A system and method for multi-spectral MR imaging near metal include a computer programmed to calculate an MR pulse sequence comprising a plurality of RF pulses configured to excite spins in an imaging object and comprising a plurality of volume selection gradients and determine a plurality of distinct offset frequency values. For each respective determined offset frequency value, the computer is programmed to execute the MR pulse sequence having a central transmit frequency and a central receive frequency of the MR pulse sequence set to the respective determined offset frequency value. The computer is also programmed to acquire a three-dimensional (3D) MR data set for each MR pulse sequence execution and generate a composite image based on data from each of the acquired 3D MR data sets.