Pineapple casserole is a sweet and savory side dish that is made with a cheesy pineapple filling and a crunchy, buttery cracker topping.
This Southern dish is delicious served with ham, turkey, or smoked meats. Make it for the holidays as a side dish or dessert for your next pot-luck dinner.
"This recipe is a family tradition for me. It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without it. I never have left overs." ★★★★★-Janet
The pineapple and cheese combination sounds a little weird and if you never have tried this dish before; I understand the skepticism.
However, trust me.... You are going to LOVE this dish. And so will your dinner guests, so give it a try! Enjoy! Xoxo ~Katie.
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Ingredient notes and substitutions
You will need the following ingredients to make pineapple casserole.
- pineapple tidbits- You can substitute with one can pineapple tidbits and one can of crushed pineapple. Some recipes call for pineapple chunks, but personally, I think the pineapple pieces are too large for the casserole. Do not use fresh pineapple. Fresh pineapple has a different texture andnlevel of sweetness and will not cook the same way needed for the casserole.
- granulated sugar-Canned pineapple is sweetened, however, you will still need to add the sugar. The sugar will caramelize and thicken the sauce. This casserole is also meant to be a contrast of sweet and salty. Omitting the extra sugar would create a runny mess with less flavor.
- shredded cheddar cheese
- all-purpose flour-This will thicken the pineapple sauce filling.
- Ritz crackers- You can substitute with a generic buttery cracker.
- melted butter-If you are watching your salt intake, use an unsalted butter.
(*The full recipe with measurements is located at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.)
Steps
Follow these simple steps to make cheesy pineapple casserole.
- Drain pineapple reserving ⅓ cup of the juice.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, sugar, and ⅓ cup of pineapple juice.
- Add pineapple tidbits and shredded cheese to the flour mixture and mix well.
- Pour pineapple mixture in a greased 9x13 inch baking dish and spread evenly.
- Crush Ritz crackers. Mix melted butter and Ritz crackers. Sprinkle crumbs evenly over the pineapple.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until cracker topping is golden brown. Rest for 10 minutes and serve.
Recipe Add-Ins
This recipe is the traditional version of pineapple casserole. However for an added twist, try some of these add-ins.
- ½ cup chopped toasted pecans
- ⅔ cup chopped maraschino cherries
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- switch out granulated sugar for brown sugar
- drizzled caramel sauce as a topping
Watch how to make
Do Pineapple and cheese go together?
I know the combination of pineapple and cheese sound a little weird to some, but trust me, they go beautifully together.
Think of it like this- Apples and brie, pears and blue cheese, tomatoes (yes a fruit) and mozzarella. In other words, fruit is paired with cheese all the time.
The saltiness of the melted cheddar compliments the sweetness of the pineapple. They make a great combination.
How do you store leftovers?
Cover and store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 4 days. When ready to eat, reheat in the oven at 350 until warmed and serve.
I do not recommend freezing this casserole. The buttery Ritz cracker topping will become soggy and loose its crunchy texture when it is defrosted to bake.
Retro Recipe
Like most casserole recipes, this Pineapple and Cheese Casserole is a retro recipe that has been around since the 1950s. If you like this recipe, try some of these other vintage recipes:
- Port Wine Cheese Ball
- Watergate Salad
- Green Bean Casserole
- Southern Yellow Squash Casserole
- Old-Fashioned Macaroni Salad
- Ground Beef Chow Mein
- Swedish Meatballs
- Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
Please leave me a comment below if you make this pineapple casserole recipe and tell me what you think. I would love to hear back, and so would my readers.
Also post your picture of your casserole on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!
📖 Recipe
Pineapple Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 (20) ounces can pineapple tidbits
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 sleeve Ritz Crackers
- ½ cup butter melted ½ cup
Instructions
- Drain pineapple reserving ⅓ cup of the juice.2 (20) ounces can pineapple tidbits
- In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, sugar, and ⅓ cup of pineapple juice.½ cup granulated sugar, 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Add pineapple tidbits and shredded cheese to the flour mixture and mix well.2 cups cheddar cheese
- Pour pineapple mixture in a greased 9x13 inch baking dish and spread evenly.
- Crush Ritz crackers. Mix melted butter and Ritz crackers. Sprinkle crumbs evenly over the pineapple.1 sleeve Ritz Crackers, ½ cup butter
- Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until cracker topping is golden brown. Rest for 10 minutes and serve.
Video
Notes
- ½ cup chopped toasted pecans
- ⅔ cup chopped maraschino cherries
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- switch out granulated sugar for brown sugar
Gid says
I was weirded out by the idea of pineapple and cheese but despite my not liking pineapple on pizza, this was amazing!
Rachel Abi says
This looks AMAZING! I'm so excited to try this. Thank you for making it simple.
Opal says
The perfect balance of sweet and savory. We love this.
David Innis says
Saw this and thought it was interesting. I was pretty surprised on how good it turned out. I served it with grilled teriyaki pork. The pineapple casserole complimented it really well. Will make again.
Alicia Dolore says
Made this for cookout. It was a big hit. Everyone loved it.
Anna says
My great aunt would make this for our family reunions. I haven't had it in years. I made this recipe and it brought back so many happy memories. It is just like I remembered!
Janet Hall says
This recipe is a family tradition for me. It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without it. I never have left overs.
Monica says
What a fun and tasty dessert! My kids love pineapple and I'm sure they would go crazy for this!