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.
Next time try this creamy asparagus casserole.
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- 5-minute prep time!
- Family favorite recipe - tried and tested!
- Perfect last-minute side dish - goes so good with baked ham.
If you love the flavor of pineapple-jalapeno margaritas then you'll love this easy recipe, too!
I've taken the mouthwatering baked pineapple casserole recipe that your Memaw served every Easter and updated it with canned chiles for a gentle kick.
🧾 Ingredients
For this recipe you'll need: Pineapple chunks in juice, canned diced or chopped chiles, all purpose flour, sugar, cheddar cheese, butter, Ritz crackers, your favorite fat pants
- You can leave the chiles out if you want to.
- You can substitute bread crumbs for the Ritz crackers.
- Some people like to use part brown sugar and part white sugar instead of all white sugar.
🔪 Instructions
- Blend the flour and sugar together in a large bowl.
- Combine flour mixture and the reserved pineapple juice.
- Add the pineapple chunks and chiles. Stir well.
- Spoon the pineapple mixture into the prepared casserole dish.
- Put the cheese on top of the pineapple mixture and set aside.
- Add the cracker crumbs to another bowl.
- Stir in the melted butter until the crackers are evenly coated.
- Spread the topping over the casserole. Bake until golden brown.
🥫 Storage
You can assemble pineapple casserole up to 2 days ahead of time but don't add the cracker topping until just before baking.
Leftovers should be covered with plastic wrap or put in an airtight container and kept 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.
- 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.
- I always use canned pineapple but you could use fresh pineapple if you wanted to.
- Some people like sharp Cheddar cheese in this while others like mild. The sharp adds more of a salty contrast to the pineapple.
👩🏻🍳 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. Is it a dessert? Is it a side dish?
No, it's definitely considered a side dish. It's the same principle as the "Jello salads" that are popular in the midwest.
Usually this popular southern side dish recipe is served with ham, biscuits, mashed or scalloped potatoes, and other holiday foods.
Nope. Pineapple casserole does not freeze well!
🎥 Video
Click on the image to watch me make this recipe from start to finish with extra tips! (Video opens in a new tab).
📚 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.
- Fried Green Tomatoes are almost a food group of their own. They are yummy on top of hamburgers, in sandwiches, as a side dish or in a casserole.
- Grilled Pear Salad is a delicious update on the Southern classic.
What’s new? Check out my Restless Chipotle & Co. Store on Amazon where you'll find all kinds of nostalgic goodness! Thanks so much for being a part of Restless Chipotle!
📞 The last word
Pineapple casserole with cheese is about to become one of your family's favorite holiday dishes if it's not already.
I know someone is going to ask if you can leave the chiles out... and my answer is yes you can.
If you must.
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. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it a 5 star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Southern Pineapple Casserole Recipe
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Ingredients
- 40 ounces pineapple chunks , 2 (20 oz)cans, drained - reserve ⅓ cup of the juice
- 4 ounces chopped chiles, canned - chopped or diced, (or jalapenos) optional
- 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 and chiles.
- 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
- 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
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We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.First published April 19, 2019. Last updated March 19 for better images, more tips, and better readability.
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