Description
Comfort meets tropical delight in this Southern pineapple casserole, blending sweet and savory flavors into a crowd-pleasing side dish. Cheese and buttery cracker crumbs create a golden, irresistible topping you’ll want to savor with every creamy, caramelized bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 (20 ounces) cans pineapple chunks, drained
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 sleeve (about 30) Ritz crackers, crushed
Dry Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Wet Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup reserved pineapple juice
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Prepare the oven to 350F (175C) and lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking vessel with cooking spray or butter.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, thoroughly combine flour and sugar until smooth, creating a fine base for the casserole.
- Incorporate pineapple chunks and their reserved juice into the flour-sugar mixture, stirring gently to distribute evenly.
- Fold shredded cheddar cheese into the pineapple blend, ensuring a uniform distribution of ingredients throughout the mixture.
- Transfer the entire pineapple and cheese combination into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out to create an even layer.
- Crush Ritz crackers into fine crumbs and melt butter in a separate bowl, then blend the two ingredients until they form a cohesive topping.
- Generously scatter the buttery cracker crumbs across the surface of the pineapple mixture, covering it completely.
- Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, watching for a golden-brown crust and bubbling edges.
- Remove from the oven and allow the casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes, which helps the dish set and makes serving easier.
Notes
- Drain pineapple thoroughly to prevent excess moisture that could make the casserole soggy and compromise the texture.
- Select a sharp cheddar cheese for a more pronounced tangy flavor that complements the sweet pineapple.
- Experiment with gluten-free crackers and flour for a celiac-friendly version without sacrificing the classic crunch and taste.
- Prepare the casserole ahead of time by assembling and refrigerating, then bake just before serving to save time during meal preparation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 327 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg