This easy Pineapple Casserole recipe is a sweet & savory dish that pairs perfectly with ham, BBQ, and grilled meats. With sweet pineapple, melty sharp cheddar, and crispy, buttery Ritz crackers, this southern dish can be enjoyed as a side dish or dessert. It's especially popular for Easter dinner and BBQ gatherings!
Ingredients
1medium-sized fresh pineapplethat's tender, sweet, and juicy*, cubed ¾ to 1” in size (about 6 cups total)
Preheat the oven to 350℉ and grease a 9"x13” baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Place half of the diced pineapple into a food processor and pulse until the pineapple forms a chunky paste.
In a large bowl, stir together the granulated sugar and cornstarch. Add the pineapple puree and stir to combine.
Add the remaining diced pineapple along with 1 cup of cheddar cheese and stir. Transfer the pineapple mixture to the prepared baking dish.
Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the pineapple.
In a small bowl, stir together the crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter. Sprinkle the topping over the casserole.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the casserole is bubby and the crackers are golden brown.
Notes
Storage: Store any leftover pineapple casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.To use canned pineapple: If you don’t want to use fresh pineapple, or if your fresh pineapple is not tender, sweet, and juicy, substitute one can (20 oz) of pineapple chunks and one can (20 oz) of crushed pineapple for the fresh pineapple in this recipe. Drain both cans, reserving the juice. Skip Step 2 in the Instructions. In Step 3, add the crushed pineapple and ¼ cup of the reserved pineapple juice to the bowl with the granulated sugar and cornstarch, and stir to combine. Then proceed with Step 4, where you’ll add the canned pineapple chunks.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Spoonacular. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.