Pineapple Cheese Casserole is a sweet and salty Southern favorite! This quick and easy recipe combines simple ingredients for a fun and delicious side dish!
If you ask my wife, no family gathering is complete without the Pineapple Cheese Casserole. It’s her absolute favorite. My mom has been making sure it was on the menu especially for her for as long as I can remember.
The unusual but delicious conglomeration of tangy, sweet pineapple pieces, sharp cheddar cheese, and buttery cracker crumbs satisfies that sweet and salty craving with perfection. And it’s the perfect complement to an Easter ham, a Thanksgiving feast, or a regular weeknight supper – regardless of whatever else is on the table.
While there are quite a few variations of this casserole dish, this one is our version with a few tweaks to get it just like we like it (that happens after you make something a couple hundred times!). I bet you’ll like it too! Y’all enjoy!
What is in pineapple casserole?
Pineapple casserole is a beloved Southern dish that blends the sweet and tangy flavors of pineapple into sugar to create a pineapple mixture. Then a rich layer of cheese is added on and topped with a buttery, crushed cracker topping – usually Ritz crackers are the top choice. Key ingredients in this Southern classic include pineapple, cheese, butter, crushed crackers, sugar, and a bit of flour as a thickener.
Once baked, this delicious side dish emerges from the oven as a warm, gooey, sweet-and-savory treat that could also double as a yummy dessert.
Where did pineapple casserole originate?
While there is no definite timestamp and location for the origin of pineapple casserole, it likely came from the Southern portion of the United States where casseroles and unique side dishes occur most commonly. It likely came to be during the big casserole craze of the 1950s and definitely after canned pineapple became a common find in grocery stores in the early 1900s.
Though its exact origin is unclear, it’s a quintessential Southern dish. It blends sweet pineapple, cheese, and a buttery top layer, making it a Southern favorite for family gatherings and potlucks. This is evident by its presence in community cookbooks published around the mid-20th century across the South. Variations were often listed under “Desserts” or “Side Dishes.”
Recipe Card
Pineapple Cheese Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 (20-ounce) cans pineapple chunks, drained with juice reserved
- 1 cup sugar
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 sleeve buttery round crackers, crushed ((about 1 3/4 cups crushed) I used Ritz. )
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 2-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Drain the pineapple very well and reserve 6 tablespoons of the juice for the recipe.
- In a large bowl, stir together the sugar, flour and 6 tablespoons of the juice. Add the pineapple and mix well. Pour it into the prepared dish. Sprinkle the cheese over the top.
- In a medium bowl, add the melted butter to the crushed cracker crumbs and stir to coat them in the butter. Sprinkle them evenly over the cheese. Bake for about 30 minutes and then allow the casserole to rest for about 10 minutes and thicken before serving.
Video
Nutrition
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
Margo Allerton
Love this casserole! Had it at a potluck, went home and looked up recipe. Made it twice for potlucks. People always like it. Reviewed other recipes for this dish. This one is the best. Both times I served it, no one had ever had it before.. New and surprisingly good dish for all of us.
Thank you, Margo! So glad to hear you enjoyed my version so much!
Margo Allerton
Love this casserole! Had it at a potluck, went home and looked up recipe. Made it twice for potlucks. People always like it. Reviewed other recipes for this dish. This one is the best.
Lynette Smith
Fantastic, I added fresh spinach and now making it about every other day!!!
Thats an interesting twist I would have never thought about! So glad you enjoyed it, Lynette!
Martha Collins
This recipe is so easy and delicious with ham. This is the second year I’ve made it for Easter and this time we didn’t even get to bring any home with our leftovers. Thank You, Stacey. Now I have to pop over to the Pineapple Juice Cake for a few words about that.
Thanks, Martha! So glad y’all enjoyed it!
Harriet Glenn
The pineapple casserole recipe in your cookbook calls for crushed pineapple. Do you think using one can of each for this recipe would work well? I think I’ll try it!
