Pineapple Casserole Recipe

Pineapple Cheese Casserole is a tasty casserole dish that is perfectly served with your Easter ham. It is easy to make and the sweet and savory flavor makes it a crowd favorite casserole recipe.

If you love pineapple, also try Pineapple Fluff, Pineapple Angel Food Cake or this Disney Dole Whip Recipe. This pineapple dish is always a crowd favorite!

If pineapple and cheddar sounds like an odd pairing, you’re not alone — but this is one of those combinations that works far better than it sounds. The sharp cheddar adds a savory, salty balance that keeps the sweet pineapple from feeling like dessert, similar to how pineapple works on a pizza. Once it’s baked together under a buttery cracker topping, you really don’t taste “cheese” on its own — just a well-balanced sweet and savory bite.

The ingredients combine together in a mixing bowl and then baked for about 35 to 40 minutes. The whole family will love this dish and it will become a family tradition casserole recipe.

Ingredients

• Crushed pineapple, drained — one of the two pineapple varieties in this casserole. Draining removes excess liquid so the casserole sets properly rather than turning watery during baking
• Pineapple tidbits, drained — the second pineapple variety that adds texture and visible pineapple pieces throughout every bite. The combination of crushed and tidbits gives you both flavor and texture in every spoonful
• Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded — the ingredient that surprises everyone and makes this casserole so uniquely delicious. The sharp cheddar balances the sweetness of the pineapple with a savory depth that makes the sweet and savory combination work beautifully. Always shred fresh from a block for the best melt
• Granulated sugar — sweetens the pineapple filling and helps it bake into a cohesive casserole. See the substitutions section below for a brown sugar swap
• All purpose flour — thickens the pineapple filling so it holds together during baking rather than being too loose and runny
• Butter crackers, crushed — the classic Ritz cracker topping that gives the casserole its signature crunchy golden finish. Any buttery cracker brand works — see the substitutions section below
• Butter, melted — combined with the crushed crackers to create the buttery crunchy topping that makes every bite so satisfying

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.

Recipe Add-Ins

This pineapple mixture is great served as is. But you can also add in other ingredients to jazz it up.

• Nuts – Mix in some chopped walnuts or chopped pecans.
• Coconut – Shredded coconut is also a good option if you like coconut.
• Cherries – Maraschino Cherries halved always makes a dish beautiful and tasty with the pops of red.
• Seasoning – Add ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg to give it a deep flavor.
• Mix Together – Any of these combinations would work well together in this casserole dish.
• Spiced topping — Add ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg to the cracker and butter mixture for a warmly spiced crunchy topping.
• Savory-spicy twist — add ¼ teaspoon Cajun seasoning or Tajin to the cracker topping for a salty, spicy contrast to the sweet pineapple.

How to Make Pineapple Casserole

Here’s how you can make your own pineapple casserole.

Step 1 – Prepare oven and baking pan – Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray either a 9×9 baking dish or a 1 ½ quart casserole pan with a non-stick cooking spray. 

Step 2 – Add to bowl and combine – In a medium bowl or large bowl, whisk together the flour and sugar.  Then stir in the drained pineapple and the shredded cheddar cheese. 

Step 3 – Pour into a baking dish – Pour this mixture into the baking dish or casserole pan. 

Step 4 – Mix butter and cracker crumbs – In a separate small mixing bowl, stir together the crushed crackers and melted butter until the mixture resembles wet sand.

Step 5 – Add to Casserole – Sprinkle this mixture on top of the casserole. 

Step 6 – Bake Casserole – Bake for 35-40 minutes until the casserole is heated through and the top of the casserole is golden brown. 

Step 7 – Serve and Enjoy – Serve immediately while warm and enjoy!  

Expert Tips

• Serving – This casserole can easily be a dessert or a side dish. 
• Drain Pineapple Juice – Make sure to drain the juice as much as possible before mixing with other ingredients.
• Canned Pineapple – We recommend canned pineapple for this recipe. Pineapple chunks, tidbits, and crushed is what we recommend.
• Baking Casserole – We bake casserole until it is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
• Serve Hot – This dish is best served warm while the cheese is melted.

How to Serve Pineapple Casserole

Pineapple casserole makes the best side dish for any occasion. We usually make it for the holidays with our Slow Cooker Whole Turkey or Slow Cooker Christmas Ham Recipe.

But there have been times that we make it with our Grilled Teriyaki Steak or Oven Baked Chicken Breast Recipe.