Description
Savory-sweet Pioneer Woman Pineapple Casserole brings Southern comfort to any table with its irresistible blend of buttery cracker topping and tropical fruit. Cheese and pineapple mingle in a delightful harmony that promises to charm dinner guests and family alike.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups finely grated sharp Cheddar cheese
- 2 cups roughly crushed buttery crackers (about 45 crackers or 1 ½ sleeves of Ritz)
- 2 (20 ounces/567 grams) cans of pineapple chunks in juice, juice reserved
Sweeteners and Thickeners:
- ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Fats and Dairy:
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons/113 grams) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
Instructions
- Create a perfectly calibrated environment by heating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius), ensuring an optimal cooking temperature for the casserole.
- Extract the liquid gold from the pineapple cans, measuring precisely 1 1/2 cups of juice into a mixing vessel. Whisk the granulated sugar and cornstarch into the tropical nectar with vigorous motion, eliminating any potential lumpy intruders and achieving a silky-smooth consistency.
- Artfully distribute the pineapple chunks across the canvas of a 13-by-9-inch baking dish, creating an even landscape of sweet fruit. Delicately cascade the sweetened juice mixture over the pineapple, gently folding to ensure each chunk is lavishly coated.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, combine the crushed crackers, finely grated cheese, and molten butter. Massage the ingredients together until they transform into a rustic, coarse texture that promises a crisp and flavorful topping.
- Carefully blanket the pineapple layer with the cracker-cheese mixture, ensuring an uniform distribution that promises a golden, crispy finish. Slide the casserole into the preheated oven and allow it to transform for 35 to 40 minutes, watching for a golden-brown topping, melted cheese, and bubbling pineapple edges.
- Once emerged from the oven, grant the casserole a brief 5-minute cooling interlude before presenting this warm, delectable creation to eager diners.
Notes
- Pick a super ripe pineapple packed in natural juice to keep sweetness balanced and authentic.
- Crumble graham crackers into uneven, rustic chunks for maximum textural contrast and crispy topping.
- Blend cornstarch with sugar thoroughly until zero lumps remain, ensuring silky smooth sauce consistency.
- Create uniform layers by spreading pineapple mixture and cracker crumbs evenly across baking dish for consistent cooking.
- Peek into the oven during final minutes of baking, looking for golden-brown edges and bubbling center as perfect doneness indicators.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 258
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 229 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 38 mg