Pineapple Casserole – Cheesy and Crunchy

 Pineapple Casserole is my mother-in-law’s specialty. She makes the tangy pineapple with cheddar cheese and buttery crunchy crackers taste like heaven. I have her secret recipe and I’m giving it to you! That means you are incredibly special. Hold it near and dear to your heart. 

Pineapple Casserole with Buttery Tollhouse Crackers in Red Casserole Dish with White Flowers and cake stand with apples in background
Classic Pineapple Casserole with Buttery Crackers Is tangy, and sweet with a buttery crunch.

A Delicious and Adaptable Southern Dish

This dish has been called many things in the South, including but not limited to baked pineapple or merely baked cheese and pineapple. You can prepare this pineapple casserole several different ways.

For example, you can make it without cheese or use different cheeses besides cheddar. In this recipe I use crushed pineapple, but you could also use pineapple chunks. Anything goes as long as you have a little flour for thickening, sugar for sweetness and to cut the tanginess a bit, and of course, the Ritz crackers! 

However, I am partial to my mother-in-law’s version in the recipe below.

Watch me make this casserole:

Topping Tip for Pineapple Casserole

Often people say to dab butter across the top of the crackers, but that doesn’t do for me. I want butter to coat every piece of cracker possible. Here is the best way to achieve the perfect buttery goodness for your topping:

First, melt the butter. Then add the cracker pieces to the melted butter and mix with your hands. Keep mixing until you are completely satisfied that all the pieces are thoroughly coated with butter. 

All you have to do now is invite your favorite people to your table and enjoy this heavenly pineapple casserole!

Serve this dish with a spiraled ham, the perfect turkey,  potato salad, deviled eggs and/or any holiday meals! 

Classic Pineapple Casserole in Dish with China Plates in background
This Pineapple Casserole will be a staple on your table in no time.

Make-Ahead Tips for Pineapple Casserole

To make this casserole ahead, just keep the filling and topping separate:

I completely make the filling of the pineapple casserole, pour it into a serving/baking dish, and store it in the refrigerator. I  keep the topping of crackers and butter in a plastic bag. When ready to bake, I put the crackers over the top of the casserole and bake as directed.

It is good to bring the casserole to room temperature before baking. This keeps your dish from breaking in the oven. Also it will keep the cooking time consistent with the recipe’s cooking time.

Classic Pineapple Casserole in Dish with China Plates in background

Classic Pineapple Casserole

5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 10
Calories 234 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 20 ounce cans crushed pineapples drained, but reserving 1/4 cup of juice)
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • 2 sleeves Ritz crackers
  • 1/2 cup butter melted

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • In a large bowl, mix drained crushed pineapple, flour, sugar, cheese, and 1/4 cup of the pineapple juice.
  • Lightly season a 9 x 9 casserole dish and pour mixture into the dish.
  • In a medium bowl, crush crackers and mix with the melted butter. Sprinkle the crackers over the pineapple mixture.
  • Place in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes or until the crackers are golden. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 234kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 6gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 222mgPotassium: 29mgFiber: 1gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 510IUCalcium: 166mgIron: 1mg
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48 Comments

    1. If that’s all you have, it will work just fine. It may be a little more salty, but probably not enough to worry about.

  1. Can this be frozen for cooking later? I’m guessing if freezing you would add crackers later?

    1. Absolutely! I would make the entire recipe, including cooking it with the crackers, then allow it to come to room temperature, then freeze it. I’d then the it in the refrigerator the day before cooking and reheat at 200 degrees until warmed through.

  2. Dorothy Martin says:

    The instructions do not include pineapple tidbits, just 2 cans crushed pineapple. Please specify. Thanks

    1. For the video, I had the tidbits and didn’t have enough cans of the crushed for this recipe. If you want to use the tidbits, I’d do one can of crushed pineapple and one can of tidbits to give more texture than just the crushed. I like only crushed, but the tidbits do add another element that’s nice to the dish. You drain both cans anyway. You can follow the instructions from there.

  3. Help, I’m confused about the cheese. Making with 2 cans of pinapple. Do i mix in 1/2 C cheese (video) or 2 C cheese (recipe)? Thanks

    1. Yes, I was making a different amount on the video. You will use 2 cups! Hope you love it!

  4. My Ritz crackers are available in a box of loose crackers, in sleeves about 4″ long and sleeves about 9″ long. Can you give me a cracker “count” or weight?

    1. Sleeves about 9″ long. They will work great. Or you can use 4 4″ long sleeves. You are going to love this recipe. I’m so happy you are making it!

    2. 30 crackers in a sleeve is the sleeve I’m talking about. Hope that helps.

  5. There are 30 crackers in a sleeve, so “loose” crackers would be that many for a “sleeve”..

  6. Sue E. Kovach says:

    Do you use pineapple in it’s own juice or in syrup? Does it make a difference?

