13 Easy Recipes That Start With a Can of Pineapple
You’re just a can opener away from tropical sweetness.
When you don’t have the time for a vacation on an island far away, the next best thing is to grab some pineapple. It instantly transports you with its sweet, tropical flavor. Yes, there is absolutely a time and a place for buying a fresh pineapple when it’s in season, but sometimes life is just easier when you use the canned stuff. You probably have some in your pantry right now!
Canned pineapple recipes are just as sweet and satisfying as recipes made with fresh pineapple—and they’re way faster since you don't have to worry about selecting a ripe pineapple and cutting it up. All you need is your can opener! And while you might automatically think of desserts, remember that pineapple gives a sweet bite to savory recipes, too. Make a retro-inspired ham or a casserole for your next potluck and watch them disappear.
Before you decide which of these scrumptious pineapple recipes to make, look at what type you have on hand. Slices, chunks/tidbits, and crushed aren’t typically interchangeable, so make sure you have the right can for the job. And don’t worry, there are canned pineapple recipes here that use all of them, so you’ll always have something to make with whatever you have in the pantry.
Pineapple Pie
Turn a 20-ounce can of crushed pineapple into a dreamy dessert. You can even use store-bought pie crust and make life even easier. That cuts prep time down to just 25 minutes for the whole pie.
Get the Pineapple Pie recipe.
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Retro desserts for the win! Using a can of pineapple slices makes it incredibly easy because it does the decorating for you. Just pop a maraschino cherry in the middle of each slice, pour the batter, bake, and flip!
Get the Pineapple Upside-Down Cake recipe.
Cherry-Pineapple Dump Cake
It really doesn’t get any easier than this cake. You quite literally dump cherry pie filling and crushed pineapple in a pan, sprinkle cake mix on top, dot with butter, and bake. There’s almost no prep involved at all!
Get Ree’s Cherry-Pineapple Dump Cake recipe.
Ambrosia Salad
You’ve probably seen this at a potluck, had one bite, and wondered why this concoction isn’t always on the table. Pineapple tidbits, Mandarin oranges, grapefruit, marshmallows, and toasted coconut are just a heavenly combination.
Get the Ambrosia Salad recipe.
Pig Cake
No pigs are involved in this dessert, promise. It starts with Mandarin oranges and boxed cake mix. Then the frosting is made with instant vanilla pudding, crushed pineapple, powdered sugar, and whipped topping. You’ll want to pig out for sure!
Get Ree’s Pig Cake recipe.
Piña Colada Cake
Sing it now: If you like piña coladas and gettin’ caught in the rain... then you’ll definitely love this cake version. Crushed pineapple and cream of coconut are like a tropical vacation in your mouth.
Get the Piña Colada Cake recipe.
Pineapple Casserole
The combination of pineapple tidbits and cheddar cheese might sound strange, but trust the generations of potluck ladies before you on this one. It’s topped with buttery crackers and baked until golden and bubbly.
Get the Pineapple Casserole recipe.
Million Dollar Cake
This features a vanilla-almond butter cake, a sweet filling made with crushed pineapple, and a decadent cream cheese frosting. It really does taste like a million bucks! But since you make it at home, it doesn’t cost that much.
Get the Million Dollar Cake recipe.
Cherry-Pineapple Glazed Ham
While you can always wait until Easter or Christmas to wow your guests, you can make this retro showstopper any time of year. It’s a perfect mix of sweet, salty, and savory all in one bite.
Get Ree’s Cherry-Pineapple Glazed Ham recipe.
Million Dollar Pie
Think of this as a retro fluff salad in pie form. The filling is pink thanks to maraschino cherries. Plus, it has crushed pineapple, coconut, and crunchy candied pecans folded in. Top with whipped cream and make your grandma proud.
Get Ree’s Million Dollar Pie recipe.
Hummingbird Cake
While crushed pineapple isn’t the star of the show, you can’t make this Southern classic without it. It adds a ton moisture and extra sweetness to the cake even if you don’t know that it’s there at first bite.
Get the Hummingbird Cake recipe.
Watergate Salad
Don’t question whether this is truly a salad. It’s green, isn’t it? And once you have a bite of the pistachio pudding mixed with crushed pineapple, marshmallows, and pecans, you’ll never worry about what to call it other than delicious.
Get the Watergate Salad recipe.
Mini Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes
You can make a mini version of the retro cake, too! Use canned pineapple rings and muffin pans to create evenly sized cakes, perfect for a crowd. Guests can grab them and go at a casual gathering, or they can be made more elegant for a sit-down affair.
Get Ree’s Mini Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes recipe.
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