With your Christmas or Easter ham, 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!
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch or 9-inch square baking dish or spray with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
In a large bowl, combine melted butter and cracker crumbs. Set aside.
Drain both cans of the pineapple over a bowl to catch the juice.
In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, and 6 tablespoons of the reserved pineapple juice until smooth. Stir in the grated cheese and drained pineapple. Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish.
Sprinkle the buttered cracker crumbs in an even layer on top.
Bake, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes, or until the filling is hot and bubbly and the topping is toasted and golden brown.
Notes
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.
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.