    1. You can use either. It will be more sweet making it in syrup. Either way is fine.

  7. I am going to make this for Easter. Haven’t made it in a long time and I love it!

  8. Sandy Woods says:

    Can I sub with almond flour and monkfruit for a more keto friendly dish?

    1. I haven’t tried it, but if the almond flour thickens the monkfruit mixture, I would think it would work. It wouldn’t be a pineapple casserole anymore, but you may have a fantastic monkfruit casserole! I’d love to hear if it turns out.

      1. Monkfruit is a sweetener that people who are doing the Keto diet use. The recipe would still use the pineapple, but I believe the questioner is asking if monkfruit can be used in place of sugar.

  9. Peggy Snyder says:

    Could you please clarify video ingredients with written recipe ingredients?
    How much cheddar cheese for
    2 cans of drained crushed pineapple?
    How many sleeves of Ritz crackers for 2 cans?
    How much melted butter for 2 cans?
    Is baking time 25 or 45 minutes
    What size baking pan for 2 cans?
    Thank you

    1. Hi Peggy. If you follow the written recipe, it will turn out great. It is a very forgiving recipe. Since the recipe calls for 2 cans of pineapple, you can follow the instructions exactly.So, 2 cups cheese, 2 sleeves of Ritz crackers, and 1/2 cup melted butter. I hope that helps. I use a 9 x 12 for doubling the recipe.

  10. Barbara Durham says:

    Would coconut alter the texture of this dish? I like coconut and pineapple together.

    1. Barbara, Coconut sounds amazing in this!! I think it would work beautifully. Let me know how it turns out!

  11. The recipe calls for 2 sleeves of crackers but in the comments you said 2 4inch or 1 nine pkg. So, is it 2 of the 9 inch pkg’s or only 1?

    1. Hi Laurie!! It’s 2 9-inch packages. Enjoy the recipe.

  12. Sheila Stuart says:

    I made it exactly according to recipe and loved it.
    My next attempt I was out of crackers, as was my grocery store. I substituted 2 2/3 cups slightly crushed corn flakes, still coating them in butter. I was very happy with this version as well

    1. I’m so glad!! I’ll bet that was good. Thanks for letting me know! Made my day!

  13. Thank you for sharing your recipe

    1. I’m so glad you are here!! Thanks for trying it!

  14. I was watching your video and it didn’t say anything about sugar unless I missed it. I use 1/2 cup of brown sugar, which really makes it great, and I use tidbits too about 40 ounces. I will be trying your’s one can of crushed and one can of tidbits.

    1. So happy you etc he and made the pineapple casserole! The sugar is 3rd in ingredients list (white sugar) and second in the instructions. Hope that helps. Thanks so much for letting me know you enjoyed the recipe. !

  15. Jean-Allan says:

    I don’t understand the amount of pineapple for 5 servings?
    10 servings = 2 – 20 oz cans …… scaled down recipe shows
    5 servings = 11 oz cans? Is this supposed to mean 2 – 11 oz cans?
    Your recipe sounds great and I will make it when you tell me how
    much pineapple for 5 servings. Thanks for your attention to this matter. Mr. Jean-Allan Nesheim

  16. 5 stars
    This was a hit at our Easter ham dinner! My husband (who is not a big desserts or sweet sides guy) loved it as did some of my pickier relatives. I tripled the recipe but accidentally bought 2 cans of chunk pineapple, so I pulsed the chunks in a food processor to match the texture of the crushed. I also used varieties of sharp, extra sharp and New York extra sharp cheddar and grated the cheese by hand in order to melt better while baking. It was so buttery and scrumptious! Definitely going to keep this one in the holiday rotation, thank you so much!

    1. Thanks so much!! Makes my day. It’s so good to be so simple. You could use the chunks too for the whole recipe. I’ve run into that before, but great idea with the food processor!

  17. Vickie Hestere says:

    This recipe was a hit with my family. Delicious.

    1. Thst makes me smile!!! I’m so glad! It’s a wonderful side when you’re not sure what you’re going to make.

      1. Kathleen peabody says:

        Love all that you do!! Always a winner no matter what dish it is!

        1. That sounds amazing! Making it today and serving it with ice cream!!

  18. Kathleen peabody says:

    This is amazing!!! Serve warm with vanilla ice cream!!

  19. 5 stars
    Thank you for sharing this fantastic recipe. I made some recipe tweaks for me – used no added sugar pineapple chunks, only one sleeve of Ritz crackers, and only 1/4 cup butter. It tasted great. I’m on a low sodium journey so gotta watch the sodium.

    1. Well, I am so glad you liked it. Thanks so much! I’m impressed with your changes!

  20. 5 stars
    Thank you so much for posting this recipe. I have made pineapple casserole before, but this was much better tasting. I used less sugar because I have to watch my sugar. Delicious!!!!

    1. I am so glad! I hope it made the day even more wonderful!

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