Name: Southern Pineapple Casserole
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients: 2 cans (20 ounces each) pineapple chunks; 1 cup brown sugar; 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 2 cups freshly grated cheddar cheese; Cooking spray, for the baking dish; 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed (about 1 cup crumbs); 1/2 cup butter, melted; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Southern pineapple casserole with visible pineapple chunks and golden Ritz crumbs in a white baking dish.

Southern pineapple casserole is a sweet-and-savory baked side dish with juicy pineapple chunks, freshly grated cheddar, and a buttery Ritz cracker topping. This version uses brown sugar in the filling and a little cinnamon and nutmeg in the crumbs-warm spice against tangy fruit and salty cheese.

It serves eight, takes 15 minutes to prep, and bakes uncovered at 350°F for 25-30 minutes, followed by a 5-minute rest. Put it beside Copycat Honey Baked Ham for a holiday meal or Sunday dinner. Pineapple and cheese may sound like an unlikely pair, but the savory cheddar gives all that sweetness somewhere to go.

For a full holiday menu, browse Southern Thanksgiving Recipes. This casserole also works with roast chicken or pork tenderloin, so there's no need to save it for one holiday.

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Pineapple chunks, brown sugar, flour, cheddar, cooking spray, Ritz crumbs, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, and reserved juice.

Ingredients You'll Need

Pineapple filling - pineapple chunks: Drain thoroughly and reserve juice as directed in the recipe card.
Brown sugar: Light or dark both work; break up the clumps before adding the fruit.
All-purpose flour: Mix with the brown sugar before folding it into the filling.
Cheddar cheese: Freshly grated, with mild or sharp cheddar depending on the contrast you like.
Cooking spray: For greasing the baking dish.
Cracker topping - Ritz crackers: Crushed into crumbs; measure the crumbs because sleeve sizes vary.
Butter: Melted, to moisten the cracker topping.
Ground cinnamon: Stirred into the crumbs.
Ground nutmeg: A smaller amount rounds out the warm spice.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Well-drained canned pineapple tidbits can replace the chunks. Chunks give the filling more distinct bites of fruit; tidbits make those bites smaller. The tested substitution is tidbits, so stick with chunks or tidbits rather than assuming crushed or fresh pineapple will behave the same way.

Mild cheddar keeps the cheese flavor softer; sharp cheddar makes the sweet-and-savory contrast more pronounced. Either light or dark brown sugar works.

Tools That Make It Easier

Oven: Set to 350°F.
3-quart baking dish: Greased lightly with cooking spray.
Can opener: For the canned pineapple.
Colander or strainer and a bowl: To drain the fruit and catch the juice.
Measuring cups and spoons: Including a tablespoon for the reserved juice.
Cheese grater: For freshly grated cheddar.
Large mixing bowl: For the filling.
Small mixing bowl: For the cracker topping.
Whisk: To break up the sugar and flour mixture.
Mixing spatula or spoon: For folding and leveling.
Microwave-safe vessel or small saucepan: For melting the butter.
Oven mitts: For handling the hot dish.
Heat-safe trivet: For the five-minute rest.
Serving spoon: To spoon out the warm casserole.

How to Make Southern Pineapple Casserole

1. Prepare the pineapple and topping

Heat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 3-quart baking dish. Drain the pineapple thoroughly, saving exactly 2 tablespoons of juice; mix the Ritz crumbs with cinnamon and nutmeg, then stir in the melted butter until evenly moistened.

Drained pineapple chunks beside evenly moistened spiced cracker crumbs.

2. Mix the filling

Whisk the brown sugar and flour together in a large bowl, breaking apart any clumps. Fold in the pineapple and reserved juice until no dry flour remains, then mix in the freshly grated cheddar.

Pineapple chunks and freshly grated cheddar folded into the brown sugar and flour mixture.

3. Assemble the casserole

Spoon the filling into the greased dish and level the surface. Distribute the buttered cracker topping evenly over the filling so each serving gets some of the crumbs.

Unbaked pineapple cheddar filling topped with buttered Ritz cracker crumbs.

4. Bake, rest, and serve

Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, looking for bubbling around the edges and a golden brown topping. Let the casserole stand for 5 minutes before serving warm; that pause is part of the recipe, not extra time to skip.

Baked pineapple casserole with golden topping and bubbling filling around the edges.

A Few Details That Matter

Drain first, then measure: Reserve 2 tablespoons of juice rather than pouring the drained liquid back into the filling. Extra liquid changes the balance the flour needs to thicken.
Mix the dry filling ingredients first: Breaking up brown sugar clumps with the flour helps avoid dry pockets when the fruit goes in.
Measure cracker crumbs: About 1 cup is the target when the sleeve size differs. Crush them rather than leaving large whole crackers across the top.
Use both baking cues: A golden topping alone doesn't tell you whether the filling is hot. Check for bubbling at the edges, too.

Spoonful of pineapple chunks and cheddar filling beneath golden cracker crumbs.

