Pineapple Casserole

Pineapple Casserole – a classic sweet and savory Southern dish made with pineapple chunks, cheese, sugar, butter and Ritz crackers. If you want your palate to be entertained, then this dessert-like casserole is what you need. Great for the holidays or even for regular days!

No one can compare to the Southerners in terms of making casseroles. In fact, they have casseroles for just about every occasion. And here in my humble home on the West Coast, we have practically adapted the Southern way (thanks to my sister!). 

Today’s recipe is something that is close to my heart as I’m huge pineapple fan myself! I add it to my chicken, pork, breads, desserts, drinks…name it. This Pineapple Casserole features both savory and sweet flavors from pineapples to cheese and crackers to sugars. I know, it kinda sounds odd at first, but when you try this, you might even forget that it’s a side dish. Heck, bring on the big spoon!!

What is Baked Pineapple Casserole?

Pineapple Casserole is an unusually DELICIOUS casserole side dish that hails from the South. It’s a perfect side dish for Thanksgiving, the holidays and even Easter, although you don’t see it much anymore. Moreover, it’s quite easy to prepare using just a handful of pantry staple ingredients. You’ll just need:

• all-purpose flour
• granulated white and brown sugar
• grated sharp cheddar cheese
• canned pineapple chunks (plus its juice)
• nutmeg and cinnamon (to add wonderful warm notes)
• Ritz crackers or any cracker crumb
• melted butter

Yep! That’s 8 simple ingredients for a surprisingly tasty casserole recipe! Adding brown sugar on top of the regular granulated sugar adds a fantastic caramel-y spin to this classic dish while the sharp cheddar cheese complements the sweet juicy pineapples well. Does this not sound like a winning recipe?

Which Cheese is Best for Pineapple Casserole?

The classic pineapple casserole uses cheddar cheese as the savory component of this dish. It puts a nice texture in between those juicy chunky pineapples. In case you don’t have cheddar cheese, you may replace it with Colby cheese, Gouda or Gruyere (but cheddar works best). I highly recommend that you shred the cheese yourself for best texture compared to just buying a bag of shredded cheese.

How to Store Pineapple Casserole?

First off, this pineapple casserole can be enjoyed both fresh-from-the-oven or cold. Now if you have any leftover of this, simply wrap what’s left in the casserole with an aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Then store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. And guess what, it still tastes amazing when eaten straight from the fridge! Call it your new favorite dessert. 😉

If you prefer it reheated, simply pop the casserole in the oven for about 10 minutes. Or transfer it to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave.

What to Serve with Pineapple Casserole?

You can serve this pineapple cheese casserole here on regular nights or holidays. You may enjoy it on its own or as a side dish to the following below:

• Pulled Pork
• Breaded Pork Chops
• Glazed Ham
• Mississippi Pot Roast
• Pork Tenderloin Roast

More Easy and Comforting Side Dishes

• Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
• Corn Pudding
• Green Bean Casserole
• Roast Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Other Pineapple Recipes That You’ll Love

• Pineapple Pie
• Pineapple Chicken (with video)
• Caribbean Pineapple Upside Down Cake
• Homemade Pineapple Juice (with video)

How To Make Pineapple Casserole

Preheat oven to 325℉. Grease a 9×13 baking dish with a generous amount of butter. In a large mixing bowl, stir the flour and sugars together. Mix in cheese, then add drained pineapple chunks followed by the nutmeg and cinnamon. Stir until well combined. Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish .

In another bowl, combine cracker crumbs, melted butter, and reserved pineapple juice and blend together.

Evenly coat the top of the pineapple mixture with the crumbs and bake for 25-30 minutes or until slightly brown around edges.