Julie Clark
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Pineapple Casserole
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This southern baked pineapple casserole with Ritz Crackers could be a side dish…or a dessert! This unique recipe with sweet pineapple and cheddar cheese is always a hit at holiday meals.
Full honesty here. The first time my grandma made this Baked Pineapple Casserole recipe for a family picnic I thought she was crazy. Does cheese and pineapple together? Yes. In a beautifully weird way that you’ll experience in the first bite.
Pineapple casserole with cheddar cheese? Yes.
You may be fully on board with traditional holiday side dishes for a turkey or ham dinner. Recipes like Scalloped Potatoes, Sweet Potato Casserole or Green Bean Casserole are well known and loved.
But I have a new recipe for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.
Sometimes it’s scalloped pineapple, pineapple casserole or baked pineapple. It’s a common Southern recipe made famous by Paula Deen. And it’s the perfect mix of savory and sweet, thanks to pineapple, cheddar cheese and buttery cracker crumbs.
I’d love for you to give it a try! It makes a small amount. Bake in a deep dish 9″ pie plate, 8×8 baking dish or a 1 ½ quart casserole dish. And I bet you there won’t be leftovers. It will be gobbled as fast as the pecan pie.
Still not sure? Here’s what a few home cooks said:
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Deija says, “Fantastic recipe for baked pineapple. My Texan grandma has always made a variation of this dish for thanksgiving and, honestly, the taste had gone downhill throughout the years of memorization and oral recipe sharing. Finding an accurate recipe that’s nearly identical to what I remember eating 20 years ago as a child was not only validating, it was a huge success!”
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Sandra says, “Love this. I was trying to figure out what to fix with Easter ham that wasn’t potato salad or pasta salad and this came to mind. Perfect! Just hope I don’t eat the whole thing.”
Enjoy! -Julie
What’s in pineapple casserole?
- Pineapple. This calls for two types of canned pineapple: crushed pineapple and pineapple tidbits. Fresh pineapple is often best, like in our pineapple fried rice. For this pineapple cheese casserole, it is best if you use canned pineapple. You need that juice to make the syrupy filling that hols it all together.
- Flour. All-purpose flour will thicken the filling. It works with all-purpose gluten-free flour, too.
- Sugar. This sweetens up the casserole. Lower the sugar if you’d like to adjust the sweetness.
- Cheddar cheese. For the best results, buy a block of sharp cheddar cheese and grate it at home. This will help the cheese melt more smoothly.
- Ritz crackers. The salty, buttery Ritz crackers cut back on the sweet of the pineapple in a perfect way. Use any leftovers as a cracker topping on our broccoli and cheese casserole.
- Butter. The butter ensures the crackers don’t dry out to much in the oven.
Pineapple Casserole Recipe
This sweet southern pineapple casserole could be a side dish…or a dessert! This unique recipe with pineapple, cheddar cheese and butter crackers is always a hit.
Servings 10
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Ingredients
- 20 ounces pineapple tidbits (reserve ¼ cup juice) (drained)
- 20 ounces crushed pineapple (drained)
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 40 Ritz butter crackers
- 1/2 cup butter (melted)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray a deep dish 9" pie plate or 1 ½ quart casserole dish with cooking spray. Drain pineapple but reserve ¼ cup juice. Set the juice aside. 20 ounces pineapple tidbits (reserve ¼ cup juice), 20 ounces crushed pineapple
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cheese, reserved pineapple juice, tidbits, and crushed pineapple. Stir well. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour, ½ cup granulated sugar, 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- In a small bowl, mix the cracker crumbs and the butter. Sprinkle the cracker crumbs over the pineapple mixture. 40 Ritz butter crackers, ½ cup butter
- Bake for 35 minutes until the top is golden brown. Serve warm.
Video
Notes
- Add finely chopped pecans to the top for a little extra crunch. Or add shredded coconut or coconut flakes to the topping for a tropical flair.
Nutrition
Calories: 354kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 328mg | Potassium: 181mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 565IU | Vitamin C: 10.6mg | Calcium: 202mg | Iron: 1.2mg
How to Make Pineapple Casserole: Step by Step
To prepare, preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray the baking dish with cooking spray. Drain the cans of pineapple but reserve ¼ cup juice. Set the juice aside.
- Mix. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cheese, reserved pineapple juice, tidbits, and crushed pineapple. Stir well.
- Make the topping. In another bowl, small bowl, mix the cracker crumbs and the melted butter.
- Assemble. Place the pineapple mixture in the prepared baking dish. Then sprinkle the cracker crumbs over the pineapple mixture.
- Bake. Bake for 35 minutes until the top is golden brown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make Pineapple Casserole ahead of time?
If you’re prepping for the holidays and need to work ahead, you can prepare this casserole in advance. Mix up the filling and get it in the baking dish, but don’t add the crackers to the top.
Refrigerate up to 2 days before baking, then right before baking, add the crackers to the top and pop it in the oven. Easy!
How do you store pineapple casserole?
Serve warm and store any leftover pineapple casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Warm leftovers in the microwave.
Excellent dish! Family loves it, even the pickiest eaters. Myself and daughters have been making it for years………so easy!