Green Bean Casserole With Ritz Crackers (Printer-friendly)

Creamy green beans with mushroom sauce and crispy buttered Ritz cracker topping

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 1/2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces (or substitute with 2 cans [14.5 oz each] of cut green beans, drained)

→ Sauce

02 - 1 (10.5 oz) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
03 - 1/2 cup whole milk
04 - 1/2 cup sour cream
05 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Add-ins

09 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (optional)
10 - 1/2 cup French fried onions

→ Topping

11 - 1 sleeve (about 30 crackers / 85 g) Ritz crackers, crushed
12 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

# How to Prepare:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - If using fresh green beans, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add green beans and cook for 4-5 minutes until just tender. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Skip this step if using canned beans.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, milk, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt until smooth and well combined.
04 - Add the green beans, cheddar cheese if using, and French fried onions to the sauce mixture. Stir until everything is evenly coated.
05 - Pour the green bean mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer.
06 - In a small bowl, combine the crushed Ritz crackers with melted butter. Mix until all crumbs are evenly coated with butter.
07 - Sprinkle the buttered cracker crumbs evenly over the top of the casserole.
08 - Bake for 30-35 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the casserole is bubbling around the edges.
09 - Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow it to set slightly.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The Ritz cracker topping creates this irresistible buttery crunch that everyone fights over
  • Its the ultimate crowd pleaser that even vegetable skeptics somehow end up loving
  • Everything comes together in one dish leaving you more oven space for the main event
02 -
  • Letting the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving helps the sauce set so it isnt too runny when you scoop it
  • The topping can burn quickly so check at 25 minutes and tent with foil if its getting too dark too fast
  • Fresh beans need that blanching step or theyll come out unpleasantly tough after baking
03 -
  • Crush your Ritz crackers directly in the sleeve using a rolling pin for less mess and perfect texture
  • Room temperature sour cream blends much smoother into the sauce than cold straight from the fridge

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