salad Category, you’ll find lots of healthy meal options, including the most popular on my site for Taco Salad Made with Catalina Dressing.

If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.

And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Avocado Mango Salad with Bacon and Blue Cheese

Avocado Mango Salad, Fresh ingredients, beautiful textures and awesome flavors. Buttery and tropical, keep reading to see what all the fuss is about.

Prep Time30

Cook Time15

Total Time45

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Mexican Fusion

Diet: Gluten Free

Servings:

Calories: 590kcal

Author: Lea Ann Brown

Equipment

Food Processor or food chopper

Ingredients

4 slices bacon
½ cup fresh lime juice about 4 limes
⅓ cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic peeled
1 small jalapeno stemmed, seeded, sliced
1 tablespoon honey
Salt to taste
1 large Butter Lettuce Boston or Bibb Lettuce. Leaves separated
2 large ripe avocados peeled and sliced
2 ripe mangoes peeled and sliced
¾ cup Blue Cheese Gorgonzola, or queso fresco works great here

Instructions

Cook the bacon slices your preferred method. Either in the oven, stovetop in a skillet or between a double layer of paper towels on a microwavable plate. Microwave on high for 2 ½ to 3 ½ minutes, until crispy.
Heat a small skillet over medium heat and add the oil. Add the garlic cloves and sliced jalapeno chile. Cook, stirring regularly, until the garlic is soft and lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
Scrape the oil, garlic and jalapeno into the blender or food chopper or food processor. Add the honey, lime juice and ½ teaspoon salt. Process until smooth. Taste and season with more salt if you think necessary. (It should be highly seasoned.)
Divide the lettuce between 4 dinner plates. Pit and the avocados, scoop flesh from the skin and cut it into slices. Cut the flesh of the mango from the pit. Peel, and slice to match the avocado pieces.
Arrange the avocado and mango in the center of the lettuce. Drizzle everything with the dressing, then sprinkle with the cheese. Crumble the bacon over the top, and the salad is ready to serve.

Notes

A Few Simple Riffs: Bacon can be replaced with flaked hot-smoked salmon, trout or other fish.

Leave out the bacon to make the salad vegetarian, or replace it with pan-grilled onion slices.

The luscious texture of mango works well with avocado, but so would ripe peach or nectarine.

The green chile could be replaced by hot ground red chile (like árbol)—sprinkle it over the salad rather than blending it with the dressing.

Crumbled goat cheese is a good stand-in for Mexican queso fresco.

Over-the-Top Crab-Avocado-Mango Salad: Sprinkle a generous portion of crab over the avocado and mango before drizzling with dressing.

Nutrition

Avocado Mango Salad … It’s What’s For Dinner

This recipe for avocado mango salad was first published January of 2019 and updated August 2022 with new photos and step by step instructions.

Cherry BBQ Sauce Recipe For Chicken

August 6, 2022 By Lea Ann Brown 31 Comments

This is an easy Cherry BBQ Sauce recipe using cherry preserves. The preserves combined with Port wine, citrus, cinnamon and cloves brings a tart, sweet, sticky and savory glaze to grilled chicken.

Homemade cherry bbq sauce in a glass bottled.

A wonderful twist on traditional BBQ sauce. Cherry bbq sauce is layered with flavors that will truly impress. As you savor each bite, you’ll start thinking about everything in sight that you could possibly drizzle this on.

Tart, sweet, sticky AND savory, it would be a perfect pair with duck or pork. Our first introduction was on some cinnamon cured smoked chicken.

This Cherry BBQ Sauce is simply an awesome Summer recipe. It’s easy to make and with natural flavors that shine, I can’t imagine a bottled cherry BBQ sauce that can come close in flavor.

Let’s take a look.

Ingredients you’ll need:

Ruby Port
Chicken Broth
Cherry Preserves
Spices: Red Pepper Flakes, Cinnamon and Ground Cloves.
Sweet Chili Sauce: Found on the Asian aisle.
Orange Marmalade
Corn Starch: For thickening.
Oranges and Lemons: For both the juice and zest.

Ingredients Swaps and Subs

Ruby Port will bring a rich deep fortified wine. If you happen to have a Tawny Port on hand, it most certainly will fill in for the Ruby Port. You can also substitute a rich red wine. Shiraz would be an excellent choice here, or Chianti or Merlot. If you want to make this without alcohol, just increase the amount of chicken broth.
Corn Starch: Substitute rice flower or arrowroot powder.
Orange Marmalade: Substitute ¼ cup of frozen orange juice concentrate.

