The Southern Side Dish I Beg My Mom To Make Every Holiday Season

There is nothing better than the random dish that always makes an appearance on a family’s holiday dinner table. While you are likely to see mashed potatoes, green beans, and ham at any family feast, sometimes the best part is the unexpected, cherished family recipe that no one can remember a holiday without.

My family has a couple of dishes that you might not see in the average celebratory spread. One in particular has always been my favorite—and it couldn’t be easier to toss together. 

Escalloped Pineapple Is My Family’s Favorite Holiday Side Dish

Why wait until dessert to enjoy something sweet? This dish resembles something closer to a dessert than a side. But that is what has always made it my favorite.

The best way to describe escalloped pineapple is that it is almost like pineapple bread pudding. Some even call it pineapple stuffing, which is a name I had never heard before (but think is a genius name for this treat).

Fluffy white bread and caramelized white sugar make the lightest, sweetest casserole you could imagine. It’s buttery, sugary, and always has the perfect crispy, bubbly top. You might be unsure about adding something sweet to your menu this holiday season, but I find that it is the perfect way to balance out richer, more savory mainstays. 

It disappears from the table shockingly fast and always wins over even the most skeptical family members. Make it for a potluck, and you are sure to be passing out the recipe to guests for the rest of the party. 

Whether you agree that pineapple and ham can go together on pizza or not, the two foods undoubtedly complement each other. So, escalloped pineapple would be the perfect side dish for this classic holiday main. 

You can go the dessert route and serve this dish up with whipped cream or ice cream at the end of your meal. But, I’ll admit, I prefer eating this dish as a side and sneaking in an extra sweet treat during my holiday dinner. 

How to Make Escalloped Pineapple

We have a recipe on our site that looks very similar to my family’s escalloped pineapple. Follow this recipe, and you are sure to have a delicious escalloped pineapple as I described. 

However, my family’s recipe is a little different—and uses only 5 ingredients. This is such a short, easy recipe that you will likely have it memorized after making it once. 

Ingredients

• 8 slices white bread, cubed
• 1 can crushed pineapple, drained
• 3 whole eggs
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix the sugar and the bread in a large bowl. Pour the butter over the bread mixture.
3. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and then stir in the pineapple.
4. Mix everything together, then pour it into a casserole dish and bake for an hour or until golden brown.

It is very difficult to mess up this recipe, which is likely why it was one of the first dishes my sister and I were trusted to make each holiday season. It is so beloved and easy, it shows up multiple times a year for different occasions.