Hi Harriet! That recipe in my cookbook is a delicious one from one of my readers. However, I think using one can of crushed pineapple and one can of pineapple chunks could definitely work well in the casserole. It might add some great texture! I’m excited for you to try it out!
Harriet Glenn
It worked really well, and everybody liked it; even the 25-year-old grandson who said, “What in the world? Pineapple and cheese?” I think this is my keeper way to make it. Thanks, Stacey for reminding me of this recipe.
So glad y’all enjoyed it!
Slocook
Funny this recipe came in today’s email. I had commented
on it over a year ago. Shortly after this past Christmas I had a good amount of ham left over. I like to take good recipes and use them as a base for something else, and that’s just what I did. To this recipe I added a good full cup plus of diced ham, about a cup and a half of frozen whole kernel corn, thawed and a full tsp of yellow mustard. It turned out fantastic and was a delicious complete meal in one dish and is going to be a regular in my house. Next time I’ll try Cheez Its as mentioned below.
That sounds great! I love how you adapted the recipe to use that leftover ham and added those extra flavors. It’s great to hear it turned out so well for you! Cheez-Its will definitely add a fun twist next time. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Mary Hogue
I LOVE this recipe! Thank you for sharing!
Douglas C Lynn
I made this for a pot luck was gone in an hour.. I wanted to ask if there was a way to do this in a crockpot.
Comments like this truly make my day! You know, I’ve never thought about making this in a crock pot before, but it’s such an interesting idea. My only concern would be the cracker topping getting soggy. If you toasted the cracker crumbs in a skillet or on a sheet pan in the oven ahead of time, you could probably make everything else in the slow cooker and just sprinkle the toasted crumbs on right before serving. That way, you’d still get that crunchy topping we all love!
Douglas C Lynn
The crock pot way turned out great. I did what you said regarding toasting the topping and I put all together before serving.
Awesome to hear! Thanks for coming back to let me know!
Linda Manuel
Stellar recipe! My boys LOVE this stuff, have asked for the recipe so they can make it too! Absolutely delicious!
Thanks!
Denise Walker
I made this for Thanksgiving Day with friends (potluck) Nothing was left. No one had ever had pineapple casserole before….loved by all!
So glad it was a hit! Pineapple casserole always surprises people, but it never lasts long.
Mary Ellen Pierce Hogue
I LOVE this recipe! Thank you for sharing it!!
My pleasure! So glad you enjoyed it!
Jenn
Hi, would you just cut the ingredients in half to make a smaller casserole?
Yep! That will work just fine.
Claudia Surratt
Made this for our church Thanksgiving dinner Sunday night.. doubled all ingredients and it was a hit
So glad y’all enjoyed it!
Heather Browarek
This has become a staple for any holidays in our home. Making it for Thanksgiving and wondering if I can make the day ahead to save me some trouble on the big day.
Love hearing that, Heather. I often prep this the day before but leave off the topping. Then add the topping and bake the morning of to save a little time.
Sally
Could you add some thawed cherries to give it a little color?
Yes, you can add thawed cherries to a pineapple cheese casserole for a pop of color and extra flavor! Just be sure to drain them well to avoid adding extra liquid, which could affect the texture. While I haven’t tested this variation myself, the sweet-tart cherries should pair nicely with the pineapple and cheesy goodness. If you give it a try, I’d love to hear how it turns out!
Karen
My first taste of pineapple casserole was at a church potluck in the early 1990s. Since then, it graces our holiday table whenever ham is the main attraction. Our recipe follows yours precisely. Thanks for reminding me how much we love pineapple casserole!
You’re so welcome, Karen!
Sheila Shapley
I have made this and love it.
I have also made it with Chez It crackers instead of Ritz and loved it.
Love that idea! Thanks, Sheila!
Martin
Great recipe. Brought back memories. My grandmother used to make this and I hadn’t had it in decades. I made it as a “dessert” for a hot summer day after we had hotdogs and baked beans and coleslaw. My 80 year old father loved it. Said he hadn’t had it in a very long time.
Happy to hear that, Martin!
Kim
Would this work to bake in a pie shell?
Hmmm… I don’t think this would set up firm like a pie filling.
Julie
How would you adapt the recipe using fresh pineapple?
You’ll need about 5 to 6 cups of cubed pineapple and the same amount of juice. That should equate to about 2 medium pineapples.
Jonathan Parlette
When I was a kid I was at a potluck with my Grandparents. I tried a pineapple Mac and cheese casserole with crumb topping. I been looking for over 20 years for a recipe like it. So I’m going to make this and incorporate macaroni to it. It looks amazing and I can’t wait to try!
That’s an interesting twist! Let me know how it turns out for you!
Jean Shaw
If I’m doubling the recipe for a large party, how long should I bake it?
35 to 45 minutes should be enough – just long enough for it to get bubbly.
Pat
Can you fix gust half of this.
Yes, this recipe halves just fine. You’ll need to use a smaller baking dish as well, however. Enjoy!
Kay Hopper
One of my favorite recipes. Delivery casserole that everyone always enjoys. Only thing I do different is I don’t drain my pineapple and it turns out great.
Thanks, Kay!
Lisa Ray
This is one of my favorite casseroles. I love butter, cheese and pineapple. I’m in casserole heaven when this is made.
Quick question: Can fresh pineapple that has been lightly cooked be used? Sometimes the pineapple in the can is seems like it isn’t fully ripened when put into the can, and for that reason, I would prefer to use fresh-cooked. Thank you so much for this recipe. ~LR
I’ve not tested it with fresh, but I can’t see why it wouldn’t work.
Sharon
Excellent and all my guests raved about how well it tasted with the baked ham.
Awesome! Love hearing that, Sharon!
Judy
I am going to try this and I will tweak it a bit. I will use a very mild cheddar/white cheese or half cream cheese & cheddar. I will make the topping a crisp, like what is made for apple crisp. We are retired so I can experiment. Winter months are perfect for any casserole dish. Thanks for sharing this recipe. Hello from Missouri. **
Hope you’ll enjoy it, Judy!
Christie Metz
He has the most amazing recipes!!!
Thanks, Christie!
Margaret H.
Oops sorry bout the double post🤨
Margaret H.
The first time I had this casserole (about 30 years ago) it had crushed Cheez-its for the topping and I thought it was divine. Our family loved it for Easter with ham. Being a low carb eater now days I rarely make this kind of dish, however I may need to revisit it using Cheez-its just to see if it works as well as I remember. Now I just need an excuse to make it!
Margaret H.
The first time I had this casserole (about 30 years ago) it had crushed Cheez-its for the topping and I thought it was divine. Being a low carb eater now days I don’t usually make this kind of dish, however I may need to revisit it using Cheez-its just to see if it works as well as I remember. Now I just need an excuse to make it!
Love the Cheez-it idea!
slocook
My mom got this recipe in the 1950s when my dad had 3 tours of duty in Hawaii. Back in those days it was about the only way she could get me to eat cheese. Sometimes she would top it with toasted coconut. As written or tweaked, once you try this, it’ll be a keeper.
Love the coconut idea! Thanks for sharing!
Elizabeth Wagner
My momma has been making this recipe for years. Hands down my favorite thing at the Christmas lunch, and what I always ask for for my birthday! It’s SO yummy!!
I agree! It’s kinda weird, but so delicious! Heather always says it’s required for Thanksgiving!
Elizabeth Wagner
I agree with her! You got a smart woman!😂
I’ll be sure to pass that along. 🙂
Glenda G Steele
The Pineapple and 1 cup of Sugar are not good for anybody ! Adults or children. Of course its good, it’s all sugar ! Yes, I am diabetic.
Understood, but folks who aren’t diabetic, are good to consume both pineapple and sugar, though.
