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A sweet-and-savory mashup of juicy pineapple chunks and sharp cheese with a buttery, crunchy topping, Pineapple Casserole sounds bizarre but it’s absolutely delicious, especially with turkey and ham!

A baking dish with the best pineapple casserole ever

Why You’ll Love This Pineapple Cheese Casserole Recipe

  • Sweet and Savory. The first time someone passed me pineapple casserole was the first holiday I spent with my in-laws. I was horrified. I took a tiny, toddler-sized bite, and…oh my heavens, pineapple casserole is wonderful. It’s no wonder so many families serve it alongside Glazed Sweet Potatoes and Crockpot Mashed Potatoes for holiday dinners!
  • Absurdly Easy. Stir the filling in one bowl, the topping in another, then combine and bake. Pineapple cheese casserole can be in your oven in about 15 minutes! This is always a plus when you’re assembling a holiday dinner and trying to juggle Thanksgiving Turkey, Turkey Gravy, and countless sides. (Not to mention Sweet Potato Pie!)
  • A Classic Recipe, With Some Well Plated Tweaks. Naturally, we’re not going to skip the gloriously buttery cracker topping or the cheese, but traditional recipes call for a hefty amount of sugar—so much so that they may make you wonder if pineapple casserole is a dessert or a side dish! I prefer to add crushed pineapple for its natural sweetness, along with a moderate amount of honey.
Healthy pineapple casserole with ritz crackers and breadcrumbs in a baking dish

5 Star Review

“We made this for Easter and it was a HUGE hit !! We also really liked your video story !!This recipe is so yummy!”

— Laurie —

More About This Pineapple Casserole Recipe

Pineapple casserole is a traditional dish in the South, like Squash Casserole and Shrimp and Grits.

I thought the combination of pineapple and cheese sounded too weird to be true, but it doesn’t just work—it triumphs.

Warm pineapple and cheese create a surprisingly scrumptious pairing that goes incredibly well with meat. (Think pineapple glazed ham, Hawaiian pizza, or pairing apples with cheese).

Topped with buttery cracker crumbs, this pineapple dish tastes rich, lightly sweet and savory, and comforting.

In other words, it is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and any upcoming holiday that gives you a reason to serve it (with your favorite Healthy Green Bean Casserole perhaps?).

Easy pineapple casserole for ham in a baking dish

How to Make Pineapple Casserole

The Directions

Crushed and chopped pineapple in a bowl
  1. Combine the Pineapple and Honey. Using both pineapple chunks and crushed pineapple gives you the best of both worlds.
Cheese being stirred with flour and pineapple in a bowl
  1. Add the Remaining Filling Ingredients. Flour helps thicken and cheddar cheese makes it savory.
Pineapple fruit cubes and cheese in a bowl
  1. Combine. Stir the pineapple mixture.
Cheese on top of a casserole in a baking dish
  1. Top With More Cheese. Transfer the filling to a baking dish and top with the remaining cheese.
Cracker crumble topping being stirred in a bowl
  1. Make the Topping. Use a little pineapple juice to make it slightly sweet.
Simple pineapple casserole side dish in a baking dish
  1. Cook. Bake pineapple casserole at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes. ENJOY!

Make-Ahead Tips

  • To Store. Refrigerate baked pineapple casserole in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.
  • To Reheat. Rewarm leftover pineapple casserole in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave.

Meal Prep Tip

  • Up to 1 week in advance, crush the crackers and store them in an airtight storage container or ziptop bag.
  • Up to 1 day in advance, prepare the casserole filling and transfer it to the baking dish. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate it. When you’re ready to finish the recipe, remove the baking dish from the refrigerator, add the topping mixture, and bake as directed.
  • You also can fully bake this recipe 1 day in advance. Refrigerate, then reheat, covered, in a 350 degree F oven.
Cheddar cheese pineapple casserole with canned pineapple and a cracker topping in a baking dish

