Okay, before you start wondering how in the world this recipe works, let me assure you – Pineapple Casserole is an oldie and a goodie! This is such a weird and wonderful old-school potluck staple. Typically found in old church or Junior League cookbooks, this simple side dish is a fun diversion from the standard potato or pasta casseroles. My husband calls it “bizarrely delicious!”
Classic Pineapple Casserole
Pineapples and cheese aren’t necessarily an obvious pairing. In fact, you might have thought the title of this recipe was a typo. But, as my kids reminded me, we eat this combo all the time on Hawaiian pizza… So why not in a casserole? It’s true – sweet tangy pineapple actually goes great with gooey salty melted cheese. Add crushed-up Ritz crackers and yowza, you’ve got a winning Pineapple Casserole Recipe! You are seriously going to love the look on people’s faces when they go from intrigued to pleasantly surprised by how tasty this dish is!
Ingredients You Need
Less than a dozen ingredients are included in this interesting and delightful casserole recipe. And while you might not have canned pineapple in the cabinet at all times, the rest of the ingredients are pantry staples. To make classic Pineapple Cheese Casserole you need:
Canned pineapple – tidbits work best, otherwise you’ll need to chop larger pieces Granulated sugar – or coconut sugarAll-purpose flour – sub with gluten-free flour if desiredSharp cheddar cheese – shreddedSeasonings – crushed red pepper, garlic powder, saltRitz crackers – crushed (you can also find GF versions)Butter – melted
Note: Feel free to omit the crushed red pepper if you are sensitive to spice.
How to Make the Best Retro Pineapple Casserole Recipe
Start to finish it only takes roughly 30 minutes to make classic Pineapple Cheese casserole from scratch. First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Set out a mixing bowl and an 8×8 inch baking dish. Drain the cans of pineapple, reserving 1/3 cup of pineapple juice. Then place the pineapple tidbits, reserved juice, sugar, flour, sharp cheddar cheese, crushed red pepper, garlic powder, and salt in the bowl. Mix well. Scoop the mixture into the baking dish and spread it out evenly. Next, place the Ritz crackers and a large zip bag. Crush into crumbs. Then pour the melted butter into the bag and shake to coat. Sprinkle over the top of the pineapple casserole mixture. Make sure the crushed crackers are in an even layer. Bake the cheese and pineapple casserole uncovered for 25-30 minutes, until the crushed crackers on top are golden brown.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the casserole warm as a side dish alongside your favorite main dishes. Pineapple and cheese pair perfectly with ham on a pizza, so enjoy this with nearly any pork main dish! We love it with:
Baked Ham with Honey MustardClassic Brown Sugar HamCoca-Cola Baked HamGrilled Pork ChopsMagic 2-Ingredient Grilled Pork Tenderloin
It’s also perfect to bring to a picnic or potluck with other classic snacks like Retro Sausage Balls and Taco Pizza (Layered Taco Dip).
Looking for More Easy Classic Casserole Recipes?
Best EASY Southern Sweet Potato CasseroleKing Ranch Chicken CasseroleCheesy Chicken Spaghetti with Rotel7-Ingredient Funeral PotatoesCheesy Southern Squash Casserole
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