Pioneer Woman Pineapple Casserole

Pioneer Woman’s Pineapple Casserole is a quintessential Southern side dish that falls into the “don’t knock it ’til you try it” category. Ree Drummond admits it sounds like a strange combination—pineapple, cheddar cheese, and Ritz crackers—but the result is a perfect storm of sweet, salty, tangy, and crunchy. It is most famously served alongside Easter ham or holiday pork roasts, acting almost like a chutney or a cranberry sauce. The sugar and pineapple juice create a thick, sweet glaze that bubbles up around the sharp cheese and buttery cracker crust, making it addictive and completely unique.

Try More Recipes:

• Pioneer Woman Scalloped Corn
• Pioneer Woman Raspberry Pretzel Jello Salad Recipe
• Pioneer Woman Roasted Parmesan Potatoes

💛 Why You Will Love This Pineapple Casserole Recipe:

• Sweet & Salty: It hits every taste bud. The sugar and fruit satisfy the sweet tooth, while the cheese and crackers provide the savory crunch.
• The “Wow” Factor: It is always the most talked-about dish on the buffet table because people are surprised by how good it is.
• Perfect Pair: It cuts through the saltiness of ham better than almost any other side dish.
• Texture Heaven: You get soft warm fruit, gooey melted cheese, and a crisp, buttery topping in every bite.

🍍 Pioneer Woman Pineapple Casserole Ingredients

• 2 cans (20 oz each) Pineapple Chunks: Drained (reserve 6 tbsp of juice).
• 1 cup Granulated Sugar: (Ree likes it sweet, but you can reduce to 3/4 cup).
• 6 tbsp All-Purpose Flour
• 2 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Grated (freshly grated melts best).
• 1 sleeve (approx. 35) Ritz Crackers: Crushed roughly.
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) Butter: Melted.

🥘 How To Make Pioneer Woman Pineapple Casserole

1. Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a medium casserole dish or pie plate with butter.
2. Drain: Open the pineapple cans and drain them well in a colander. Reserve about 6 tablespoons of the juice.
3. Make Filling: In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, and the reserved pineapple juice until it forms a paste. Add the drained pineapple chunks and toss until they are thoroughly coated in the mixture.
4. Layer: Pour the pineapple mixture into the prepared baking dish. Spread it out evenly.
5. Cheese: Sprinkle the grated cheddar cheese generously over the top of the pineapple.
6. Topping: In a small bowl, mix the crushed Ritz crackers with the melted butter until the crumbs are moist and look like wet sand.
7. Assemble: Sprinkle the buttery cracker crumbs evenly over the cheese layer.
8. Bake: Bake for 30–35 minutes. The topping should be golden brown, and the fruit mixture should be bubbling around the edges.
9. Serve: Let it sit for 5–10 minutes before serving (this helps the sauce thicken up). serve warm.

💡 Recipe Tips

• Drain Well: If you don’t drain the pineapple enough (or if you add too much juice back in), the casserole will be watery.
• Cheese Choice: Do not use pre-shredded cheese if you can avoid it. It contains anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting into the fruit properly.
• Cracker Texture: Don’t pulverize the crackers into dust; you want pea-sized chunks for texture.
• Sugar Level: If you are serving this as a side dish for dinner, you might want to reduce the sugar slightly. If serving for brunch/dessert, keep it as is.

🍖 What To Serve With Pineapple Casserole?

The Pioneer Woman’s Pineapple Casserole is the ultimate sweet-and-savory side, acting as a perfect foil for a salty baked ham or juicy pork chops. Its tangy fruitiness cuts through rich meats beautifully, much like cranberry sauce does with roast turkey. To balance the sugar on the plate, serve it alongside earthy, savory sides like green beans or sautéed collard greens.

🎚 How To Store Leftovers Pineapple Casserole?

• Fridge: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheat: Reheat in the oven or microwave. Note that the cracker topping will lose its crunch after being refrigerated.

🥵 How To Reheat Pineapple Casserole?

• Oven (Best Method): Place the casserole (or individual portions) in an oven-safe dish. Heat at 350°F (175°C) for 10–15 minutes. This warms the fruit through and re-crisps the buttery Ritz topping.
• Air Fryer (Quick Crisp): Place a single serving in the basket and heat at 320°F (160°C) for 3–4 minutes. Watch closely so the sugar in the topping doesn’t burn.
• Microwave: Heat on high for 1–2 minutes. Note: This will make the cracker topping soft and soggy, though the flavor remains good.

FAQs

Try More Recipes:

• Pioneer Woman Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes Recipe
• Pioneer Woman Sweet Potato Casserole
• Pioneer Woman Pull Apart Cheese Bread

Pineapple Casserole Nutrition Facts (Per serving, approx)

• Calories: ~320 kcal
• Total Fat: 16g
• Saturated Fat: 9g
• Carbohydrates: 42g
• Sugars: 30g
• Protein: 6g

Pioneer Woman Pineapple Casserole

Recipe by Imen DridiCourse: SidesCuisine: Southern AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

8

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

30

minutes

Calories

320

kcal

Total time

1

hour 

10

minutes

The Pioneer Woman’s sweet and savory Southern classic features pineapple chunks baked with a sharp cheddar cheese layer and a crispy, buttery Ritz cracker topping.

Ingredients

• 2 cans (20 oz each) Pineapple Chunks: Drained (reserve 6 tbsp of juice).

• 1 cup Granulated Sugar: (Ree likes it sweet, but you can reduce to 3/4 cup).

• 6 tbsp All-Purpose Flour

• 2 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Grated (freshly grated melts best).

• 1 sleeve (approx. 35) Ritz Crackers: Crushed roughly.

• 1 stick (1/2 cup) Butter: Melted.

Directions

• Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a medium casserole dish or pie plate with butter.
• Drain: Open the pineapple cans and drain them well in a colander. Reserve about 6 tablespoons of the juice.
• Make Filling: In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, and the reserved pineapple juice until it forms a paste. Add the drained pineapple chunks and toss until they are thoroughly coated in the mixture.
• Layer: Pour the pineapple mixture into the prepared baking dish. Spread it out evenly.
• Cheese: Sprinkle the grated cheddar cheese generously over the top of the pineapple.
• Topping: In a small bowl, mix the crushed Ritz crackers with the melted butter until the crumbs are moist and look like wet sand.
• Assemble: Sprinkle the buttery cracker crumbs evenly over the cheese layer.
• Bake: Bake for 30–35 minutes. The topping should be golden brown, and the fruit mixture should be bubbling around the edges.
• Serve: Let it sit for 5–10 minutes before serving (this helps the sauce thicken up). serve warm.

Notes

• Drain Well: If you don’t drain the pineapple enough (or if you add too much juice back in), the casserole will be watery.
  Cheese Choice: Do not use pre-shredded cheese if you can avoid it. It contains anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting into the fruit properly.
  Cracker Texture: Don’t pulverize the crackers into dust; you want pea-sized chunks for texture.
  Sugar Level: If you are serving this as a side dish for dinner, you might want to reduce the sugar slightly. If serving for brunch/dessert, keep it as is.