Pineapple Casserole with Buttery Ritz Crackers

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Pineapple casserole is a baked Southern side dish that combines sweet canned pineapple, sharp cheddar cheese and a crunchy, buttery Ritz cracker topping. The salty-sweet combo is why it is so good next to the Easter ham or on the Thanksgiving dessert table.

The first time my grandma made this for a family dinner, the pineapple and cheese combo sounded strange. But after one bite, I understood. Is it a side dish or a dessert? In my family it’s a side, but honestly? I’d take a scoop for dessert, too.

Our version of pineapple casserole gets the flour to juice ratio just right so the it bakes up scoopable and not watery. And the cracker topping stays crisp.

closeup of pineapple casserole in a baking dish

Why put cheddar cheese in pineapple casserole?

Cheddar is what turns sweet pineapple into the perfect side dish. The salty cheese balances the fruit in a savory-sweet way.

I recommend using a block of cheese and shred it yourself. Pre-shredded cheese is coated to keep it from caking and might not melt smoothly.

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 menus.

Sometimes it’s scalloped pineapple, pineapple casserole or baked pineapple. It’s a common Southern recipe made famous by Paula Deen.

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!”

Enjoy! -Julie

What’s in pineapple casserole?

Pineapple casserole takes 7 simple ingredients: canned crushed pineapple, pineapple tidbits, all-purpose flour, sugar, cheddar cheese, Ritz crackers and melted butter.

ingredients for pineapple casserole on a table

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.

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.

Pineapple Casserole with Ritz Crackers

4.64 from 242 votes

My grandma's Southern pineapple casserole, with the exact flour-to-juice ratio so it bakes scoopable and never watery. Sweet, cheesy, foolproof.

Servings 10

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 35

Total Time 50

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Ingredients

20 ounces pineapple tidbits (drained, reserve ¼ cup juice)
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 crushed
1/2 cup butter (melted)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray a deep dish 9" pie plate or 1½ quart casserole dish with cooking spray. Drain both cans of pineapple, reserving ¼ cup of the juice, and set the juice aside. 20 ounces pineapple tidbits, 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.

The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 10, with 1 serving being about ½ cup of casserole. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate.

Nutrition

Author Julie Clark

Course Dessert, Main Dish, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine American

Calories 354

Keyword baked pineapple, comfort food, easter side dish, easy, pineapple side dish, southern, sweet

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.

What do you serve with pineapple casserole?

Serve it warm alongside baked ham, turkey or slow cooker pulled pork. It is rich and a little sweet, so it pairs best with a salty main dish and a fresh salad.

Can you make pineapple casserole without cheese?

You can, but you’d lose the savory balance that makes this dish work. Without the cheese it would definitely be a dessert, something like a pineapple crumble.