Southern Pineapple Casserole

With your Christmas or Easter ham, alongside a Thanksgiving turkey, on a bridal shower buffet, at a funeral, or for your next Sunday dinner, this Pineapple Casserole is a Southern staple on just about any celebratory table. The sweet and savory combination of pineapple, cheese, and a buttery crumb topping makes this an absolutely irresistible easy side dish recipe!

Pineapple Cheese Casserole

If you're looking for a simple, quick-prep side dish that will knock the socks off of your guests, then this golden pineapple casserole recipe is just the ticket! It's sweet, salty, buttery, cheesy, and oh-so-decadent! Best of all, it pairs nicely with almost any entrée. From a holiday ham or turkey, to grilled steak, roasted chicken, or a cozy meatloaf, you can serve this delicious casserole alongside just about any meal.

What is Pineapple Casserole?

Grandma's pineapple casserole recipe is an addicting combination of canned pineapple, sharp cheddar cheese, and buttery Ritz cracker crumbs. It's a great option to pair with a holiday ham, a roast turkey, or just your casual Sunday night roast chicken!

Is it a dessert?

We serve this casserole as a side dish, but it's certainly sweet enough and rich enough to qualify as a dessert! It's a lot like a pineapple crisp, and would be delicious served warm and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients

This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you'll need for a classic pineapple casserole. As always, specific measurements and step-by-step instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.

• Ritz crackers and butter: the melted butter and the cracker crumbs come together to form the rich, crunchy topping.
• Crushed pineapple and pineapple tidbits: the canned pineapple (well drained) creates the base of the casserole filling.
• Sugar: to sweeten the filling.
• Flour: acts as a thickener so that the filling isn't too watery.
• Cheese: we love a classic grated cheddar cheese, but you can substitute with other good melting cheeses, such as Colby, Monterey Jack, Colby-Jack, or even diced cream cheese.

How to Make Pineapple Casserole

This easy side dish comes together with just 10 minutes of prep!

1. Combine the Ritz cracker crumbs and the melted butter in a medium bowl. This is the crumb mixture that you'll use to top your casserole.
2. Drain the canned pineapple over a bowl to catch the juice (you'll need some of the juice for the filling).
3. Whisk together the sugar, flour, and pineapple juice in a large bowl until smooth.
4. Stir in the grated cheese and the drained pineapple.
5. Spoon pineapple mixture into a greased 8-inch or 9-inch square baking dish.
6. Sprinkle the buttery cracker crumbs over top.
7. Bake, uncovered, in a 350°F oven for 25-30 minutes, until the filling is hot and bubbly and the topping is toasted and golden brown.

What to Serve with Pineapple Casserole

This pineapple cheese casserole is an easy recipe that pairs well with almost any of your favorite entrees. Here are some great options:

• Classic Meatloaf, Southern Meatloaf, or Mini Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf
• Fried Chicken Cutlets and Country Gravy
• Dutch Oven Pork Roast or 5-Ingredient Pork Sirloin Roast
• Baked Baby Back Ribs
• Ham Steak with Brown Sugar Glaze, Baked Ham with Apricot Glaze, Virginia Brown Sugar Baked Ham, Crock Pot Ham with Cola Glaze, or Pineapple Glazed Ham
• Ham and Cheese Sliders
• Virginia Ham Salad
• Grilled New York Strip Steak, Bourbon-Glazed Beef Tenderloin, or Cast Iron Skillet Filet Mignon
• Chicken Fried Steak with Gravy
• Fried Pork Chops, Grilled Pork Chops, Oven-Fried Breaded Pork Chops, Crock Pot Ranch Pork Chops, Oven BBQ Pork Chops, or Stuffed Pork Chops
• Crispy Fried Chicken, Potato Chip Chicken Strips, or Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Tenders
• Roast Chicken
• Dutch Oven Pot Roast or Mississippi Pot Roast
• Slow Cooker Turkey Breast, Smoked Turkey Breast, or Oven Roasted Turkey
• Crock Pot Pulled Pork, Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork, or Cider-Braised Pulled Pork
• Mississippi Roasted Pork Shoulder
• Grilled BBQ Chicken
• Dutch Oven BBQ Beef
• Oven Baked Pork Tenderloin or Mustard and Brown Sugar Baked Pork Tenderloin
• Crispy Southern Fried Catfish

Storage and Preparation Tips

• Prep ahead! To prepare the casserole in advance, simply assemble the filling and place it in the baking dish. Cover tightly and refrigerate until ready to bake.
• Prepare the crumb topping in advance as well, and leave it (covered) on your countertop. Sprinkle the topping over the casserole right before baking.
• Leftover casserole can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Leftovers can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
• To reheat the casserole: Allow the dish to come to room temperature on the counter. Reheat the casserole in a 300°F oven, just until warmed through. If the topping starts to get too dark before the rest of the casserole is warm, loosely cover the top with foil to prevent additional browning.

Recipe Variations

• Instead of enjoying this casserole as a side dish, try serving it for dessert -- like a pineapple crisp! It's delicious with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream on top.
• Don't have Ritz crackers? While the Ritz are definitely my preference, you can also make a pineapple casserole with Cheez-Its or other favorite salty, buttery crackers.
• Cut the amount of sugar if you prefer a less-sweet filling. Blog readers have had success with using as little as ½ cup of sugar.
• Instead of grated cheddar cheese, try making a pineapple casserole with cream cheese. Just use 8 ounces of diced, room temperature cream cheese in lieu of the cheddar. You can also use other grated cheeses, such as Colby, Monterey Jack, or Colby-Jack.
• For a larger group, double all of the ingredients and bake the casserole in a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish. You may need to add about 5-10 minutes to the total baking time.

Tips for the Best Pineapple Casserole Recipe

• Drain the pineapple really well so that the filling isn't too watery. Don't forget to reserve the juice in a bowl so that you can use some of it in the filling.
• I like the smaller texture of the pineapple tidbits, but pineapple chunks will also work.
• Keep an eye on the casserole during the final 5-10 minutes of baking. The cracker crumbs can burn quickly!
• Add a bit of color to the finished dish by garnishing with chopped fresh herbs, such as parsley or thyme.
• Make it an entrée by preparing a pineapple and ham casserole. Simply add a cup or two of diced, cooked ham to the filling.

More Southern Side Dish Recipes to Try

• Southern Collard Greens
• Old-Fashioned Corn Sticks
• Cheese Grits
• Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese
• Southern Squash Casserole
• Skillet Cornbread
• Easy Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole
• Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
• Grandma's Sweet Potato Biscuits
• Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits
• Okra and Tomatoes
• Coleslaw
• Easy Pasta Salad
• Homemade Baked Beans with Bacon
• Charleston Red Rice
• Southern Style Green Beans
• Vinegar Coleslaw
• Fried Okra
• Broccoli and Cheese

This recipe was originally published in March, 2019. The photos were updated in March, 2022.