Step by Step Instructions

Be sure to see the recipe card below for complete ingredients and instructions.

How to make homemade cherry barbecue sauce.

Making a cornstarch slurry for homemade cherry bbq sauce.

Step 1: Combine chicken broth, cherry preserves, orange juice, lemon juice, zests, cinnamon and cloves in a saucepan and mix well. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Simmer for 8 minutes or until mixture is reduced to 1 ½ cups. Stirring occasionally.
Step 2: Whisk the port and cornstarch in a small bowl until blended.
Step 3: Whisk the port/cornstarch mixture, orange marmalade and chili sauce into the broth mixture. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly. Simmer for five minutes or until the flavors blend and the sauce is slightly thickened. Season with red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Done!

How To Use This Cherry BBQ Sauce Recipe For Chicken

Cherry BBQ Sauce will go very well with lamb or pork. However, our tradition is to serve with chicken on the grill. For this Cinnamon Cured Smoked Chicken to be exact.

A simple chicken brine will bring this recipe to greatness.

Chicken Brine Recipe

4 cups water
¼ cup kosher salt
¼ cup brown sugar
8 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
4 chicken drumsticks
1 small onion, thinly sliced
2 thin lemon slice and 2 thin orange slices. Just use slices from the oranges and lemons from the cherry bbq sauce.
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups cherry wood chips

How To: Whisk water, salt and brown sugar in a large bowl until the brown sugar dissolves. Add the chicken, onion, lemon and orange slices, and cinnamon. Marinate, covered with plastic wrap, in the refrigerator for one to three hours. Do not marinate longer than three hours.

Adding Cherry Wood Smoke Flavor to Grilled Chicken

Soaking cherry wood chips for grilled chicken.

Cherry wood chips in tin foil for grilled chicken.

I am in no way an accomplished “smoker” but it’s so easy to add a smoked nuance to grilled chicken. And by using your gas grill.

Purchase a bag of cherry wood chips.

Combine the wood chips with enough water to cover in a bowl. Let stand for one hour and then drain.
Preheat grill on medium high heat. Place wood chips in a foil packet and don’t seal the top.
Place the packet under gas grill grates or on the coals (if using a charcoal grill) five minutes before grilling process begins and cover the grill.
Drain the chicken, discard marinade. Grill chicken for 10 minutes. Turn chicken over and grill another ten minutes. Turn the chicken again this time basting a few times and cook for five minutes. Turn chicken again and cook another five minutes, basting with the Cherry BBQ Sauce. Chicken should be grilled through and an instant read meat thermometer should read 165 degrees.

Pro Tip: Once you drain the chicken and discard the marinade, use a paper towel and pat the chicken pieces dry. This will insure that once those dryer chicken pieces hit those hot grill grates that they’ll immediately start the searing and browning process.

Grilled chicken basted in cherry bbq sauce.

Cherry BBQ Sauce FAQ’s

How Long Will This Keep?

Store any unused bbq sauce in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for up to a week.

How Do I Use This BBQ Sauce?

Aside from chicken, this Cherry BBQ Sauce would make a delicious sauce for beef ribs, pork ribs, or grilled lamb chops. Try serving an appetizer of meatballs drizzled with this sauce = wow.

Can I Make This Spicy?

Cinnamon and cloves are a natural combo for spicy Southwestern cuisine. If you want to make this a spicy version, add 1 teaspoon of New Mexico Chile Powder of Ancho Chili Powder.

Recipe for Cherry BBQ Sauce

I hope you’ll give this Cherry Barbecue Sauce a try. It’s simply a wonderful cherry sauce for grilled chicken, and will give you a pleasant change from the expected traditional BBQ sauce.

And if you’re looking for even more grilling ideas, don’t miss my Grilling Category, you’ll find lots of great Summer recipes including the most popular on my site for Italian Flank Steak.

If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.

And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

Cherry bbq sauce with grilled chicken thighs and legs.

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Cherry BBQ Sauce Recipe For Chicken

A delicious twist on traditional BBQ sauce.