Allyson Venable
Pineapple casserole is always a hit in my family. I use a variation of my cousin’s recipe where she calls for 1/2 cup of sugar and 2 sticks of butter! However I don’t normally use that much butter. Whether you use more or less sugar or more or less butter, the results are always great.
Thanks, Allyson!
Emily Y
Hi there— may have missed it but can this be prepped the day before and baked day off? Thanks!
I wouldn’t recommend it. I’ve done it a few times that ways to test and just wasn’t pleased with the results.
Owen’s Grandma
Mercy me, this is soooo GOOD!! Made it for Easter last year and went shopping for the ingredients today to make again this holiday weekend. Prepare for the raves and requests for the recipe!
Love hearing that! We’re having it for Easter, too!
Kay Opdenaker
Fantastic ….. first dish to disappear on Thanksgiving so I doubled the recipe for Christmas!
So glad to hear everyone enjoyed it!
Jennifer
This is such a weird recipe. I can’t understand why we think it is so good, but we do.
Right! And we do think it is goo-ood!
Kathy
Very good recipe. My granddaughter and I are the only ones who liked it. Today I’m making it to take to my sister’s house for Christmas Dinner. Hopefully they will like it.
I’m glad it turned out great for you!
Kay Lynn Cartwright
My questions is some recipes call for mixing the pineapple mixture and the cheese together. Your recipe has them in layers with pineapple first then cheese. This is a family favorite and I have always mixed it together. Is there a difference in the taste or is it just in how it looks when served?
It will work either way, I just prefer it layered like this.
Ronnie48
My family and friends love this, easy and delicious
Thanks, Ronnie!
Miss Amy
Has anyone ever used peaches?? I forgot the pineapple! Lol help!
I’ve not done that, bit it sounds delicious to me! Let me know if you try it!
Laurie Bush
I have been making this for 40 years and make it every Thanksgiving
It’s definitely good enough to have in the regular rotation!
Louis Eller
For me this was more like a dessert casserole, than a side dish…..and it was good y’all
Sure! I think there are many folks who feel that way. It’s great regardless. 🙂
Georgia
Made it. Ate it. Loved it.
Thanks, Georgia!
Brenda
My husband loves this casserole. I use 1/2 a cup of sugar and 1/2 a cup of flour so it’s not quite so sweet. I also use pineapple tidbits instead of chuck. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Of course, Brenda!
Anne Lewellen
Is this recipe in your cookbook, which I have and love.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The version in my cookbook is from one of my loyal readers, Susan Hatcher. They are a little different, but equally delicious!
estelle
Your site provides a comfy great addition to my recipes!!
Thanks so much, Estelle!
estelle
Bravo great site!
estelle
Delightful Match to holiday meal
June Vance
YES. A friend of a friend makes this, usually for funerals, and I have loved it so much. Never got the recipe from her and had it recently so I thought I would check the internet. And Wow-I found it! I’m not very tech-Savvy so I never thought to look it up before..
So glad I have it now. Thank you!
Sure hope you’ll enjoy it!
Carolina Suze
Jill, I personally would absolutely try panko crumbs in a pinch for pineapple casserole. Maybe use a full stick of butter instead of just a half stick/ quarter cup because the crackers do have a lot of butter in them even before the extra in the topping. I think it will still be a winner. I have swapped buttered panko for breadcrumbs or butter crackers on baked mac and cheese, and I don’t see why you couldn’t do the same here. As far as how the crackers contribute to the recipe, panko should give you the same crunchy, textural contrast and a nice, neutral taste as a vehicle for the butter. Sigh. Why can’t everything be a vehicle for butter? 😂
Jill
Do y’all think buttery panko can work as a topping? I forgot the ritz at the store, everything is closed ☹️
I don’t see why not. Let us know how it went!
Anne Lewellen
I don’t think the Panko would give you the wonderful crunch of the crackers.
CMam
Any nutritional information available?
