This pineapple casserole is one of those dishes that sounds a bit unusual at first, but once you try it, you'll get why it's a Southern favorite. It blends sweet pineapple with sharp cheddar cheese and a buttery Ritz cracker topping that’s hard to resist. Perfect as a holiday side or just to shake things up at your next meal, it’s sure to become a new go-to.
220 oz cans – Pineapple chunks, drained (don’t skip this part—excess juice can make things soggy!)
1cup– Sugardon’t be shy, it’s supposed to be sweet
6tablespoons– All-purpose flour
2cups– Sharp cheddar cheeseshredded (fresh is best!)
1cup– Ritz crackerscrushed (about 1 sleeve)
1/2cup– Buttermelted (because butter makes everything better)
Instructions
Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). It’s about to get cheesy in here.
Prepare the Pineapple Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained pineapple chunks, sugar, and flour. Stir until the pineapple is evenly coated. Then, fold in the shredded cheddar cheese. Go ahead and sneak a little bite of that cheese—it's sharp and tangy, just how we like it.
Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the pineapple mixture into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Spread it evenly so every bite gets the good stuff.
Prepare the Topping: In a separate bowl, mix the crushed Ritz crackers with melted butter. Stir until the crackers are fully coated, then sprinkle it generously over the pineapple mixture. (No need to hold back here!)
Bake: Pop the casserole into the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. You’re looking for a golden brown, crispy topping with bubbly pineapple goodness underneath. Trust me, you’ll know it’s done when the smell fills the kitchen.
Serve: Let the casserole cool for just a few minutes before serving. This step is important—you don’t want to burn your tongue trying to get that first bite. Once it’s a bit cooler, dig in!
Notes
Pro tip: Be sure to drain the pineapple thoroughly so the casserole doesn’t end up too runny. You want that perfect balance of juicy pineapple and cheesy goodness.
If you’re making this ahead of time (hello, meal prep), you can assemble it the day before. Just add the cracker topping right before baking to keep it crunchy.
Keyword holiday side dish, pineapple casserole, pineapple recipe, Southern casserole, sweet and savory casserole