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 163kcal

Author: Lea Ann Brown

Ingredients

For The Cherry BBQ Sauce
1 cup chicken broth
⅓ cup cherry preserves
⅓ cup orange juice
¼ cup lemon juice
½ teaspoon grated lemon zest
½ teaspoon grated orange zest
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cloves
½ Cup ruby port
2 teaspoon cornstarch
¼ Cup orange marmalade
1 Tablespoon chili sauce
⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
For The Cinnamon Cured Smoked Chicken
4 cups water
¼ cup kosher salt
¼ cup brown sugar light or dark
8 chicken thighs bone in, skin on
4 chicken drumsticks
1 small onion thin sliced
2 thin lemon slice and 2 thin orange slices.
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups cherry wood chips

Instructions

Combine the broth, preserves, orange juice, lemon juice, zests, cinnamon and cloves in a saucepan and mix well. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for 8 minutes or until mixture is reduced to 1 ½ cups. Stirring occasionally.
Whisk the port and cornstarch in a small bowl until blended.
Whisk the port/cornstarch mixture, orange marmalade and chili sauce into the sauce mix in the sauce pan.
Bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly. Simmer for 5 minutes or until the flavors blend and the sauce is slightly thickened.
Season with red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature.
For The Grilled Chicken
Combine the wood chips with enough water to cover in a bowl. Let stand for one hour and then drain.
Preheat grill on medium high heat. Place wood chips in a foil packet and don't seal the top.
Place the packet under gas grill grates or on the coals (if using a charcoal grill) five minutes before grilling process begins and cover the grill.
Drain the chicken, discard marinade. Grill chicken for 10 minutes. Turn chicken over and grill another 10 minutes. Turn the chicken again this time basting a few times and cook for 5 minutes. Turn chicken again and cook another 5 minutes, basting with the cherry bbq sauce. Chicken should be grilled through and an instant read meat thermometer should read 165 degrees.

Nutrition

Cherry BBQ Sauce Recipe For Chicken …It’s What’s for Dinner.

This recipe was first published May of 2012 and updated August of 2022 with new photos and step by step instructions.

How To Make A MexicanTostada

July 29, 2022 By Lea Ann Brown 38 Comments

Learn how to make a Mexican tostada “great” by using the right textures and ingredients. Tostadas … fast, fun, fresh and infinitely versatile. And learning how to make a homemade tostada shell will turn that tostada experience into a true fiesta.

How to make a tostada with refried beans, chorizo, cheese and smashed avocado.

Many years and many tostadas later, I’m still hooked and think they’re about the best Mexican food going.

With that beautiful warm tortilla shell, it seems you could throw about anything on it and have a good snack.

But it should be a great snack. How to make a tostada a great tostada? It starts with homemade tostada shells. And ends with a good mix of ingredients that will insure a pleasant eating experience.

How many times have you made a tostada just to have the ingredients fall all over the plate or yourself and make a total mess. Build that tostada right by using ingredients that will stay put!

A great Mexican tostada is made snug and compact with texture and flavors to make a tostada manageable.

Why This Recipe Works: This tostada meets all of the criteria for greatness with a creamy layer of beans, melted cheese and chorizo.

Let’s take a look.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Start with layer of something soft and creamy. Our choice is always refried beans.
Add savory seasoned protein of any kind. Our favorite is cooked ground chorizo.
And, of course, shredded cheese. Any hard cheese like cheddar is a good choice as it will shred well and melt well.
Avocado: I like to keep in simple with simple smashed avocado. Just use the back of a fork to smash it to a creamy consistency. Add a little salt or my Southwest Spice Blend for seasoning.
A good quality tostada shell.

Easy enough, right? And this formula leaves us with an endless lineup of combinations.

Variations

Soft and Creamy: Replace refried beans with black beans or pinto beans that have been drained and warmed.
Protein: Cooked and seasoned ground chicken, ground beef seasoned with taco seasoning. A stewed saucy meat is a good candidate for staying on that shell while eating. Try a Beef Machaca tostada. Want to keep it vegetarian? Omit the meat and just enjoy a bean, cheese, avocado tostada.
Cheese: Use any cheese that will melt well. Monterey Jack, Muenster and Pepper Jack will work well here.
Add some acid: I’ve gotten in the habit of serving any Mexican recipe with a wedge of lime. A quick squeeze will send it over the top with brightness. Another option is a dollop of your favorite salsa. Or Pico de Gallo is also a great choice.
Favorite Toppings: If you want, add a dollop of guacamole in place of the smashed avocado. A spoon full of sour cream, or Mexican Crema is also a good choice.
What To Avoid: Tostadas are always a bit messy, but you don’t want it’s entire contents to fall off. Avoid chopped avocado, big chunks of meat, or large pieces of lettuce. If you want to add lettuce or cabbage, make sure it’s very finely chopped.

How To Make a Tostada Shell

How to make homemade tostadas shells? This is a method for making tostada shells using store purchased soft corn tortillas.

