Pineapple Casserole is a sweet and salty Southern dish with gooey and crunchy filling and a cobbler-like topping.
It’s perfect for Easter or any special holiday is inexpensive and calls for minimal ingredients that you likely already have in the pantry!
Serve this pineapple casserole as an Easter side dish with Peach Glazed Ham or Pork Roast, and Asparagus, or Brussels Sprouts, or as a dessert when served with whipped cream, ice cream, or by adding in some extra ingredients such as sweetened flaked coconut, nutmeg, and juicy maraschino cherries.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to assemble: This pineapple casserole is incredibly easy to make. It calls for simple ingredients and minimal steps to follow.
- Inexpensive dish: The sweet and salty combination of sugary pineapple with buttery Ritz crackers is addictive and won’t burn a whole in your pocket! For this reason, I love making this when catering to a large crowd, especially over busy holidays.
- Enjoyed as a side dish or dessert: This pineapple dish is great as a side dish to pork or ham but could just as easily be eaten as a dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Generous serving: This recipe will yield up to 6-8 servings but you could halve or double the ingredients called for depending on what’s needed and by using a suitable sized baking dish.
Why This Recipe Works
- This pineapple casserole is always on the menu for the holiday in my house, Easter in particular! I’ve made it for many years and served it up to family, friends, and guests with only positive feedback and numerous requests for the recipe!
- I’m going to walk you through the process of making this scrumptious casserole effortlessly with the aid of simple recipe instructions and step-by-step recipe images.
- Frequently asked questions and pro recipe tips have been included in this recipe post to ensure that your experience of making pineapple casserole is easy and enjoyable.
- Recipe variations are listed below should you like to add any personal twists to your pineapple casserole.
- You can enjoy this pineapple casserole as a side dish to your main holiday meal or turn it into a sweet and salty dessert by serving it with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream.
What Do I Need To Make This Recipe
Equipment
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Ingredients
Below I discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions in case you don’t have a specific ingredient. However, if you are looking for the specific measurements of each ingredient, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this article, just above the comments, for the printable recipe card, which includes all the ingredients and the specific amounts of each one.
- Pineapple chunks. You can also use crushed pineapple or even pineapple tidbits instead (which are typically smaller in size than pineapple chunks). Make sure to drain the pineapple well before adding to the other ingredients. However, reserve 1/4 cup pineapple juice.
- Sugar. I’ve used white granulated sugar in this recipe. You could use a light brown sugar instead but anything darker is likely to alter the taste of this dish.
- Flour. All-purpose flour works well in this pineapple casserole. For a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free brand such as Bob’s Red Mill. A plant-based flour may also work but I haven’t tried it for this casserole.
- Cheese. Use a mild cheddar cheese for this recipe and shred it yourself from the block as pre-shredded cheese doesn’t taste or melt as well. Another good option is Colby Jack.
- Butter. I recommend using unsalted butter since the crackers provide enough salt. Using salted butter may create an imbalance of sweet and salty in this dish.
- Crackers. I love using Ritz crackers for this casserole as they are deliciously buttery and melt in the mouth. Of course, feel free to use any other crackers that you enjoy and that are similar in taste and texture to Ritz crackers.
How To Make Pineapple Casserole
Instructions
- Combine the pineapple, sugar, flour and cheddar cheese together in a bowl.
- Mix the butter and crackers together.
- Spread the pineapple mixture evenly in the pan.
- Spoon the cracker mixture over the pineapple in the pan.
- Cover the pan with tinfoil and place in the oven. Bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove the tin foil and bake for another 5 minutes until the crackers have lightly browned. Remove and serve.
Pro Recipe Tips
- Make sure to drain the pineapple well so the casserole doesn’t contain excess liquid.
- Be careful not to crush the crackers too finely. You still want that cobbler-like consistency. If you are worried that a food processor will crush the crackers too much, simply add the crackers to a Ziploc bag and use a pastry rolling pin to crush to the desired consistency.
- If you don’t like wasting when it comes to food, consider draining your canned pineapple chunks or tidbits over a glass jar and use this juice in another recipe or add it to a homemade cocktail.
- You can easily make a double batch of this pineapple casserole and store one in the freezer for a convenient side dish or dessert later on. Making this dish ahead of time is a great way to reduce stress over the holidays.
Variations
- This recipe calls for pineapple chunks but you could use a combination of pineapple tidbits with crushed pineapple instead – this alternative provides a lovely texture contrast.
- Fresh pineapple can also be used when making pineapple casserole.
