The Best Pineapple Casserole

Pineapple Casserole is a classic Southern dish made with brown sugar, pineapple, cheddar cheese, and a buttery Ritz crackers topping. It is a sweet and savory side dish that is always a huge hit. For a quick step-by-step tutorial, check out the full recipe video below. 

Whether you are looking for a new side dish or a unique sweet and savory dessert, this Southern classic side dish can be either or both! It is so easy to make in minutes, only with six ingredients. Sugary, gooey, and buttery! My favorite combination.

Southern Pineapple Casserole is such an unusual and delicious dish that I fell in love with it after the first bite. If you like pineapple in savory recipes, you have to try this very easy vegetarian casserole. Sweet canned pineapple chunks are mixed with a bit of flour, sugar, and lots of cheddar cheese.

Then, the mixture is topped with crushed Ritz crackers that have been mixed with melted butter. The result is nothing short of amazing. Also, the sharp cheddar cheese compliments the juicy and sweet pineapple. Similarly, the brown sugar adds a deep caramel underdone, and the top gets buttery and crunchy.

My secret to making this easy casserole is to add a few simple ingredients that will take it up a notch. In addition, adding brown sugar works well, as it caramelizes and it compliments the pineapple flavor. Similarly, if you want to go all fancy, add just a little freshly grated nutmeg.

Another great thing about this recipe is how inexpensive it is to make. Most of the ingredients are probably already in your kitchen (sugar, flour, butter), and the pineapples and crackers are just a few dollars. This makes a perfect potluck side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas. You also somn suggest trying my Instant Pot Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, and Corn Casserole.

Why you will love this recipe

• Very cheap to make: Most of it you probably already have.
• Only takes 30 minutes: Get it done fast so you can relax and enjoy it.
• Make it what you want it to be: Side dish, dessert, or main entrée.
• Great for family get-togethers: Bring to the park or serve at home.

What you’ll need to make pineapple casserole

Special items:

• Casserole dish – I use a 9×13 dish.
• Bowls
• Cooking utensils

Ingredients:

• White granulated sugar – Gives it a bit of extra sweetness.
• Brown sugar – Packed for a boost of rich caramel flavor.
• All-purpose flour – Any kind of flour for holding things together.
• Grated nutmeg – Sweet and nutty with hints of clove and citrus.
• Sharp cheddar – It may sound weird, but you will love this, I promise!
• Pineapple chunks – Sometimes I use pineapple tidbits or crushed pineapple too.
• Pineapple juice – Use the juice from the pineapple chunks.
• Cracker crumbs – Crushed. I used Ritz crackers.
• Unsalted butter – Melted.

How to make the classic pineapple casserole?

1. Combine the ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the drained pineapple chunks, granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, and nutmeg. Mix well to ensure the pineapple is evenly coated. Then, add the rest of the ingredients to the mixture. 
2. Spread it: Next, spread the pineapple mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the pineapple mixture, creating an even layer.
3. Bake it: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the casserole is heated through.
4. Let it rest: Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving. If desired, garnish with maraschino cherries before serving for a pop of color.
5. Serve: Enjoy it as a side dish alongside your main meal. 

Expert tip

Is it a side dish or dessert?

Just how it is, it can be served either way. With the sweet pineapples, two type of sugars, nutmeg, and pineapple juice, it is definitely sweet enough to be a dessert. Make it even more of a dessert by using graham cracker crumbs instead of salty crackers, marshmallow fluff instead of cheese, and coconut flakes on top for a more tropical feel. Add some other fruit like drained cherries, mandarin oranges, and strawberry slices too. 

But it could also be a side dish with its saltiness, crackers, and gooey cheese. Toss in some veggies like peas, carrots, corn, green beans, and sweet potatoes, or sprinkle some bacon on top. Side dishes are easy because they can be made from just about anything. Just remember that anything you add should pair well with pineapples, cheese, and other ingredients.

