Pineapple Casserole

5 from 5 votes

Sweet pineapple, sharp cheddar, and a buttery Ritz cracker topping bake together into a classic Southern side dish. It's ready for the oven in 10 minutes and belongs next to every holiday ham!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Southern

Keyword pineapple casserole, pineapple casserole recipe, pineapple cheese casserole, southern pineapple casserole

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Total Time 35

Servings people

Calories 466kcal

Author Blair Lonergan

Ingredients

6 tablespoons butter, melted
2 cups lightly crushed Ritz crackers (about 50 crackers, or 1½ sleeves)
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple
1 (20 ounce) can pineapple tidbits or chunks
1 cup sugar (or less for a less-sweet filling)
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups (8 ounces) grated cheddar cheese

Instructions

Prep the oven and dish: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish or spray it with nonstick cooking spray.
Make the topping: In a medium bowl, stir together the melted butter and cracker crumbs until evenly moistened. Set aside.
Drain the pineapple: Drain both cans of pineapple over a bowl, pressing out as much juice as you can. Save the juice.
Mix the filling: In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, and 6 tablespoons of the reserved pineapple juice until smooth. Stir in the cheese and drained pineapple.
Assemble: Spread the filling in the prepared dish. Sprinkle the buttered cracker crumbs evenly over the top.
Bake: Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, until the filling is bubbly around the edges and the topping is toasted and golden brown. Tent loosely with foil if the topping browns too quickly.

Notes

Drain well: A watery filling almost always comes from under-drained pineapple. Tidbits, chunks, or a mix with crushed pineapple all work.
Cheese options: Medium or extra-sharp cheddar, Colby, Monterey Jack, or Colby-Jack all work. For a creamier filling, use 8 ounces of diced, room temperature cream cheese instead.
Less sweet: You can cut the sugar to as little as ½ cup.
Other crackers: Cheez-Its or other salty, buttery crackers can stand in for the Ritz.
Make ahead: Assemble the filling in the dish, cover, and refrigerate. Keep the crumb topping covered on the counter, and add it just before baking.
Leftovers: Refrigerate in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days, or freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat at 300°F just until warmed through.

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