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Crispy Green Bean Casserole with Ritz Crackers

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A quick and easy green bean casserole featuring a crispy, buttery Ritz cracker topping and a creamy base with cottage cheese for a velvety texture. Perfect for weeknights, potlucks, or holiday dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ pounds fresh green beans, trimmed and blanched
  • 1 sleeve (about 14 crackers) Ritz crackers, crushed finely
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 cup small-curd cottage cheese, well-drained
  • ½ cup milk (whole or 2%)
  • ½ cup finely chopped onion
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add trimmed green beans and cook until bright green and just tender but still crisp, about 3-4 minutes. Drain and immediately plunge into ice water to stop cooking and preserve color. Drain again and set aside.
  2. Place Ritz crackers in a large zip-top bag and crush using a rolling pin until a mix of fine crumbs and small chunks forms. Transfer to a bowl, add melted butter, and toss to coat evenly. Set aside.
  3. In a mixing bowl, combine cream of mushroom soup, cottage cheese, milk, chopped onion, minced garlic, and Parmesan cheese if using. Whisk or blend lightly until smooth enough to coat the beans well. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Gently fold the blanched green beans into the creamy mixture until evenly coated, being careful not to break the beans.
  5. Spread the green bean mixture evenly in a prepared 9×13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle the buttered Ritz cracker topping evenly over the surface, pressing lightly to help it adhere.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the casserole uncovered for 25 minutes until bubbly and the cracker topping is golden brown and crisp. If edges brown too quickly, loosely tent with foil.
  7. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes after baking to allow the sauce to thicken slightly before serving.

Notes

Do not overcook green beans during blanching to keep them crisp-tender. Crush Ritz crackers to a mix of fine crumbs and small chunks for best texture. For extra flavor, add a teaspoon of Dijon mustard to the creamy base. To keep topping crispy, add it just before baking and avoid stirring casserole after baking. Re-crisp topping under broiler for 1-2 minutes if needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: green bean casserole, Ritz crackers, crispy topping, comfort food, easy side dish, holiday side, creamy casserole

Find it online: https://larameals.com/crispy-green-bean-casserole-with-ritz-crackers-easy-homemade-recipe/