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Cheesy, buttery, and sweet! This Pineapple Casserole is packed with sweet pineapples, tangy cheddar cheese, and topped with a buttery cracker crust. A Southern favorite for Thanksgiving and Easter like Banana Pudding and Grape Salad.
Why Should I Make This Pineapple Casserole?
- Easy to Make: To make this pineapple casserole, just throw together the filling ingredients, mix together a topping, put it all in a baking dish, and bake for 30 minutes!
- Budget-Friendly: Made with buttery crackers and canned pineapple, this recipe is easy on the wallet and tasty on the mouth. 😉
- Perfect for the Holidays: Great for Easter or Thanksgiving, along with snickers salad and carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.
Easy Baked Pineapple Casserole
Any fans of sweet and savory? Me! You? Come join me, friends, for one of the easiest baked casserole recipes ever. Since the holidays are one of the most trying times to get your cooking act together, it’s extra difficult to make something impressive. Enter: this easy to make pineapple cheese casserole! Juicy and tender on the inside with melted cheese and sweet pineapples, it’s topped with a crispy, buttery cracker crust for a flavor combo that is delicious!
What is Pineapple Casserole?
Pineapple casserole is a Southern dish that consists of a cheesy, sweet pineapple filling that’s topped with buttery crackers and baked until golden. It’s a sweet and savory baked side dish that’s usually served for Thanksgiving and Easter.
In my opinion, this sweet and savory combo, while sounding a bit odd, is a delicious combination that surprises and delights you. It reminds me of a sweet cheese bun from a Chinese bakery (the kind I went to growing up).
Baked Pineapple Casserole Recipe Ingredients
- Pineapple: we’ll be using both crushed pineapple and pineapple chunks for the just-right, juicy sweet texture that’s neither too chunky or too mushy.
- Sugar
- Cheese: sharp cheddar cheese provides the most delicious contrast to sweet pineapple.
- Flour
- Crackers: I used Ritz crackers because they’re buttery and delish, but you can use any buttery round cracker you’d like.
- Panko crumbs: this ingredient adds incredible crispy, crunchy texture to any dish. I highly recommend it, but you can use more buttery round crackers if that’s all you have.
- Butter
- Pineapple Juice: straight from the can! This baked pineapple casserole with cheese really shines when using canned pineapples, not fresh. And you need the deeply sweet juice from the can to achieve the right flavor balance.
How to Make Pineapple Casserole
First, preheat the oven to 350°F. Then, lightly grease an 8-inch square casserole dish. Next, add crushed pineapple, pineapple chunks, 1/4 cup pineapple juice, cheddar cheese, sugar, and flour to a large bowl. Toss to combine until very well mixed.
Spoon this pineapple and cheese mixture into the baking dish. Spread and smooth it out into an even layer. Then, in a medium bowl, stir together crackers, Panko crumbs, 3 tablespoons pineapple juice, and melted butter.
Now, sprinkle the buttery crumb topping evenly over the pineapple and cheese mixture. Bake for about 30 minutes, until golden brown on top.
Can you make pineapple casserole ahead of time?
To make a pineapple cheese casserole ahead of time, make the cheese and pineapple filling, transfer it into the baking dish, and cover it tightly in the refrigerator. Add the topping right before baking. You might also need to tack on a few extra minutes since the casserole is chilled.
Variations
Here are some tasty variations you can make to customize your baked pineapple casserole.
- Tropical: Add some maraschino cherries into the filling by swapping out some of the pineapples for a twist of sweetness. I like to sprinkle in some sweetened coconut into the filling, or for serving.
- Use pineapple tidbits instead of crushed pineapples and chunks
- Sub honey for the cane sugar
- Adjust the amount of sugar for your desired sweetness. Can go up to ½ cup sugar, or leave sugar out all together
- Leave out the Panko—you can use only Ritz crackers if that’s all you have. Just remember, the Panko makes this baked pineapple casserole topping crisper and yummier!
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Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️
Delicious Side Dish Recipes
Pineapple Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
Pineapple Casserole Filling
- 20 oz crushed pineapple, drained, reserving ¼ cup juice
- 20 oz pineapple chunks, drained, reserving 3 tablespoons juice
- 1 ¾ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Topping
- 32 Ritz crackers, or other buttery round crackers, crushed
- 1/3 cup Panko bread crumbs, or more crushed crackers
- 3 tablespoons reserved pineapple juice from pineapple chunks
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 8-inch square casserole dish.
- In a large bowl, combine drained crushed pineapple, drained pineapple chunks, ¼ cup reserved pineapple juice, cheddar cheese, cane sugar, and flour. Toss to combine thoroughly.
- Spoon pineapple mixture into an even layer in the prepared baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, combine crushed crackers, Panko crumbs, 3 tablespoons reserved pineapple juice, and melted butter. Stir until evenly mixed and well coated.
- Top pineapple mixture with crumb topping, creating an even layer.
- Bake for 28-34 minutes, or until golden brown on top. Mine took 30 minutes.
- ★ Last Step: If you made this recipe, leave a comment and review. It truly helps our small business keep running and it helps readers like you!
Haven’t had this since I was a kid! Really brought back a lot of great memories. Can’t wait to make it again!
Oh that’s so wonderful to hear, Donna! I’m so glad this recipe brought you all the good feelings. Here’s to many, many more!