5 from 20 votes

Ritz Pineapple Casserole is a classic southern side dish especially at Easter. Pineapple, crackers and cheese combine to make the tastiest side to ham!

BEST RITZ PINEAPPLE CASSEROLE

Name: BEST RITZ PINEAPPLE CASSEROLE
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 cup water; 1 cup sugar; 3 tbsp pineapple Jell-O; 3 tbsp corn starch; 1 (20 oz) can pineapple tidbits or chunks (in 100% juice) (not heavy syrup); 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese (finely shredded); 1 1/2 sleeves (45) Ritz crackers (crushed); 1/2 stick salted butter (1/4 cup) (melted ); 1/2 cup reserved pineapple juice

Ritz Pineapple Casserole is a classic southern side dish especially at Easter. Pineapple, crackers and cheese combine to make the tastiest side to ham! If you’ve never eaten this particular dish of Southern Pineapple Casserole before, then chances are, you probably aren’t from the South. It’s a Southern thang. Well, I think. I don’t really know the history or heritage of this dish, to be honest. I suppose it could be a Northern thing as well.

VIDEO INCLUDED BELOW:

HOW DO YOU MAKE PINEAPPLE CASSEROLE?

If you’ve never eaten it before, you will probably think it is the weirdest combination of ingredients you ever heard of. Who knew pineapple and cheese could make such beautiful music together? Well, they can. The sweetness of the pineapples and glaze combined with the zing of the sharp cheddar and slight saltiness and crunchiness from the Ritz crackers makes for a surprisingly amazing flavor combo. It is the perfect side to a slice of salty ham!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
sugar
pineapple gelatin mix (Jell-O)
corn starch
pineapple tidbits or chunks (in 100% juice)
sharp cheddar cheese
Ritz crackers
salted butter
reserved pineapple juice

STEP-BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE RITZ PINEAPPLE CASSEROLE:

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray an 8×8 baking (2-quart) baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a medium pot over medium heat, whisk together water, sugar, 3 tbsp. pineapple gelatin mix, and 3 tbsp. corn starch until thoroughly combined and you get all the lumps out. Turn heat up to high and let mixture to come to a boil and thicken. Continue to whisk. Once thickened take off heat. Drain pineapple chunks thoroughly, setting aside 1/2 cup of the juice. Add drained pineapple chunks to pot and stir.

While pineapple mixture is cooling, begin making topping. In a large Ziploc bag, finely crush Ritz crackers. Add crackers, melted butter and 1/2 cup reserved pineapple juice into a medium bowl and stir until combined. It will seem ‘wet.’

melted butter with crushed Ritz crackers

Add shredded cheese to cooled pineapple mixture and pour into baking dish. Drop and gently spread Ritz cracker topping over pineapple mixture.

ritz cracker crumb topping on top of pineapple filling

Bake in oven for about 30-35 minutes (until topping is golden brown.)

Allow it to cool for several minutes before serving. It is meant to be served warm.

Warm Southern Pineapple Casserole with ritz crackers and cheddar cheese

Enjoy!