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Easy Cheesy Southern Pineapple Casserole Recipe

★★★★★

4.5 from 149 reviews
  • Author: Elara
  • Total Time: 45-50 minutes
  • Yield: 6 to 8 servings 1x

Description

This Easy Cheesy Southern Pineapple Casserole is a delightful blend of sweet pineapple chunks and tangy shredded Cheddar cheese, topped with a buttery Ritz cracker crust. Perfect as a comforting side dish, it combines creamy, cheesy goodness with a crunchy topping, baked to golden perfection.

Ingredients

Scale

Pineapple Mixture

  • 16 ounces canned pineapple chunks, drained (reserve ¼ cup juice)
  • 16 ounces canned pineapple tidbits, drained
  • 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Topping

  • 32 Ritz crackers, crushed
  • ½ cup butter, melted

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) to prepare for baking the casserole evenly.
  2. Drain pineapples: Completely drain the canned pineapple chunks and tidbits, reserving ¼ cup of the juice to use in the mixture for added moisture and flavor.
  3. Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, pineapple chunks, pineapple tidbits, reserved pineapple juice, and shredded Cheddar cheese until well combined. Transfer this mixture into your prepared casserole dish.
  4. Prepare topping: In a smaller bowl, combine the crushed Ritz crackers with the melted butter until the crumbs are fully coated, then sprinkle the buttery cracker mixture evenly over the pineapple cheese mixture in the casserole dish.
  5. Bake: Place the casserole dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  6. Serve: Remove from the oven and serve immediately for the best cheesy, sweet, and crunchy experience. Bon Appétit!

Notes

  • Be sure to thoroughly drain the pineapple to avoid a soggy casserole.
  • The reserved pineapple juice adds extra flavor and moisture to the dish, so don’t discard it.
  • You can substitute sharp Cheddar cheese for a more intense flavor.
  • For a nuttier topping, add chopped pecans or walnuts to the crushed Ritz crackers.
  • This dish pairs well with roasted meats or as a sweet-savory side at holiday meals.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Southern American

Keywords: Southern pineapple casserole, cheesy pineapple bake, Ritz cracker topping, baked side dish, holiday casserole, cheesy pineapple dish

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Find it online: https://kitchenflavorspot.com/easy-cheesy-southern-pineapple-casserole-recipe/