Homemade pineapple casserole is sweet, salty, buttery, cheesy, and ridiculously easy to make. This Southern classic is always on the potluck dinner table. And why shouldn’t it be? Nothing says Southern comfort food better than a casserole – especially a sweet and salty one!
Shrimp and grits, tomato and mayo sandwiches, and chicken and waffles are all tasty testaments that interesting food combos thrive in the South. So, if pineapple casserole sounds a little strange to you, don’t worry. It’s a tried and tested favorite ‘round the South. 🫶
Is Pineapple Casserole a Dessert or a Side?
It depends on who you ask, really, but it works fabuliciously for both. It’s a popular side for baked ham, but I find it’s an amazing dessert for one important reason: It will curb all further cravings after a hearty meal. No more will you get the urge for something salty after that sweet dessert. Pineapple casserole boasts the best of both worlds.
Recipe Ingredients
- Canned Pineapple – Keep the juice, my friend. The sweet chunks of pineapple in that sweet, juicy goodness are the perfect starting point for this iconic recipe. If you aren’t in a hurry, fresh pineapple also works great! 🍍
- Sugar – Only half a cup is needed for this recipe because the pineapple is already coming in sweet!
- Flour – Making the casserole just a little on the cakey side is a modest amount of flour.
- Butter – No tried-and-true Southern casserole is complete without this ingredient.
- Ritz Crackers – Crushed buttery Ritz crackers for the perfect level of crunchiness come in FTW.
- Cheese – This ingredient is the one that throws some people off. But trust me, one bite, and you’ll be a believer. 😋
How to Make Pineapple Casserole
Step 1: Prepare to Bake
Preheat oven to 350℉/177℃ degrees and spray an 8×8 baking dish with baking spray. Open the can of pineapple chunks and pour the contents over a sieve to drain with a bowl underneath to catch the juice. Gently blot any excess liquid from the pineapple chunks using a paper towel. And reserve ¼ cup of pineapple juice.
Step 2: Assemble the Casserole
Transfer the pineapple chunks to a medium mixing bowl. Next, add the sugar, flour, salt, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and pineapple juice. Toss the ingredients well using a spatula until they’re thoroughly combined. Pour the pineapple mixture into your prepared casserole dish and top with shredded cheese.
Step 3: Make the Topping
In a small bowl, add the crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter. Mix until the butter is fully incorporated. Spread the buttery cracker crumbs evenly on top of the shredded cheese.
Step 4: Bake It!
Finally, place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes until golden brown, hot, and bubbly. Serve and enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
- Not only can you serve this casserole as a side or a dessert, but you can also serve it at whatever temperature that suits your fancy. Warm out of the oven, room temp, or chilled – anything goes with pineapple casserole! 🙌
- Make sure to use the correct size baking dish. If your dish is too small, the pineapple juice could overflow, making a mess of your oven.
- You might be tempted to cover this dish because it’s a casserole, but you’ll want to skip that with this recipe. Letting it bake the whole time uncovered will help you get that buttery topping crisp with a hint of pineapple-y caramelization. Worth it! (That said, if you notice the casserole getting too browned before cook time is up, you can totally tent a little foil over it. You shouldn’t need to, though.)
- You can also use sweet fresh pineapple for this recipe. Clean pineapple and cut it into chunks for 4-5 cups of fresh pineapple.
Make Ahead and Storage Instructions
The best way to make this casserole ahead of time is to make the filling and topping and store them separately in your fridge the day before. When ready to bake, simply pop on the topping and send it into the preheated oven. However, you may want to let the ingredients return to room temperature before baking. It will keep your dish from cracking when it hits the heat and ensure your cook time stays the same as this recipe indicates.
To store any leftovers, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. If you prefer warm pineapple casserole, pop it in the oven on low heat for a few minutes until it’s heated through and the topping crisps up again.
More Potluck-Friendly Recipes
Pineapple Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 20-ounce cans pineapple chunks in juice
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup pineapple juice, reserved from the can
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Ritz or butter crackers, crushed
- 4 tablespoons (½ a stick) unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉/177℃, spray an 8×8 baking dish with baking spray, and set aside.
- Open the can of pineapple chunks and pour through a sieve to drain with a bowl underneath to catch the juice. Gently blot any excess liquid on pineapple chunks using a paper towel. And reserve ¼ cup of pineapple juice.
- Transfer pineapple chunks to a medium mixing bowl. Add sugar, flour, salt, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and pineapple juice. Toss well using a spatula until thoroughly combined.
- Pour pineapple mixture into the prepared casserole dish and top with shredded cheese.
- In a small bowl, add crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter. Mix until butter is fully incorporated. Spread the buttery cracker crumbs evenly on top of the shredded cheese.
- Place in preheated oven. Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown, hot, and bubbly. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Not only can you serve this casserole as a side or a dessert, but you can also serve it at whatever temperature suits your fancy. Warm out of the oven, room temp, or chilled – anything goes with pineapple casserole! 🙌
- Make sure to use the correct size baking dish. If your dish is too small, the pineapple juice could overflow, making a mess of your oven.
- You might be tempted to cover this dish because it’s a casserole, but you’ll want to skip that with this recipe for a buttery topping crisp with a hint of pineapple caramelization. However, if you notice the casserole getting too browned before cook time is up, you can totally tent a little foil over it.
- You can also use sweet fresh pineapple for this recipe. Clean pineapple and cut it into chunks for 4-5 cups of fresh pineapple.
- Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.