Easy way to make homemade tostada shells for homemade tostadas

Making your own homemade Tostadas shells using store bought soft corn tortillas takes just a few minutes.

It starts with a good tortilla
Corn, of course. Yellow corn tortillas or white corn tortillas will work.
That’s cooked just chewy enough not to crumble in your hands
And one that stays crisp for the duration.

Oven Baked Tostada Shells

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Lay soft corn tortillas on a baking sheet.
Lightly brush both sides with vegetable oil, olive oil or even cooking spray will work.
Sprinkle with light dusting of salt and chile powder. I like to use Chimayo Chile Powder, or Ancho chile powder works great also.
Slide them into the oven and bake for about 3 minutes.
Turn them over, repeat salt, and chile powder and cook 3 minutes longer or until crispy.

How To Make A Tostada Shell Stove Top

Heat 1 cup vegetable oil in an 8 inch skillet over high heat until it bubbles vigorously when the edge of the corn tortilla touches it’s surface.
Fry 1 tortilla at a time, turning once using tongs. Fry until it’s crispy, puffed in places and deeply golden brown, about 1 minute per side.
Transfer the tostada to to a sheet pan lined with paper towels. Repeat wit the remaining tortillas.
A cup of oil will make about 8 tostada shells.

Pro Tip: Homemade baked tostada shells are best eaten as soon as they’re cooked. So be sure you have all of your tostada ingredients ready to assemble.

How To Build a Mexican Tostada

Two tostada shells topped with refried beans.

Step 1: How to make tostadas in the oven? Build tostadas directly on the baking sheet you’ll use to cook them in the oven. We’ll start with the creamy layer. Using a fork, smear warmed refried beans on the tostada shell. Canned refried beans will work well here, or use homemade refried beans.

Homemade tostadas with refried beans and cheese.

Step 2: Add grated cheese on top of the refried beans.

Pro Tip: Purchase good quality cheese and grate it yourself. Pre-grated cheese in bags includes additives to keep it from clumping, which will also compromise the melting factor. Grating cheese from a block of cheese will result in a creamier and more consistent melting experience. Plus, it’s less expensive.

How to make a tostada with refried beans, cheese and chorizo.

Step 3: Add cooked chorizo. Adding a ground meat such as chorizo, taco hamburger meat, or ground cooked chicken will make a better tostada than chunks of meat like shredded chicken or shredded beef. The ground beef mixture will simply stay on the tostada better.
Step 4: In a 400 degree oven, cook the tostadas until the cheese is nice and melted. This should take less than 5 minutes.

Homemade tostada with refried beans, cheese and chorizo.

Step 5: Plate the hot tostadas and add a dollop of smashed avocado. Using smashed avocado rather than avocado chunks will make for a less messy tostada. Cubed avocado will have a tendency to fall off when you eat the tostada.
Step 6: We like to garnish with slices of fresh jalapeno, cilantro and crumbled Cotija cheese.

How To Eat A Tostada?

Pick them up and eat them with your hands. It’s the only way. A knife and fork will only make a mess.

Can I Use Flour Tortillas For Tostadas?

Traditionally, tostadas are made with crispy corn tortillas. However you can prepare flour tortillas for tostadas by brushing the tortillas with oil, then placing topping on top and then baking. See this post for flour tortilla pizzas for step by step instructions.

Are Tostadas Gluten Free?

Corn tortillas are naturally gluten free, and if you follow this tostada recipe using refried beans, meat and cheese … yes they are gluten free.

Make Ahead Tostadas

To make ahead, simply have everything stored in the refrigerator. When ready to make the tostadas, warm the meat and beans in the microwave and then assemble and bake the tostadas.

And if you love Mexican food as much as we do, don’t miss my Mexican Food Category. You’ll find lots of great recipes, including the most popular on my site for Hatch Green Chile with Pork.

You Might Also Like:

If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.

And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

How to make a tostada with chorizo, refried beans and toppings.

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

How To Make A Mexican Tostada with Refried Beans, Cheese and Chorizo

Learn how to make a tostada "great" by using the right textures and ingredients. And learning how to make a tostada shell will turn that tostada experience into a fiesta.