Turn this into a main meal, ham goes great with pineapple so chop up some ham into small pieces and then add some peas, carrots, and corn. Chicken, turkey, and pork would also be great. For a vegetarian entrée, use black beans, tofu cubes, tempeh, or plant-based vegan meat they sell in the grocery stores.

Recipe variations and add-ins:

• Add fruit: Besides pineapple, sometimes I like to add other fruits like maraschino cherries, apples, or mandarin oranges. They go well in sweet and savory recipes like this one.
• Make it creamy: Chop up a block of cream cheese and add it to your casserole to make a creamy, rich sauce.
• Other cheeses: Other cheeses that go well with pineapple include white cheddar, gouda, feta, swiss, and gruyere.
• More herbs: Add your favorite herbs to make it even more flavorful such as rosemary, ginger, cinnamon, basil, and ginger. 
• No sugar: Trying to cut back on sugar? No problem. Use coconut sugar instead, monkfruit or erythritol.

Serving suggestions:

• This recipe goes great with garlic lime pork tenderloin. The pineapple and tangy lime meld well together and the pork basted with maple syrup brings it all together.
• I also enjoy it with pulled pork sandwiches and apple cider pork chops.
• It goes great with brown sugar ham or roasted turkey, and grilled vegetables.
• Another dish that would be perfect for pineapple casserole is my instant pot Mississippi pot roast. This juicy and buttery meal is rich, tender, and done in just under an hour.
• Any Riesling wine will go great with this pineapple dish because the acidity balances out the sweetness.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my topping so dry?

Some recipes call for adding the crackers to the top of the casserole at the end and then pouring the butter on top of it or even adding some pats of butter all over the place. But if you ask me, that just is not enough. Why not just mix it all first, like you would with a pie crust? That is what my recipe calls for. Add it all in a bowl and mix it before sprinkling it on top of the casserole. That way every piece of cracker is coated with butter. Just make sure to spread the crumbs evenly, not in thick clumps.

What are the best crackers for this casserole?

You do not have to use a specific cracker, but I think Ritz crackers work the best. They have a nice buttery flavor and they crush so easily and smoothly. This does not mean that you cannot use generic Ritz crackers. They probably taste just as good. That is up to you. But if the choice is between saltines and round buttery crackers, I would choose the round buttery ones any day!

Can I use fresh pineapples?

I would normally say yes because you know I always like to use fresh ingredients. But this is a fast and easy recipe, and fresh pineapples are hard to deal with. The flesh is not all the time soft enough, and it takes too much time and work to get them there. It is so much easier to buy canned, organic pineapples. But make sure you get the ones that are packed in juice instead of syrup and drain the juice first (But save the juice). Otherwise, you end up with a thick and syrupy casserole that is overly sweet.

Why is my casserole watery?

One thing you have to make sure of is to drain the pineapples all the way. When I do it, I use a strainer. In fact, I am so picky about it that I will gently press down on the pineapples to get all the excess juice I can. But I ensure it all goes into a bowl so it doesn’t get wasted. And I do not worry about it being a dry casserole because of adding back the six tablespoons of pineapple juice anyway. Not to mention the stick of butter that will make the dish moist.

How to store leftovers:

• Refrigerate: Your leftovers will stay fresh in the fridge for up to four days in an airtight container.   
• Freezing: You can also freeze your casserole leftovers in a freezer-safe container for up to four months.   
• Defrost: Always make sure you thaw it the night before for the best results.
• Reheating: To reheat, put it in the oven at 350 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes or microwave for one to two minutes.

More casseroles to try:

Recipe tips:

• Grate or shred the cheese yourself for the best flavor.
• Crush the cracker crumbs in a Ziploc baggie. Then, save on dishes by adding the melted butter to the bag and mixing it with your hands.
• You can use maple syrup or honey instead of sugar if you like.
• Use canned pineapples rather than fresh ones because they are softer and easier to prepare.
• Make sure to drain your pineapples well and save the juice because you need some of it for the recipe.
• Mix the butter and crackers together in a bowl instead of pouring them separately on top of the casserole for a buttery delicious crust.