What to Serve with Pineapple Casserole

A baking dish with pineapple casserole with cracker topping

Recipe Tips and Tricks

  • Drain the Pineapple Well. Reserve the juice needed for the topping, then really drain out the rest of the liquid—pouring the pineapple into a colander helps. The pineapple will release juices as it bakes, so if you start out with extra juice in the baking dish, you’ll end up with a soupy casserole.
  • Shred Your Own Cheese. This makes all the difference! Shredding your own cheese will make it melt much more smoothly; I also think cheese off the block is more flavorful. The pre-shredded bags of cheese at the grocery store have an anti-caking agent added to them that keeps them from clumping, but also affects how they melt.
  • Broil the Top, If Needed. Ovens are all different! You may get a golden brown crumb without broiling, but if the crackers are looking a bit pale after the casserole has finished cooking, you can turn on the broiler for a minute or two. Keep close watch to make sure the topping doesn’t burn—it can happen fast!
  • Change Up the Topping. If you prefer to make pineapple casserole without Ritz, omit the crackers and use extra panko. If you prefer a crisp, chunky topping, try making pineapple casserole with small, fairly dry bread cubes instead (I’d also increase the butter and pineapple juice a bit, as the bread will soak up more moisture).

Pineapple Casserole

4.82 from 32 votes
The BEST pineapple casserole recipe with cheese and buttery crackers. An easy sweet and savory side to pair with ham, turkey, and more!

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 40 minutes

Servings: 10 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 20 ounces pineapple chunks in 100% pineapple juice drained (reserve 2 tablespoons juice for the topping)
  • 20 ounces crushed pineapple in 100% pineapple juice drained
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 6 ounces freshly grated shredded sharp cheddar cheese about 1 1/2 cups, divided

FOR THE TOPPING:

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • 20 buttery round crackers crushed, such as Ritz (about 3/4 cup)
  • 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs or additional crushed crackers
  • 2 tablespoons pineapple juice reserved from one of the cans above

Instructions
 

  • Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly coat a 9×9 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray (an 8×10 dish or deep 9-inch pie plate will work as well).
  • Prepare the pineapple casserole filling. Drain the pineapple, then in a large mixing bowl, gently stir together the two pineapples and honey. (Be sure to reserve 2 tablespoons juice for the topping)
  • Sprinkle the flour and two-thirds of the shredded cheese over the top.
  • Stir again gently to combine, until the flour disappears and the cheese appears evenly mixed.
  • Spoon into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.
  • Prepare the topping: in a medium bowl, stir together the melted butter, crackers, breadcrumbs, and 2 tablespoons reserved juice with a fork until evenly moistened. Sprinkle over the top of the casserole.
  • Bake the pineapple casserole for 35 minutes, until the casserole is hot and bubbly and the topping is browned. Enjoy warm.

Video

YouTube video

Notes

  • TO MAKE AHEAD: Up to 1 week in advance, crush the crackers and store them in an airtight storage container or ziptop bag. Up to 1 day in advance, prepare the casserole filling and transfer it to the baking dish. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate it. When you’re ready to finish the recipe, remove the baking dish from the refrigerator, add the topping mixture, and bake as directed.
  • TO STORE: Refrigerate casserole in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.
  • TO REHEAT: Rewarm leftovers in a baking dish in the oven at 350°F or in the microwave.
  • TO FREEZE: Freeze casserole in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. The texture of the casserole will change once thawed, but it will still taste delicious.

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 10)Calories: 275kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 6gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 36mgPotassium: 182mgFiber: 2gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 437IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 156mgIron: 1mg

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Add Cream Cheese?

While I haven’t tried it myself, you could try making this into a pineapple casserole with 4 ounces of cream cheese. Dice the cream cheese into small pieces and stir it in with the pineapple. Only use half of the cheddar.

How Can I Make this Recipe Gluten Free?

For gluten free pineapple casserole, use gluten free crackers, breadcrumbs, and a 1:1 gluten free baking flour instead of all-purpose flour.

Where Did Pineapple Casserole Originate?

