I’ve taken the iconic southern pineapple casserole that your Memaw served every Easter and updated it with canned chiles for a gentle kick. If you love pineapple-jalapeno margaritas then this holiday side dish is for you.
For this recipe you’ll need: Pineapple chunks in juice, canned diced or chopped chiles, flour, sugar, cheddar cheese, butter, Ritz crackers, your favorite fat pants
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Iconic Southern Pineapple Cheese Casserole
Pineapple Casserole, like banana pudding, is sure to be on the table at Easter. It’s one of the most beloved holiday foods I know of here in Texas – and maybe the entire south. People who live in other parts of the country either have no idea what it is or associate it with southern weirdness… like peanuts in Coke.
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?
It’s a side dish.
This is probably one of the easiest side dishes you’ll ever make! Just a warning – if you don’t like things “southern sweet” cut back to about 1 cup of sugar.
More Southern Favorites
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.
Pineapple Casserole FAQs
Cheddar is used most often. You can use sharp or mild – whichever you prefer. Monterey Jack would work well, too.
You can but you’ll need to remember to add the 1/3 cup pineapple juice to the recipe as well.
You can but you’ll lose a lot of the texture. Some recipes call for 1 can of pineapple chunks and 1 can of crushed pineapple.
I definitely don’t recommend it. You can put it together a day ahead of time – leave the crackers off – and wrap and refrigerate. Add the crackers just before serving.
You May Need…
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Casseroles are the lifeblood of southern cooks. You’ll find them on the dinner table, being taken to a sick neighbor, at funerals, births, church suppers, and family potlucks. And for every casserole made there’s a pretty dish to put it in.
This casserole carrier is absolutely essential to the southern cook. It holds two full-sized casseroles, keeps them warm, and makes them very portable. Besides. It’s red.
I’m sorry but it doesn’t get more southern than this monogrammed casserole dish.
Pineapple Casserole Recipe
Baked Pineapple Cheese Casserole 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.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars!
Southern Pineapple Casserole Recipe
Print Add to CollectionIngredients
- 40 ounces pineapple chunks , 2 (20 oz)cans, drained – reserve 1/3 cup of the juice
- 4 ounces chopped chiles, canned – chopped or diced, optional
- 1-1/3 cups sugar
- 5 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 3.5 ounces Ritz crackers, 1 sleeve, coarsely crushed
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.
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