Pineapple Casserole
This cheesy Pineapple Casserole is a delectable classic Southern side dish that’s most often served around the holidays. It’s a surprising combination of flavors that form a delicious mash-up of sweet and salty. It’s certain to make a stellar accompaniment to a glazed holiday ham, turkey, pork chops, chicken or meatloaf.
Ingredients to Make Pineapple Casserole Recipe with Cheese
This casserole is one that can be met with skepticism by those who haven’t had it before. I totally understand, pairing cheese and pineapple isn’t one that you would think works, but it does in the most delicious way. Pairing the saltiness of cheese with the sweetness of a fruit works incredibly well. It’s a similar concept to pairing cheddar cheese with apples like in this recipe for apple cheddar pie from Sally’s Baking Addiction. While pineapple casserole is most often served as a side dish, it’s very cobbler-like and could be enjoyed as a dessert, too with ice cream or whipped cream. You’ll be hooked from your first bite! Ingredients to make simple Southern Pineapple Casserole: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)
- Pineapple Tidbits: Two 20 ounce cans pineapple tidbits drained, reserve 1/3 cup juice.
- Crushed Pineapple: One 20 ounce can crushed pineapple, well drained.
- Butter: Salted or unsalted butter for the filling and one tablespoon butter for the dish.
- Granulated Sugar: One cup sugar for sweetness.
- Shredded Cheese: Two cups grated sharp cheddar cheese.
- Flour: All purpose flour to thicken the sauce.
- Crackers: One sleeve round buttery crackers i.e. Ritz crushed.
How to Make the Best Southern Pineapple Casserole Recipe
How do you serve Southern pineapple casserole? This casserole often makes an appearance around the holidays. It pairs beautifully with my recipe for baked Bourbon Pineapple Glazed Ham and Slow Cooked Pineapple Brown Sugar Glazed Ham recipes. While this sweet pineapple casserole isn’t difficult to make, there are a few things of note.
- Heat Oven and Prepare Baking Dish – Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 13×9-inch casserole dish with butter. Set aside.
- Pineapple – Add drained pineapple tidbits, crushed pineapple and sugar to a large mixing bowl.
- Make the Filling – In a separate bowl mix together reserved juice, flour and 1 cup cheese.
- Combine – Add to pineapple, stir until fully combined.
- Transfer to Prepared Dish – Pour the pineapple mixture evenly into the baking dish.
- Cheddar Cheese – Sprinkle reserved cheddar cheese on top.
- Make Cracker Topping – In a separate bowl toss together melted butter with crushed ritz crackers until fully moistened. Sprinkle over cheese.
- Oven – Bake per the cook time in the recipe until bubbly and golden brown.
- Serve – Let stand 5 minutes then serve.
Tips for Making Southern Pineapple Casserole
- Kitchen Tools You’ll Need: Medium bowl, large spatula for stirring, cheese grater, small bowl and measuring cups.
- Pineapple Adds Texture: This pineapple casserole is often made using only pineapple chunks. My recipe reflects my own preference of using a combination of pineapple tidbits and crushed pineapple. I prefer the size of the tidbits over larger chunks, and find that including crushed pineapple lends a pleasing texture to the sauce overall.
- Sweet and Salty Flavor: This casserole is designed to be sweet and salty in flavor. Due to your personal preference, light syrup or pineapple packed in it’s own juice may work best. You can use pineapple packed in heavy syrup but it will be sweeter. Go with your personal preference.
- Make-Ahead Tip: Can I assemble this pineapple casserole in advance? This dish can be assembled in advance, covered and chilled. Bring to room temperature, then top with the buttered Ritz crackers just before baking.
- Dishes to Serve with Pineapple Casserole: Pineapple casserole also goes well with savory entrees like Meatloaf, Crockpot Pork Chops, Lemon Rosemary Roast Chicken and Mesquite Pork Tenderloin or this recipe for roasted Chili Rubbed Pork Roast.
- When to Serve Pineapple Casserole: Serve this as a side dish for Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, BBQS, when entertaining friends and family and potluck gatherings.
Recipe Variations
- Cheese: This casserole can be made with mild, medium or sharp cheddar cheese. Sharp cheddar holds up the best when combined with the bold flavor of pineapple.
- Topping: Can I use different cracker crumbs for the topping in place of Ritz crackers? Buttery Ritz crackers are traditionally used, but you could adapt using buttery Club crackers or even breadcrumbs, if that’s what you have on hand.
- Pineapple: You can use fresh pineapple in the same amount as the canned pineapple tidbits called for in the recipe. You could also use pineapple chunks in place of pineapple tidbits.
- Nuts: You could add 1/2 cup chopped pecans to the topping.
Storage and Leftovers
- Leftovers: Store leftover Pineapple Casserole in an airtight container or covered with aluminum foil in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat leftovers in the microwave in single servings. You can also reheat in a preheated 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes or just until heated through. To prevent over browning lay a piece of foil on top.
- Freezer: You can freeze this casserole after cooling, in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat just before serving.
More Easy Side Dish Recipes to Make
There are many easy side dishes that will take you from easy weekday meal with the family to special gatherings, potlucks and the holidays. More side dish recipes to try:
- Easy baby Lima Beans with bacon.
- Chunks of pineapple add a hint of sweetness to a Carrot-Raisin Salad Recipe.
- This recipe for Stewed Okra and Tomatoes is the only one you’ll ever need.
- Easy Broccoli Casserole is always a winning side dish option.
- Easy Oven Roasted Potatoes are super simple to make.
- This vintage Grape Salad Recipe is a potluck rock star.
- Homestyle Squash Casserole will take you from summer harvest to the holidays.
