Green Bean Casserole With Ritz Crackers (Printable)

Tender beans in creamy mushroom sauce topped with buttery Ritz crumbs

# 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) Ritz crackers, crushed
12 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

# Directions:

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 process.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, milk, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt until completely smooth and well combined.
04 - Add the green beans, cheddar cheese if using, and French fried onions to the sauce mixture. Stir until all components are evenly coated.
05 - Pour the green bean mixture into the prepared baking dish. Spread evenly with a spatula, ensuring the surface is level.
06 - In a small bowl, combine the crushed Ritz crackers with melted butter. Mix thoroughly until all crumbs are evenly coated with butter.
07 - Sprinkle the buttered cracker mixture evenly over the top of the casserole, covering the entire surface.
08 - Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the casserole is bubbling around the edges.
09 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the casserole to set.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The Ritz cracker topping creates this incredible buttery crunch that puts regular fried onions to shame
  • It comes together in under 15 minutes of prep but tastes like you spent all day on it
  • The creamy sauce somehow makes green beans the vegetable everyone actually wants to eat
02 -
  • Dont skip the step of letting the casserole rest for 5 minutes, or the sauce will be everywhere when you try to serve it
  • If you are using canned green beans, reduce the baking time by about 10 minutes since they are already cooked
  • The topping can burn quickly, so check it at 25 minutes and cover with foil if it is getting too dark
03 -
  • Crush the Ritz crackers directly in the sleeve with a rolling pin to save dirtying another bowl and contain the mess
  • Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce if you want to wake up those classic flavors with some subtle heat

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