Prep Time15

Cook Time20

Total Time35

Course: Mexican

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings:

Calories: 646kcal

Author: Lea Ann Brown

Ingredients

6 tostada shells
1 pound chorizo Bulk, cooked.
8 ounces cheddar cheese grated
15 ounces refried beans canned, or about 1 ½ cups homemade refried heans
2 avocados smashed
1 cup salsa
½ cup Mexican queso cheese

Instructions

To make homemade tostada shells in oven: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush both sides of tortillas with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and a dusting of chile powder. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 3 minutes, flip, add more salt and chile powder and bake for additional 3-5 minutes. Or until the shells are crispy. Once tortillas are done baking, begin to assemble tostadas. Oven baked tostada shells are best served right out of the oven, so while tortillas are baking make sure all toppings are ready to go.
How to make tostada shells stovetop: Heat 1 cup vegetable oil in an 8 inch skillet over high heat until it bubbles vigorously when the edge of the corn tortilla touches it's surface.Fry 1 tortilla at a time, turning once using tongs. Fry until it's crispy, puffed in places and deeply golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Transfer the tostada to to a sheet pan lined with paper towels. Repeat wit the remaining tortillas.A cup of oil will make about 8 tostada shells.
In a fry pan, cook the chorizo until nice and crispy and cooked through.
For The Beans: Place beans in a microwave safe dish. Gently heat. Set aside and keep warm.
Grate the cheese and set aside.
Build that Tostada: Spread each tortilla with 2 – 3 tablespoons of refried beans. Top each tostada with about ¼ cup of grated cheese. Carefully add the cooked chorizo to the top of the cheese.
Bake the tostadas in the 400 degree oven until the cheese is nice and melted. All oven vary, but this should take less than 5 minutes.
Toppings: Smashed avocado or guacamole. Rings of fresh jalapeno pepper, or pickled jalapeno slices. A dollop of sour cream, or crumbled cotija cheese.

Notes

Use store bought tostada shells if you don’t want to make your own.

Variations

Soft and Creamy: Replace refried beans with black beans or pinto beans that have been drained and warmed.
Protein: Cooked and seasoned ground chicken, ground beef seasoned with taco seasoning. A stewed saucy meat is a good candidate for staying on that shell while eating. Try a Beef Machaca tostada. Want to keep it vegetarian? Omit the meat and just enjoy a bean, cheese, avocado tostada.
Cheese: Use any cheese that will melt well. Monterey Jack, Muenster and Pepper Jack will work well here.
Add some acid: I’ve gotten in the habit of serving any Mexican recipe with a wedge of lime. A quick squeeze will send it over the top with brightness. Another option is a dollop of your favorite salsa. Or Pico de Gallo is also a great choice.
Topping: If you want, add a dollop of guacamole in place of the smashed avocado. A spoon full of sour cream, or Mexican Crema is also a good choice.
What To Avoid: Tostadas are always a bit messy, but you don’t want it’s entire contents to fall off. Avoid chopped avocado, big chunks of meat, or large pieces of lettuce. If you want to add lettuce or cabbage, make sure it’s very finely chopped.

Nutrition

This post was originally published January of 2013 and updated July, 2022.

« Previous Page

Where Did I Learn To Make This Recipe?

Ingredients You’ll Need

Step by Step Instructions, It’s Easy

Pickled Pineapple FAQ’s

How To Use It

More Things You Might Want To Pickle

Pickled Pineapple Recipe

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Nutrition

What You Can Expect From This Recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredient Subs and Swaps

Step by Step Instructions – It’s SO Easy

Question You May Have?

What Goes With Dutch Oven Shredded Chicken?

Topping Ideas

Related Recipes

Dutch Oven Shredded Chicken Sliders

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Nutrition

Why Is This Avocado and Mango Salad So Good?

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredient Swaps and Subs

Questions You May Have

Step by Step Instructions – It’s Easy

Prepare The Honey Lime Vinaigrette

What To Serve with Avocado Mango Salad

Variations

More Popular Salad Recipes

Avocado Mango Salad with Bacon and Blue Cheese

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Nutrition

Ingredients you’ll need:

Ingredients Swaps and Subs

Step by Step Instructions

How To Use This Cherry BBQ Sauce Recipe For Chicken

Chicken Brine Recipe

Adding Cherry Wood Smoke Flavor to Grilled Chicken

Cherry BBQ Sauce FAQ’s

Recipe for Cherry BBQ Sauce

Related Recipes

Cherry BBQ Sauce Recipe For Chicken

Ingredients

Instructions

Nutrition

Ingredients You’ll Need

Variations

How To Make a Tostada Shell

Oven Baked Tostada Shells

How To Make A Tostada Shell Stove Top

How To Build a Mexican Tostada

Make Ahead Tostadas

You Might Also Like:

How To Make A Mexican Tostada with Refried Beans, Cheese and Chorizo

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Nutrition