When it comes to nutritional content, I don’t include that because many of the ingredients my recipes frequently call for can vary in nutrition based on the brand. I wouldn’t want to include the nutritional facts for one brand and folks use a different one and it have vastly different ingredients. With that being said, it’s super easy to pick your favorite brands and plug them into a nutritional calculator like the one on myfitnesspal.com to get accurate info. Hope that helps!
Teresa
For the lady that her DIL is allergic to pineapple, try it with canned pears. It’s delicious!! Southerners also love Pear Salad and that has sharp cheddar cheese on top and so it is great combination for the casserole.
That is a BRILLIANT idea! Thank you!
Kim
I am in my 50’s and long ago when I was in elementary school one of my teachers made this for us. I never forgot how tasty it was and finally looked for the recipe for a New Year’s Eve treat. OMG! It is as good as I remember.
Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Mark Josefsberg Arnold
I’m from New York City, NEW YORK CITY?! Lol…now I live in Alabama and I tried this at a meat and three restaurant…and I am in love. I put a little cinnamon in with the ritz crackers…and use light brown sugar instead of granulated…I also use both crushed and tidbits. I am going to try dried cranberries as a mix-in…fingers crossed.
Well, hey there, city slicker! Gosh, I’m so glad we don’t really talk like that! 🙂 It’s certainly a favorite at our house! Love the varying pineapple types! I think I’ll try that this year.
Kim Kirk
If I want to double the recipe, do I still double the sugar and flour? Making for 20 people.
thank you!
Yes, you’d double it all. Enjoy!!
Dale
Omg this was AMAZING! Never had anything like it before. We used Ritz Everything crackers just because there was nothing else. Absolute hit!
Awesome! So glad to hear y’all enjoyed it!
Steve
Stacey, are you in Prattville? When we lived in Montgomery, the senior adults from our church would go to a place called the Guest House in Prattville. I was on staff at the church and my wife and I would go with them at times. I had never had pineapple casserole until we went there. I loved it! Just curious?
Yes! While I never had the chance to experience the Guest House myself before it closed, it is certainly something of legend! I’ve had quite a few of the recipes from there. That Doritos Salad is quite the experience!
Ann
This is just like my Pineapple Casserole and it is a must have when having ham. So delicious!
It’s perfect with ham! 🙂
teresa oates
Can this recipe be made and warmed up later? i love it but can not always eat it all in one meal. How would i warm it up if i could?
It can be rewarmed. I find it is best fresh, but usually just zap elftovers in the microwave.
Suellen
I’ve made this before it’s a great accompaniment to ham!
I agree! So good!
Suzanna Dison
This is a common dish in my house…I learned how to make it in my high school Home EC class! (Way back in the 80’s! Yes, I’m old). The first time I made this at my Mother-in-law’s, she “tsked,tsked” and thought I was insane!???? (I was in my 20’s then). Well, of course , everyone loved it! She had to have recipe and made it regularly afterwards. Even after her son and I got divorced ????
LOL! Love that story!
DeAnna
Wonderful!!!! 🙂
Thank you!!
DeAnna Tudda
Oh-My-Goodness! The absolute best! I will be making this any time I have company. They won’t know what’s coming to them! I have a 9×13 casserole dish. I would think to double layer it would be also fantastic! Bake time would probably be the same?
Thanks, DeAnna! Yes, I would think so.
DeAnna
Wonderful!!!! 🙂
Penelope H .
This southern girl has had fruit casserole and was looking for that recipe when I found this. So today Thanksgiving 2020 I am going to make it for my family, some of the very picky. Cross your fingers I do not mess it up! 🙂 I’ll let you know if they loved it. I love anything pineapple.
Sure hope everyone enjoyed it!
vilaJean
i want to use fresh pineapple…how should i alter the recipe? we have lots of pineapples as we raise them. waiting to hear from you
You’ll need about 4 cups of fresh pineapple chunks and 6 tablespoons of pineapple juice.
Marie
Hi this looks great!
I was wondering, is the cheese amount 8 ounces total?
1 (8-ounce) package of shredded cheese typically equals about 2 cups. Does that help?
