Southern Pineapple Casserole (+Video)
Pineapple Casserole is a classic and unique southern side dish. Pineapple, crackers and cheese (yes, cheese!) combine to make the tastiest side dish that is a must-make during the holidays!
A UNIQUE SOUTHERN SIDE DISH
Pineapple Casserole is a classic southern side dish at a lot of holiday meals. 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 but I promise it will convert you! It can be used as a side dish or even a dessert.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
If you’ve never heard of pineapple casserole before, you will probably think it is the weirdest combination of ingredients you ever heard of. It’s a traditional Southern dish made with pineapple, cheese, Ritz crackers and in my recipe, we use pineapple Jell-O!
Generally this is eaten as a side dish with ham. It is a sweet dish so you’d think it was dessert but it is served as a side dish. I find most people tend to eat it on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.
You can actually prepare this and bake it before you need it then cover and refrigerate. Then just reheat (either in the oven or microwave.) I wouldn’t do it more than a day in advance.
Leftovers should be covered and refrigerated and will last up to 3 days. This can also be frozen. Cover well to protect against freezer burn and it can stay frozen up to 3 months.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- sugar – I’ve never tried this with a sugar substitute but I’m sure it could work.
- pineapple Jell-O – Jell-O brand actually calls it “island pineapple” Walmart has their own Great Value brand of pineapple gelatin. If you can’t find pineapple, you could always go with lemon but pineapple is going to obviously give you the most pineapple flavor.
- corn starch – this is going to help thicken the mixture.
- pineapple tidbits or chunks (in 100% juice) – it needs to be in juice not heavy syrup because you’ll need the juice for the topping.
- sharp cheddar cheese – this is the weird ingredient that throws people off. You do not actually taste the cheese as a separate ingredient. It just cuts the overall sweetness and adds a depth of flavor.
- Ritz crackers – It is traditionally made with Ritz crackers but I’m sure you could make it with club crackers if you prefer those.
- salted butter – if you only have unsalted butter, add about 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the melted butter. Again, we want a touch of saltiness to cut through the overall sweetness of the recipe (although it won’t be salty at all.)
- reserved pineapple juice – this is used in the topping which is why you have to purchase pineapple tidbits in juice not heavy syrup.
HOW TO MAKE PINEAPPLE CASSEROLE:
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray an 8×8-inch baking (2-quart) baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a medium pot over medium heat, whisk together water, sugar, 3 Tablespoons of pineapple Jell-O, and 3 Tablespoons 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 tidbits thoroughly, setting aside 1/2 cup of the juice. Add drained tidbits to the 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.
Add shredded cheese to cooled pineapple mixture and pour into baking dish. Drop and gently spread Ritz cracker topping over pineapple mixture.
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.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
Originally published: March 2013
Photos updated and republished: November 2023
Southern Pineapple Casserole (+Video)
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 Tablespoons pineapple Jell-O
- 3 Tablespoons corn starch
- 20 ounce can pineapple tidbits or chunks (in 100% juice) (not in heavy syrup)
- 1 ½ sleeves (45) Ritz crackers (crushed)
- ½ stick salted butter (1/4 cup), melted
- ½ cup reserved pineapple juice
- 1 cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray an 8×8-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a medium pot over medium heat, whisk together 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, 3 Tablespoons pineapple Jell-O and 3 Tablespoons 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 20 ounce can pineapple tidbits or chunks (in 100% juice) thoroughly, setting aside 1/2 cup of the juice. Add drained pineapple to pot and stir.
- In a large Ziploc bag, finely crush 1 1/2 sleeves (45) Ritz crackers.
- Add crushed crackers, 1/2 stick salted butter (1/4 cup), melted and 1/2 cup reserved pineapple juice into a medium bowl and stir until combined.
- Add 1 cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese to cooled pineapple mixture in pan.
- Then pour mixture into prepared baking dish.
- Spread Ritz cracker topping over pineapple mixture.
- Bake in oven for about 30-35 minutes (until topping is golden brown.)
Video
Notes
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
- It MUST be pineapple in 100% juice NOT heavy syrup.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Hi PKP – hmmmm, I just bought some at my Wal-Mart yesterday so I could make it for Easter. I guess you could maybe go with a plain gelatin and then add some pineapple juice for flavor. I haven't tried it so I couldn't give you exact amounts but I think it might work.