- Roasted Parsnips from Simply Recipes.
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Helpful Kitchen Items:
Pineapple Casserole
Ingredients
- 7 Tbsp butter 6 Tbsp melted, 1 Tbsp softened to butter dish
- 2 20 oz cans pineapple tidbits drained, reserve 1/3 cup juice
- 1 20 oz can crushed pineapple well drained
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese divided
- 1/3 cup all purpose flour, plus 1 Tbsp
- 1 sleeve round buttery crackers i.e. Ritz crushed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 13×9-inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon butter. Set aside.
- Add pineapple tidbits, crushed pineapple and sugar to a large mixing bowl.
- In a separate bowl mix together reserved pineapple juice, flour and 1 cup shredded cheese. Add to pineapple mixing until fully combined.
- Pour the pineapple mixture evenly into the baking dish. Sprinkle reserved 1 cup shredded cheese on top.
- In a separate bowl toss together melted butter with crushed crackers until fully moistened. Sprinkle over cheese.
- Transfer to the oven and bake for 35-45 minutes until bubbly and golden brown.
- Let stand 5 minutes then serve.
Notes
-
- Cheese: This casserole can be made with mild, medium or sharp cheddar cheese. Sharp cheddar holds up the best when combined with the bold flavor of pineapple.
- Topping: Can I use different cracker crumbs for the topping in place of Ritz crackers? Buttery Ritz crackers are traditionally used, but you could adapt using buttery Club crackers or even breadcrumbs, if that’s what you have on hand.
- Pineapple: You can use fresh pineapple in the same amount as the canned pineapple tidbits called for in the recipe. You could also use pineapple chunks in place of pineapple tidbits.
- Nuts: You could add 1/2 cup chopped pecans to the topping.
How do you keep cheese from getting hard if you don’t eat it right away
I’ve never had that issue with this casserole.
I made this for the first time today for an Easter picnic. It wasn’t long out of the oven and when I remove the foil people came. None left to take home. I got multiple comments on how many servings people ate!
I’m so happy your family loved it, thank you!
This was delicious!! Thank you for such a great recipe
I made this for Easter it was a big hit. Absolutely delicious. Definitely making this offen. Thank you for sharing.
This casserole goes together quickly with just a few ingredients and the family loved it! We had a smoked brisket and it was good with that. The leftovers are great, too!
Thank you!
If I wanted to make this early, how would I go about reheating? Do you think putting it back in the oven would
dry it out?
You could reheat it, but just until heated through don’t overbake it or it will dry out, yes.
Does it matter how the pineapple comes sweetened in the can? Do you use “in it’s own juice”, light or heavy syrup?
For this recipe you can use any of those. Just consider, pineapple in heavy syrup will be sweeter. This casserole is naturally sweet and salty but depending on your own preference, a lighter syrup may work best.
Can you make this with crushed pineapple? I have some picky eaters who won’t like chunks.
Looks nummy
Sure, you can use crushed pineapple.
If you. Double the recipe. How long you cook it for
I would be guessing but, likely 10 minutes or so. Test the center to see if it’s warmed all the way through and adjust from there. It would also depend heavily on the size, depth and shape of the dish.
I have made this recipe every time I have ham at least 4x’s since I found it absolutely delicious. Thanks!
Thanks Grace, I’m so happy you’re loving it!
This looks really good, can’t wait to make it…I’ll be heading over to my daughter and son-in-laws home for Christmas Dinner, I will be taking my famous devilled eggs, and I’ll be making your awesome recipe as well…..thanks for sharing…Merry Christmas to you and yours, and Happy New Year too…..
Hugs…Loretta
This goes perfectly with ham or turkey. Thanks so much and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
I have loved this for years! Everyone should have this in their recipe box!! It is a desert in my house!
We love it too, thanks!
I was wondering if it could be done without the added sugar to make it less sweet. The pineapple seems like it would make it sweet enough
The sugar is part of creating the sauce for the casserole so, it’s not optional.
If I use fresh pineapple for the “tidbits” portion of pineapple in the delicious sounding recipe, about how much do I need. (Trying to guess by weight is thrown off because I’m not sure how much of the canned version is water.)
Thanks for the help!
Hi John, probably around 3-4 cups. Keep in mind, the juice from the canned pineapple is also used in the recipe.
Presumably that 1/3 C. juice could come from the can of crushed pineapple?
I’m not sure if there would be that much but, you do need juice for the casserole as well.
I’ve made the same recipe except instead of Ritz crackers it was with crushed Cheez It crackers. It’s phenomenal!
How many cups would 1 sleeve of the crackers be? I have to use gluten free crackers and they do not come in a sleeve.
You’ll need around 1 1/2 cups.
Great dish! I added diced green & red bell pepper for holiday color contrast, and a minced jalapeno pepper for zing.
Sounds great, thanks!
I’m making this for the first time for an Easter picnic. But next time I’m going to use one cup of white cheddar in the filling and one cup of pepper jack under the ritz and see how that works. I love spicey.
this is an awesome recipe, I love the mixture of pineapple and cheese
Same here, thanks so much!
I’m so excited to try this with our Christmas Ham! Thank you for sharing.
Also was admiring the beautiful dish. Could you possible share info on it? Thank you and Merry Christmas!
This casserole is perfect with holiday ham. The baking dish is one of a myriad I have. If memory serves, I bought it at Christmas Tree Shops some time ago. I have a 13 x 9 inch, also.
Oh My!!! I first tried this a quilt retreat I went to. It was surprisingly good. I had lost the recipe, so glad I got this email today. Making this for the holidays.
Wonderful, perfect for holiday ham, enjoy!