- For a gluten-free pineapple casserole, use gluten-free flour instead of all-purpose flour and a gluten-free brand of crackers.
- Mild cheddar cheese is ideal for this casserole. Colby Jack is a great option but you can also use a medium to sharp cheddar – something that you’re used to cooking with and enjoy the most.
- For an extra special pineapple casserole, add some chopped pecans to the top of the dish. It’s great to do this when you remove the foil for that extra 5 minutes of baking so that the chopped nuts are toasted without burning.
- If you are intending to serve this pineapple casserole as a holiday dessert, consider adding in some sweetened shredded coconut, nutmeg or cinnamon, and perhaps some halved maraschino cherries!
What To Serve With Pineapple Casserole
This Pineapple Casserole can be served as a side to holiday ham or pork or you can use it as a tasty dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Garnish this pineapple casserole with some chopped pecans or walnuts for a special occasion like Easter or other holidays.
FAQs
HOW SHOULD I STORE THIS PINEAPPLE CASSEROLE
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven (covered) for 10-15 minutes at 350F.
CAN I FREEZE PINEAPPLE CASSEROLE?
Yes, you can. Once completely cooled, you can cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and plastic wrap and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat.
It should be noted that once frozen, this pineapple casserole may have a slightly different texture due to the crackers absorbing liquid in storage.
WHERE DOES PINEAPPLE CASSEROLE COME FROM?
While Pineapple Casserole is certainly a favorite within Southern cuisine in the United States, the actual origin of this casserole is somewhat unknown.
It appears in many Southern cookbooks under “side dishes” and “desserts” and is right up there in popularity with the likes of peach cobbler and deviled eggs.
IS THIS A SWEET OR SAVORY DISH?
It’s both! Pineapple casserole is a delicious combination of sweet and salty and as such, can either be enjoyed as a side dish to main meals such as holiday ham or pork, or you can enjoy this casserole as a dessert paired with some ice cream.
The sugar and pineapple provide the sweetness while the butter, cheese, and Ritz crackers provide the savory element of this dish.
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Recipe
Pineapple Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 (20-oz cans) pineapple chunks in juice, drained (reserve 1/4 cup)
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 6 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup mild cheddar cheese shredded
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 3.5 ounce Ritz crackers crushed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° and spray a 2 quart baking dish with cooking spray.
- Combine the pineapple, sugar, flour and cheddar cheese together in a bowl. Spread evenly in the pan.
- Mix the butter and crackers together and spoon over the pineapple.
- Cover the pan with tinfoil and place in the oven. Bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove the tin foil and bake for another 5 minutes until the crackers have lightly browned.
- Remove and serve.
Notes
- Make sure to drain the pineapple well so the casserole doesn’t contain excess liquid.
- Be careful not to crush the crackers too finely. You still want that cobbler-like consistency. If you are worried that a food processor will crush the crackers too much, simply add the crackers to a Ziploc bag and use a pastry rolling pin to crush to the desired consistency.
- If you don’t like wasting when it comes to food, consider draining your canned pineapple chunks or tidbits over a glass jar and use this juice in another recipe or add it to a homemade cocktail.
- You can easily make a double batch of this pineapple casserole and store one in the freezer for a convenient side dish or dessert later on. Making this dish ahead of time is a great way to reduce stress over the holidays.
Colleen says
I’ve never heard of this dish, but what an interesting recipe! I think it would be a perfect side dish for an Easter ham!
mikayla says
A foody at heart had me looking to try this out as soon as possible. Cheese and pineapple, why yes, they go together very well and you are right the Ritz crackers are an added bonus.
Sharon says
Every bite of this casserole is absolute perfection. The perfect combination of sweet and salty all baked together.
Heather says
I have to admit I was a bit skeptical that this would all go together..but boy was I wrong! So tasty…and super easy. Everyone loved it!
Freya says
Yum, what an interesting recipe! I used vegan cheese instead and it was fabulous, the family loved it!
Leslie says
I love your idea of serving this with peach glazed ham! That sounds like a match made in heaven!
Uma Raghupathi says
Such a beautiful and unique casserole recipe. I bet this will taste amazing! Perfect for Easter celebration 🙂
Tammy says
I’m honestly so intrigued by this! I’ve heard of cheddar in apple pie so this sounds very tasty to me and the buttery crackers are a perfect idea! Looks so good!
Jacqueline Debono says
I love that this pineapple casserole can be used as a side dish or dessert. I think it would be perfect with ham so am planning to make it this Easter.