While nobody knows exactly who made the first pineapple casserole, the dish likely first came into existence in the southern United States where it remains most popular today. The dish’s creation was likely spurred by the new, widespread availability of convenience foods like canned fruit, packaged crackers, and canned soups that came about in the 1950s.

More Easy Holiday Sides

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Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

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40 Comments

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  1. I watched your video of this recipe this morning and just knew that I needed to make this for Thanksgiving. It does sound a little out there but there’s cheese!!! We’ll be having ham so this will go well. Happy holiday planning…

      1. This was a hit for Thanksgiving. I didn’t tell anyone what it was so I got several guesses. One of them was potatoes (before tasting) and another was apples. Actually they would probably go very well in this recipe. My brother ended up with the correct guess. It was very good and we liked it because it wasn’t super sweet. Thank you…5 stars

  2. I knew I had to make this right away after watching the video! It’s absolutely scrumptious, and the flavors really do pair well together. This dish was made to serve with ham.5 stars

  3. This year I hosted thanksgiving dinner well plated stile. I made healthy sweet potato casserole , which was great, and the broccoli salad was really good as well, but the side dish that I got the most mmmmms form my guests was this cheesy pineapple casserole. It was absolutely delicious! Thank you Erin for contributing to a perfect Thanksgiving! I hope you had one just the same!5 stars

  4. I thought I would have leftovers after my husband’s family thanksgiving meal, but had to make a second dish for my family! This will be my specialty every year from now on. 🥰5 stars

  5. We made this for Easter and it was a HUGE hit !! We also really liked your video story !!This recipe is so yummy !! My family really enjoys all your recipes !! Thanks very much !!5 stars

  6. we make this thinner with apples, and its called apple cheese crisp! people who arent used to it always think its a sweet treat but its not! we eat it with our ham! haha i cant wait to try the pineapple!

  7. This dish was an interesting diversion from our standard side dishes. I only had sharp, not extra sharp, cheddar, and I think the extra sharp would have given the needed oomph to make the dish outstanding. It was good, however, and the leftovers had more verve, so next time I’ll mix it the day before and let the flavors meld.

  8. I made this to go with ham on Christmas day. It was a hit with my family. They loved it. I will be adding it to Thanksgiving dinner as well. I’m so glad I found this recipe.5 stars

  9. This was amazing! My whole family loved it. There was none left and I wished I had made more. Only difference with mine was maple syrup instead of honey.5 stars

  10. This is fabulous!! Made it for thanksgiving it surprised everyone. I’m making it tonight again with ham. Can’t wait!!5 stars

  11. Oh my goodness. Pineapple is one of my favorite fruits. Looks delicious and those add-ins are tempting me big time. I love the pineapple and cheese combination5 stars

  12. Holy moly! This is delicious! Took it as a side dish to a big family BBQ and it was loved by all. This will also be perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas.5 stars

  13. I just happened to have some pineapple hanging around, so I decided to look at the best place for recipes, & ran across this & we loved it! Super simple!5 stars

  14. Made this several times for family holidays and just bought it for a work potluck. I would definitely recommend using a fresh pineapple cut in tidbit size pieces. It’s a little more work but it takes the flavor to the next level.5 stars

  15. I tested this one out on Friendsgiving and we love it. I will definitely serve this for Thanksgiving dinner with pork tenderloin! Super Yum!!5 stars

  16. So good as a side dish or a dessert! It definitely has less sweetness than other recipes, but the sweetness of the pineapple is quite enough!5 stars

  17. This is my go-to recipe for pineapple casserole. I make it every holiday and I’ve started automatically making 2 dishes of it because it’s so well-loved that every bit gets devoured. So good and the perfect side for pork chops or ham.5 stars

  18. Made this for Thanksgiving dinner. I didn’t know if the sharp cheddar cheese would work with pineapple but it was very good. I used Town House crackers. Very buttery tasting. Delicious, Will definitely make it again.5 stars

  19. This recipe is my favorite I have found so far. I love the mix of chunky and crushed pineapple. Not too sweet, just perfect. Highly recommend this recipe!5 stars