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
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.
Enjoy!
BEST RITZ PINEAPPLE CASSEROLE
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
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
- Spray an 8 x 8 (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.
- In a large Ziploc bag, finely crush Ritz crackers.
- Add crushed crackers, melted butter and 1/2 cup reserved pineapple juice into a medium bowl and stir until combined.
- Add shredded cheese to cooled pineapple mixture and pour into baking dish.
- Spread Ritz cracker topping over pineapple mixture.
- Bake in oven for about 30-35 minutes (until topping is golden brown.)
Video
Nutrition
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PKP says
Delicious!!
Pam says
I wouldn’t change a thing. This is so good! The best I’ve ever made.
Anna says
From Chicago here and I have never heard of this was before. I can’t believe I waited so long. This was AH-MAZING!!
Rena Jett says
We’re u able to find pineapple gelatin?
Debbie says
I buy the generic crackers from all do that I like grits you think that is a suitable substitution and if so how many individual crackers are am I going to need Basically asking how many are in a sleeve of Ritz?
Anonymous says
I would like to know also and how much is a stick of butter in cups?
Anonymous says
1 stick of butter equals 1/2 cup.
Anonymous says
Can you make this ahead of timme
Jen Robinson says
Made this as a side dish to accompany our Easter ham. There were no leftovers of this delicious dish! And to think I almost didn't make it! Wonderful recipe! And lemon jello workS just fine. Couldn't find pineapple jello here in Hawaii (go figure!).
Priscilla says
I just found your recipe again. I'm printing it out this time. I made it for Thanksgiving and we loved it. It was great warm. But guess what. I loved it cold also.
Annabelle says
My recipe is also a little different but the basics are the same, pineapple, butter, Ritz, and cheese, (no gelatin). Like you, when I first heard this combo I thought, no way! But, we never have ham, or a family gathering, without this dish. It's amazing! This is the first time I've found it anywhere besides my recipe box. I also take this to potlucks and while occasionally I'll get a 'hater' I always take a copy of the recipe, because I get so many requests. Awesome!
BTW, just stumbled onto your site….great recipes! Thank you!
Cassie B. says
I think this is hands-down the best Pineapple Casserole I have ever tasted. There are a few versions out there but your recipe was so unique to the others that I just had to try it. This was even better than my Grandma’s recipe (don’t tell her I said that!) So, so good! Thank you for coming up with your own special spin on these recipes!!
Carrie says
I love pineapple ! I make a pineapple cobbler . Melt a stick of butter in a baking pan , take two cups of self rising flour , two cups of sugar , and milk not to thick nor runny . I take that mixture put in the baking pan over the butter , the I add two large cans of pineapple juice and all . I use one of crushed pineapple and one of chunked . Bake at 350 til nice and brown .I believe I use a 9×13 pan . Enjoy ! Stacey Burns
Cathy Gulley says
Sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing, Carrie! 😉
Pacey says
My mom use to make something like this all the time and "yes" cheese taste great with pineapple.
Belle says
The first time I had this it was love at first bite. I could see a tiny edge of a Ritz cracker but couldn't taste the cracker. Just the deliciousness. Thanks for the recipe.
Christie says
Would it be possible to make the pineapple/cheese part, refrigerate it overnight, mix up and add the topping before popping it in the oven to bake? We have SO much going on in the kitchen Easter morning that prepping it before-hand would be awesome, if possible!
Caroline says
I had this recipe at my church for Thanksgiving! It was awesome! I couldn't figure out who's recipe it was! Thank you so much for sharing it with us. I love all your recipes and so does my family. Your site is my favorite site.
God gave you a wonderful gift. Cooking and sharing.
thanks so much, Caroline
Carole Darroch says
This sounds soooo yummy, but I cannot buy Ritz crackers in sleeves here they just come in a box but not in sleeves, how much would I need to crush to make the equalivate to 1 1/2 sleeve ?
Brandie @ The Country Cook says
There are 30 crackers in a sleeve 🙂
Meg Hamel says
I first tasted this casserole at a senior center lunch & really enjoyed it. Never got the recipe. I have now! I am from the MD, Washington, DC & never had the dish, The Mason-Dixon Line is between Pennsylvania & Maryland, geographically speaking. Being a retired “transplant” to TN, I have truly enjoyed this dish at a number of lunches & pot lucks. We do have pineapple Jell-O at local food stores.. I look forward to making my own batch. Enjoyed reading the comments.
Julie says
I made this for Thanksgiving & it was wonderful! The jello makes all the difference. I knew there was something different and when I found this recipe I knew this was the one! Thanks so much, it’s a favorite now!
Dorothea Wheeler says
I would like to try this for my family Christmas as we are having spiral ham. If I double the recipe, how long should I cook it for?
Joann says
Can this dish be put together the day before, then baked the day of my dinner?
Judy says
Can I make this with crush pineapple
Betty says
The pineapple casserole sounds awesome! I am going to make it for Easter. I can’t wait to surprise my family! Thanks for all of your wonderful recipes.
Brandie @ The Country Cook says
Hope everyone loves it! Thank you Betty and Happy Easter!
Claudine says
Brandie, thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I made this for our Easter dinner and the whole family raved about it. I have made several different versions of pineapple casserole, but this one is outstanding. It makes a smaller amount and the taste is superb. I was unable to find the pineapple Jello, so I substituted lemon Jello like another reviewer suggested and the taste was spot on. Thank you again for the recipe and the family says now that this is a MUST especially when we have ham.
Claudine in Fort Worth, TX
Brandie @ The Country Cook says
Hi Claudine! Thank you for taking the time to come back and comment. This was a recipe I had worked on for months to get just right. I am so happy you loved it as much as I do!