Mary
As soon as I saw this recipe I had to make it, so I did last night. It’s really good. I didn’t add any sugar as the (fresh) pineapple I had was sweet enough, and I added a splash of liquid smoke. Thanks for the recipe 🙂
So glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Barbara Loudy
I made this and it was absolutely delicious! The only thing I would be interested in seeing is the nutrition information. Thank you for a delicious dish.
Hi Barbara! I don’t track nutritional information as the exact content can vary between brands of products. I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and using a site like myfitnesspal.com to quickly figure up the info.
Steph
Can this casserole be reheated?
I want to take some to my son.
Absolutely! The microwave and oven both work great to reheat it.
Liza
I have to say I was really skeptical when I first heard of this recipe after moving to NC from NJ a few years ago. I love sweet & salty but refused to try this for ages. So glad I finally did! We make this all the time now, and it’s so unique to the area! I love convincing my family to try things like this when they visit.
So glad you gave it a try and loved it!!
Www
Can you use club crackers instead of Ritz? Thanks
I certainly don’t see why not.
Phyllis
This sounds interesting to me. My southern mother used to make a salad with canned half pears with grated cheese. Pears might be a good substitute for pineapple if you must.
I hadn’t thought about pears, but that’s a great idea!
Amy
Hi! I just made this dish, but trying to figure out if it needs to be refrigerated after making it…or is it ok to sit out until dinner time? Thank you!
It should be fine for a few hours.
Brandy Lee
I made p/a cass. for thanksgiving now I have to make it for Christmas,, EVERYONE fell in love.. When I first told them what it was, of course they went ugh,,,, after one small taste, they started raving… Thank you Stacy.
Now I’m a big hit…
Fantastic! I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it!!
Marion cardoza
Can this be made the day before then baked? Sounds amazing
Sure! I just wouldn’t mix up the topping or put it on until right before baking.
Maggy
A 2qt dish is an 8 x 8? I’d need to make this in a 9 x 13 dish to have enough for a church luncheon so do I double the recipe? Can’t wait to try this out as it sounds delicious! Thanks for your help.
An 8x8x2-inch dish will hold roughly 8 cups. A 9x13x2-inch dish will hold roughly 15 cups. But being that you’re not filling the 8×8 full, you should have enough room to double the recipe in the 9×13.
Jessica
I grew up eating this and I make it all of the time. I use fresh pineapple instead of canned and I reduce the amount of sugar because the fresh pineapple is already very sweet.
Sounds great!!
Marthaelaine Brown
Thank you for sharing with us . My granddaughter loves pineapple in any form . She is having a fit to make this when my daughter comes home , but we have to make it now just to see if we can do it.
I sure hope it turns out great for you!!
Dorothy Black
This makes me want to lay down and scream! Thank you. I love your site and look forward to it every week. Thank you.
LOL! So glad you’ve enjoyed the site!
Patricia Wooten
Thank you for sharing this delicious sounding recipe. I love pineapple about any way it is served. This recipe came to me just at the right time as we are having a family reunion September 14, 1019. I am temped to make two dishes just in case…… We have fruit salads all the time but our favorite is pineapple slices with cheese and mayonnaise topped with a cherry.
Well, awesome! I hope it turns out great for you and everyone at the reunion enjoys it!
Frances Teate
Looks wonderful & can’t wait to try it. Thanks for sharing.
Nancy Brown
Could this be made with fresh pineapple instead of canned?
Absolutely!
Susie Cooper
I made this recipe last night and it was delicious. I only made half of the recipe for one person. It turned out so well! Thank you for sharing. I might try the adding pecans next time as someone suggested. ????
So glad to hear you enjoyed it, Susie! I do think adding the pecans sounds great!
