Paula Deen’s Pineapple Casserole Recipe with Cheese
This Pineapple Casserole is the perfect combination of sweet, savory, buttery, and cheesy. Made with juicy pineapple, sharp cheddar cheese, and a crispy Ritz cracker topping, it’s a classic Southern side dish that’s always a hit at holiday dinners, potlucks, and family gatherings.
Try my slow cooker mac & cheese and homemade baked beans next!
Why You’ll Love This Pineapple Casserole
- The perfect sweet and savory combination. Juicy pineapple, sharp cheddar cheese, and buttery Ritz crackers create an unforgettable flavor that’s surprisingly delicious.
- Perfect for holidays and gatherings. This classic Southern casserole pairs beautifully with ham, turkey, chicken, and other holiday favorites.
- Simple to make. With just a handful of ingredients and minimal prep, it’s an easy side dish that’s always a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 6 Tablespoons All purpose flour
- 1/2 cup Granulated sugar
- 2 (20 ounce) can pineapple, drained (save a few Tablespoons of the juice)
- 2 cups Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 and 1/2 cups Buttery Ritz Crackers, crumbled
- 3 to 4 Tablespoons Unsalted butter, melted
Step By Step Instructions
STEP ONE – Preheat oven to 350F.
STEP TWO – Grease an 8×12-inch baking dish.
STEP THREE – In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar and flour together. Stir in the cheese a little at a time.
STEP FOUR – Drain the pineapple, saving a few Tablespoons of juice and add the pineapples to the flour mixture. Save the juice for later.
STEP FIVE – Pour the pineapple mixture into prepared casserole dish. I like mine a little chunky, like in the photo, or you can smooth out the top of the mixture with a rubber spatula.
STEP SIX – In a separate medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the crumbled Ritz crackers with melted butter, and 1 Tablespoon reserved pineapple juice, stirring until evenly blended.
STEP SEVEN – Sprinkle the top of the pineapple mixture with the buttered cracker crumb topping.
STEP EIGHT – Bake in 350 degrees oven for 25 – 30 minutes light golden brown
If you would like to brown the crackers a bit more, leave it in the oven for a few more minutes.
Paula Deen’s Pineapple Casserole Recipe with Cheese
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings
Description
This Pineapple Casserole is the perfect combination of sweet, savory, buttery, and cheesy. Made with juicy pineapple, sharp cheddar cheese, and a crispy Ritz cracker topping, it’s a classic Southern side dish that’s always a hit at holiday dinners, potlucks, and family gatherings.
Ingredients
6 Tablespoons All purpose flour
1/2 cup Granulated sugar
2 (20 ounce) can pineapple, drained (save a few Tablespoons of the juice)
2 cups Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 and 1/2 cups Buttery Ritz Crackers, crumbled
3 to 4 Tablespoons Unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8×12 or medium-sized baking dish. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together all purpose flour and sugar.
- Stir in the cheese, a little at a time.
- Drain the pineapple (save a few Tablespoons of juice) and add to the flour mixture.
- Transfer mixture to prepared casserole dish.
- In a separate medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the crumbled Ritz crackers with melted butter, and 1 Tablespoon reserved pineapple juice, stirring until evenly blended.
- Sprinkle the crumb mixture on top of pineapple mixture.
- Bake in 350°F oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until light golden brown.
Notes
How long does pineapple casserole last? Store leftover pineapple casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Can you freeze pineapple casserole? No we do not recommend freezing it as it will become soggy.
Note: I made a few changes to the original recipe from Paula Deen and reduced the sugar and also reduced the amount of butter in the Ritz cracker topping. I added an extra 1/2 cup of Ritz crackers too. Still the same great flavors with just a few tweaks.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Side Dishes
- Method: Oven Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 generous helping
- Calories: 159
- Sugar: 13.3 g
- Sodium: 91.6 mg
- Fat: 8.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 18.6 g
- Fiber: 0.6 g
- Protein: 3.8 g
- Cholesterol: 22.2 mg
Such a good combination of sweet and savory flavors makes a terrific side dish!
Did I miss the amount of cheese that recipe calls for?
It’s 2 cups of sharp Cheddar cheese.