This iconic side dish recipe is not well known outside the South but it sure should be! One bite and you'll understand why.
Table of Contents
🗝️ Key takeaways
- Who doesn't love a delicious side dish with a 5 minute prep time? Especially around the holidays?
- This is one of the most iconic southern side dishes you'll ever put in your mouth! It's traditionally served on holidays, especially Easter.
- Perfect last-minute side - goes so good with baked ham and roast turkey.
This is the mouthwatering baked pineapple casserole recipe that your Memaw served every Easter!
Next time try this creamy asparagus casserole.
🧾 Ingredients
📖 Variations
- You can substitute bread crumbs for the Ritz crackers.
- Any butter cracker will work in place of Ritz.
- Some people like to use part brown sugar and part white sugar instead of all white sugar.
- Some people like sharp Cheddar cheese in this while others like mild. The sharp adds more of a salty contrast to the pineapple.
- You can use 1 can of pineapple chunks and 1 can of crushed pineapple if you wish. It gives it a different texture. I like them both equally.
- I like this with a 4-ounce can of diced chiles added in. If you like pineapple jalapeno margaritas try it.
- Add in a cup of chopped, toasted pecans
🔪 Instructions
- Blend the flour and sugar together in a large bowl. Whisk in the reserved pineapple juice.
- Add the pineapple chunks. Stir well.
- Spoon the pineapple mixture into the prepared casserole dish and top with cheese.
- Stir in the melted butter into the cracker crumbs until the crackers are evenly coated. Spread the topping over the casserole. Bake until golden brown.
🥫 How to store pineapple casserole leftovers
You can assemble pineapple casserole up to 2 days ahead of time but don't add the cracker topping until just before baking.
Cover leftovers with plastic wrap or put in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. It doesn't freeze well at all.
💭 Tips for success
Expert Tip: Just a warning - if you don't like things "Southern sweet" cut back to about 1 cup of sugar.
- This is best the day it is made.
- If you do have leftovers cover with aluminum foil and reheat them in a 375F oven for about 10 minutes. Remove foil and bake 5 minutes more until warmed through and the topping is crisp.
- Block cheese that you shred yourself melts better than pre-shredded cheese.
- Serve pineapple casserole warm or cold. It depends on your preferences. I like it hot.
- I always use canned pineapple but you could use fresh pineapple if you wanted to.
👩🏻🍳 Frequently asked questions
Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.
This easy casserole is sweet and savory, salty and rich... in fact, the reason it's so addictive is that your brain doesn't quite know where to categorize it.
No, it's definitely considered a side dish. It's the same principle as the "Jello salads" that are popular in the Midwest.
This popular southern side dish recipe is usually served with ham, turkey, biscuits, mashed or scalloped potatoes, and other holiday foods.
Nope. Pineapple casserole does not freeze well! The sauce separates.
🎥 Video
📚 Related recipes
Southern comfort food is in a class of its own - most people would agree that there is absolutely nothing like it anywhere. Here are some of my all-time favorites.
- Old Fashioned Mac and Cheese is another casserole that seems to find its way to every church potluck and every holiday table.
- Southern Baked Mac and Cheese uses beer to compliment the cheddar and add depth to the flavor. Baked right in an iron skillet ... it's so good.
- Corn Pudding is usually reserved for Thanksgiving but then you have to ask yourself why you're callously neglecting your tastebuds.
- Grilled Pear Salad is a delicious update on the Southern classic.
- Copycat Ranch Style Beans
- Scalloped Potatoes vs Au Gratin Potatoes
- Bacon Brussels Sprouts
- Whipped Sweet Potatoes
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This set of casserole dishes will handle ALL of your holiday casseroles. Plus, since they're white, they'll go with any holiday or occasion.
📞 The last word
Pineapple casserole with cheese is about to become one of your family's favorite holiday dishes if it's not already.
This is one of those classic Southern recipes that will become a family tradition.
Next time try this pineapple fluff or buttermilk pie.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it a 5 star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Southern Pineapple Casserole Recipe
Print Pin Recipe SaveIngredients
- 40 ounces pineapple chunks , 2 (20 oz)cans, drained - reserve ⅓ cup of the juice
- 1-⅓ cups sugar
- 5 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 3.5 ounces Ritz crackers, 1 sleeve, coarsely crushed
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚F.
- Generously butter a 2 quart casserole dish.
- Blend the flour and sugar together in a large bowl.
- Combine flour mixture and the reserved pineapple juice.
- Add the pineapple chunks.
- Stir well.
- Spoon the pineapple mixture into the prepared casserole dish.
- Top with the cheese and set aside.
- Add the crushed crackers to another bowl.
- Stir in the melted butter until the crackers are evenly coated.
- Spread the topping over the casserole.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
Notes
- I like to add 4 ounces of diced chiles in with the pineapple.
- Just a warning - if you don't like things "southern sweet" cut back to about 1 cup of sugar.
- This is best the day it is made.
- If you do have leftovers reheat them in a 375F oven until warmed through and the topping is crisp.
- This does not freeze well.
- Block cheese that you shred yourself melts better than pre-shredded cheese.
- You can use 1 can of pineapple chunks and 1 can of crushed pineapple if you wish. It gives it a different texture. I like them both equally.
- Serve pineapple warm or cold. It depends on your preferences. I like it hot.
- Some people like sharp Cheddar in this while others like mild. The sharp adds more of a salty contrast to the pineapple.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.First published April 19, 2019. Last updated November 10, 2023 for better images and editorial improvements.
PJW
Greetings from the Florida panhandle! I made and brought this to a recent family reunion. A cousin raised here married then moved to Michigan - she brought her whole family down- 6 grandchildren to meet the cousins here. This dish was a hit! I just sent the link to this page up to Michigan ;). The chilies were a perfect touch. Easter blessings to you all.
Barbra
After reading the ingredients I had to try it out of curiosity, and wow. The whole family loved it. Thank you so much. It's a keeper.
Marisa F. Stewart
We've got to make this!! It is so unusual and I bet our kids would love it!! BTW, Jim, when he was young, did put peanuts in his coke -- I'd never heard of it. And I would have thought you'd have done it with Dr. Pepper. ?
Marye
I usually caramelize the pineapple by roasting first but I didn't this time