Sheron Bloom
Southerner born and reared, but I’d never heard of this recipe until a few days ago. (Followed the link on “It’s a Southern Thing” https://www.southernthing.com/pineapple-casserole-2639340029.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1) Pulled the ingredients together and whipped it up. Oh.My.GOD! This is beyond “good” or even “delicious”! I’ll be taking this to every potluck we’re invited to in the future! (Discovered it’s good hot, warm or refrigerator-cold!) My new favorite recipe! 😉
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Sheron! We sure love it. I’ll be sure to tell my friends over at “It’s A Southern Thing” thanks for sending you my way!
Jane
Can this recipe be halved?
Absolutely!
Kay
I am a type 1 diabetic and am wondering if you can use the pineapple packed in pineapple juice instead of syrup to cut down on sugar?
Yep! The recipe actually calls for the pineapple packed in juice.
Julie
I decrease the amount of sugar to 1/2 cup and it is sweet enough!
I have also served this on a slice of pound cake with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream for dessert.
Yum!
JOYCE LeMASTER PIERCE
I prefer 1 can of crushed pineapple and 1 can pineapple tid bits combined. Makes more delish casserole. I also add lightly sprinkle chopped toasted pecans before baking.
Love the addition of pecans!
Cheryl
I made this recipe for Thanksgiving. It’s very sweet and got rave reviews.
So glad y’all enjoyed it!!
Kathy
Stacey: I made your Pineapple Cheese Casserole to go with my slice of air fried ham for TG. I made 1/2 of a batch because there’s only me, I’d never had it, didn’t know if I’d like it, and yes, it does sound weird. 8) However, it’s darn good, and as several people have said, Heather is right.
Since you said your family tweaked it, I was interested to see how others do it-some of them had WAY more butter, and I like your version. One website did say that you could make it with peaches, so Lynda could do this for her d-i-l who is allergic to pineapple. I don’t know how it’d be with those, or how much you’d use, but it might be worth trying some time. Thanks for the recipe!
Great ideas, Kathy! Thanks for the research and I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!
Rae
Hi there! I’m making this for the first time. Do I bake it covered or uncovered? Thanks!
You should bake it uncovered. Enjoy!
Veronica
My question is the type of cheese does it have to be sharp cheddar?
No, mild will work also. It’s just that the sharp cheddar helps to balance the sweetness out a bit.
Joan Hansen
My Mother used to serve this. Glad to get the recipe. Thanks for posting.
Hope you’ll enjoy!!
Tammy
I was thinking some finely chopped pecans would be good in this! Anyone ever tried it?
I think it sounds like a GREAT addition!
WileyP
Just had to give this a try and I’m so glad I did – It truly is delicious! Didn’t try to match it with any specific main course and still can’t think of anything in particular to serve it with, but might try grilled pork chops.
Pork always works well with sweet sides, so I think that sounds great! Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Paula
It’s great as a side dish with ham
I couldn’t agree more!
Rachelle
Do you mean six servings or six people who pile it on? If you make it in a deeper and overall larger dish what are the changes of inside ingredients and toppings to alter the dish?
i.e. instead of an 8×8 I would use a 9×13 lasagna pan that is twice as deep as the 8×8 pan.
That’s the thing about serving size – it can mean drastically different things to different people. You can serve 6 to 8 folks with moderate portions. There’s no need to alter the recipe if you’re just making one batch and using a large pan. If you’re wanting to double the recipe, just double everything. Enjoy!
Paula
Can tou make this ahead and freeze it?
You can assemble and and freeze it unbaked. I’ve not done it, though so I’m not sure about the end result. You might find this helpful. https://dish.allrecipes.com/best-make-and-freeze-casseroles/
Patsy
Can you make the night before and leave out on counter or refrigerate ?
My personal opinion is that this is best made fresh.
Lynda
I have had this recipe for years now. It’s one even my picky hubs will eat. It is just that good! I have a question though. My dil is allergic to pineapple. Do you think apples would be a good substitute, and if so, which do you suggest?
I’m not sure about apples. While I love apples and cheese together, based on texture, I would think another canned fruit like peaches or something soft would be better. That said, I’m just not sure how the flavors would work with something other than pineapple.