The Best Way to Store Leftovers

Cover and refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and use them within 3-4 days. Microwave individual portions, or warm the casserole in a 350°F oven until heated through.

You can freeze cooled portions in freezer-safe containers for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Expect the cracker topping to soften after freezing; reheating uncovered in the oven can help restore some crispness.

What to Serve with Southern Pineapple Casserole

Baked ham is the natural starting point, with a green vegetable alongside to balance the sweet casserole. Try Copycat Honey Baked Ham, Bacon-Wrapped Green Bean Bundles, or Roasted Broccoli when planning the rest of the table.

Copycat Honey Baked Ham

Bacon-Wrapped Green Bean Bundles with Brown Sugar

Roasted Broccoli

Overhead view of pineapple cheddar casserole with buttery cracker topping.

A Few Questions Before You Bake

Is pineapple casserole a side dish or a dessert?

This pineapple casserole is a side dish. The brown sugar and fruit make it sweet, while cheddar and buttery crackers give it a savory side that fits ham, chicken, or pork tenderloin.

Should pineapple casserole be served hot or cold?

Serve this version warm after its 5-minute rest. Refrigerate leftovers promptly and reheat them before serving for the warm filling and melted-cheese texture described in the recipe.

Can I leave out the cheese?

Cheddar is part of this tested recipe, and omitting it would change the filling and sweet-savory balance. Choose mild cheddar if you want a softer cheese flavor rather than leaving it out.

Get More Recipes Like This

For more weeknight dinners, Southern sides, and holiday favorites, visit Jennifer Cooks or join my email list. I'll send recipes and useful kitchen ideas straight to your inbox.

You can also get My 5 Chef Secrets for practical ways to improve your everyday cooking.

Tried It? Tell Me How It Turned Out

Leave a comment and tell me what you served with your pineapple casserole. If you made the recipe, an honest rating helps other cooks decide what to try next.

More Recipes You Might Like

For another comforting side, try Easy Jiffy Corn Casserole or Sweet Potato Casserole with Praline Streusel Topping. If you're after a pineapple dessert, Pineapple Upside-Down Sheet Cake takes that fruit in a different direction.

Easy Jiffy Corn Casserole

A tender corn casserole with Jiffy mix, cheddar, and sour cream for holidays or Sunday dinner.

Sweet Potato Casserole with Praline Streusel Topping

Smooth sweet potatoes beneath a brown sugar pecan streusel for another comforting side.

Pineapple Upside-Down Sheet Cake

A crowd-size pineapple dessert with caramelized fruit and a tender sour cream cake.

The Best Hawaiian Banana Nut Bread with Pineapple

Indulge in the Best Hawaiian Banana Nut Bread with Pineapple recipe! This tropical twist on a classic favorite is bursting with flavor and sure to delight your taste buds.

Warm pineapple casserole spooned onto a plain white plate.

Recipe

Southern Pineapple Casserole

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Southern pineapple casserole pairs juicy pineapple chunks with cheddar and brown sugar under a buttery Ritz topping with cinnamon and nutmeg. Serve warm alongside ham.

Author: Jennifer Locklin
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Rest Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Yield: 8 servings 1x
Category: Side Dish
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Southern

Ingredients

Units Scale

Pineapple Filling

2 cans (20 ounces each) pineapple chunks
1 cup brown sugar
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups freshly grated cheddar cheese
Cooking spray, for the baking dish

Cracker Topping

1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed (about 1 cup crumbs)
½ cup butter, melted
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Set the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 3-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
Drain the pineapple thoroughly, saving 2 tablespoons of the juice for the filling.
Stir the cracker crumbs, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a small bowl. Pour in the melted butter and mix until the crumbs are evenly moistened.
Whisk the brown sugar and flour together in a large bowl, breaking apart any sugar clumps.
Add the pineapple and reserved juice. Fold until no dry flour remains, then mix in the cheddar.
Spoon the filling into the baking dish and level the surface. Distribute the cracker topping evenly over the filling.
Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes. The filling should bubble around the edges, and the topping should be golden brown.
Let the casserole stand for 5 minutes before serving warm.

Equipment

Measuring Cups and Spoons

Buy Now →

Notes

Substitutions: Well-drained canned pineapple tidbits can replace the chunks. Use mild cheddar for a softer cheese flavor or sharp cheddar for a more pronounced contrast. Light or dark brown sugar will work.

Cracker quantity: Sleeve sizes vary; measure about 1 cup of crumbs if needed.

Serving suggestions: Serve alongside baked ham, roast chicken, or pork tenderloin. Green beans, roasted broccoli, or a crisp green salad round out the meal.

Storage: Cover and refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours. Use within 3-4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm in a 350°F oven until heated through.

Freezing: Cool, portion into freezer-safe containers, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. The cracker topping will soften after freezing; reheat uncovered in the oven to help restore some crispness.

Total time is 45-50 minutes including a 5-minute rest.