I got the island pineapple jello at walmart yesterday
This is very yummy…. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Anonymous, I guess you kid. Personally, I like to keep it as a separate dish. It's good along with the ham, I'm just not so sure I want it in there. 😀 ~Brandie
Everyone agrees that this dish pairs well with ham. I'm wondering whether it might be possible to add diced ham to the dish itself?
Hi Country Cook! I have just spent the last hour looking at your recipes. (Making Taco Bake and Spanish Rice for dinner tonight.)In regards to the pineapple recipe-Here is my version: 2 large cans pineapple chunks-drained, 1 cup sugar, 6 T. flour, 2 cups Velvetta Cheese-shredded, 1 roll Ritz Crackers and 1 stick butter-melted. Combine first four ingredients. Pour into buttered casserole dish. Crush ritz crackers and sprinkle on top. Pour melted butter over crackers. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. (Velvetta Cheese melts beautifully.) Hope you try this version.
Hi! I was excited to find your version of this idea. I have tried the Paula Deen version and have been frustrated that the cheese didnt melt. I tried this version and the cheese didn't melt either! Am I wrong to think it is supposed to?
Thanks for your feedback!
If you use a package of shredded cheese from the grocery it is coated with something so that it does not stick together. To get a nice melted cheese you have to shred it yourself from a block of cheese. Hope this helps.
Hi Karelle. If you aren't real familiar with this kind of recipe (as in having grown up with it), you wouldn't know what to expect from that finished product. But no, I've never had a version of this where the cheese is melted. You should see bits of cheese in it. You want to get in the occasional bite of cheese but it should not be incorporated in the gelatin part of this. I like a finely shredded cheese but I've had versions where folks put in bigger chunks. Hope that helps! ~Brandie 🙂
this is one of the best things to happen to a southern kitchen! can't wait to whip this up tonight for a 30th birthday. i live in colorado now, and i'm pretty excited to share this with my western friends.
Oh my goodness!!! This is so darn good!!! I made it last Sunday with ham, green beans, and rolls. Hubby said delish. It was super easy to make and I took some to work and they ate it up and asked for the recipe.
Many thanks, this will be a staple in our house.
We have been loving the pineapple casserole, for oh maybe 20 years got to tell you never ever used pineapple jello this is very interesting to me. thank you.
I have to try this one! 🙂
Oh, wow, that would be so good hot out of the oven on a cold, winter night….
I'm from Missouri, and we have this quite a bit. It's amazing! This is even good cold (if you actually have any at all left).
My husband grilled ham steaks on the grill and I made this casserole. The two went well together. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Wow…I have never heard if this but it sounds awesome. I will be trying this!
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We are having this today with our Easter ham (with cherry glaze), sweet potato caserole, Brussels sprouts, and buttermilk biscuits. It's in the oven now and smells scrumptious!
I will definitely be making this! I also just looked through your pinterest board. I think I gained 10 lbs just looking at your food!! Keep up the great cooking!
As a west coaster, I always find southern cooking to be so comforting – such a treat! I've never tried the pineapple casserole, but one of my friends from NC is coming to visit this week, so she and I will have to whip up a batch together -there's no doubt in my mind that she's had it before. Thanks for the great recipe!
This truly is a southern dish. I absolutely love this side dish. I lived in Texas for a while and none of my friends knew what it was when we went to North Caroline for work. I'm from the Southeast.
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Texas is pretty far south and I have never had this, but I plan to remedy that soon!
Yup, I am not a Southerner (even though I want to be one…someday.) This is the first time I've heard of this recipe or combining cheese with pineapple. It works well with apples so it wouldn't be a far stretch to say that it would be good with pineapples too! My Dad considers himself a Southerner even though he's from West Virginia. I wonder if he's heard of this?
My S-I-L showed up w/ this at some gathering about 15 yrs ago, I thought she was nuts! It's indescribably, dangerously amazing!
GREAT CHEAT recipe I made up for late night snack ….
<<< Ritz cracker, pineapple chunk, topped w/ cheese… make a tray full, toaster oven for a few minutes>>>
my son named them UFO's : ) don't say I didn't warn you! DANGEROUS!
I just had a flashback to pot luck dinners at my parish in Chesapeake, Virginia!
Yum! My grandma, who is from the South, makes this! It does go amazingly well with ham.
Wow, how creative! It looks so tasty. I love pineapple, so I'm sure this is a winner.