Debbie
I used apple in a similar dish for years and it’s a hit. I use Stouffer’s frozen Harvest Apples and it’s perfect. Never thought to try pineapple, but I’ll have to now!
I’m so glad you shared that! I think using the frozen apples is a GREAT idea! Thanks for chiming in!!
Kim M
My sister used to make this with pears. And it was delicious!!! She passed away in 2016, and I can’t get her dish off my mind lately. So I’m trying this recipe with her pear twist for Easter this year. I hope I can make her proud!! Happy Easter all!! Thank God, He is risen!!
Hope it turns out well! Let us know!
Renee
I wonder if you could use brown sugar or half and half
Regina Z
I always use 1/3 cup brown sugar & 2/3 cup regular sugar. Also one can of pineapple chunks and one can of pineapple chunks. Don’t know about the half and half.
Tammy
My family’s favorite. Always have to triple the recipe.
brenda rajagopal
DO YOU THINK THIS WOULD WORK IN A CROCK POT? OR BAKE FIRST THEN TRANSFER IT TO A CROCK POT?
That’s a great question! I’m honestly not sure. I’ve not tested it that way, so I can’t say for sure.
Tess
Do you recommend shredding your own cheese…. or is the bags of shredded okay?? Thanks! 🙂
You are welcome to shred it yourself, but the thicker shredded bagged stuff works just fine with this one. Enjoy!
Marion Stivers
I made a receipre similar to this, have been trying for years to find it or one near the same. I am making yours for Christmas. Ttwo neices loved mine. They will be shocked when they eat this. Thanks
Hope it turns out great for you!!
Julia
Heather is right! This is a wonderful classic side dish for holidays and all the other days of the year. We love it.
I couldn’t agree more! 🙂
Susan Erwin
Do you think crushed pineapple would work as a substitute for the chunks?
Pat
I haven’t made this yet although I will be! My thought is that the pineapple chunks would add a bit of a crunch in the midst of the cheese, crushed crackers, etc. More texture, if you will. ????
🙂
Margaret Richardson
My recipe of fifteen years calls for crushed pineapple, but I prefer the tidbits. Any kind will work…it is always delicious!
Yep! I’ve seen it both ways. We just prefer the chunks.
It will. I’ve seen and had it both ways. We just prefer the chunks for texture variation.
Paula
I always put one can of each
Collier Austin
Wow! This strange combination sounds incredibly delicious! I bet it would be awesome with a ham dinner! Pinning!
I sure hope you’ll enjoy it!
Mary Evans
This is a dish I must try. I love cheese and pineapple together. Thanks for sharing.
Yes! Such a great combo!
Jen F
We started having Thanksgiving with friends several years ago and this strange dish was on their menu. I thought they were nuts – until i tried it. Now, I look forward to this insanely delicious, but very weird casserole every year. Who knew there were other people making it too? Thanks for sharing the recipe! I’m going to bring it to my office potluck!
It’s crazy sounding, but so good! I hope your coworkers will enjoy it!
Tamela Whitcher
What if you only have crushed pineapple, will that work?
Sure! The texture of the casserole will be a bit different, but it will work.
Lisa Oross
I too was skeptical of this recipe, but since I had the ingredients on hand and needed another side dish, I thought I’d give it a go. Oh my goodness was this GOOD!! It got soooo many raves at my Easter table! This recipe’s a keeper and will be making repeated appearances at our holiday and celebration gatherings. Thanks for contributing!
So glad everyone enjoyed it!
Elin
I moved 100 miles away from my big Southern family to get married. Life intervened and we didn’t see each other for 12 years. In that time their potluck dishes changed so I had to find something new to bring. They didn’t even try the risotto and the next year only a few tried my stuffing. I think I’ll try Pineapple Casserole for Memorial Day this year. Worst case scenario: I’ll bring it all home for me (yep, still live 100 miles away).
I hope everyone enjoys it!!