This is not your everyday classic green bean casserole! This recipe combines green beans in creamy cheese sauce that is topped in a crunchy Ritz cracker and crispy onions topping.
It is baked until the cheese is bubbly and the topping is golden brown. Serve it for a delicious Thanksgiving side dish or on your next holiday meal!
"I have been trying different green bean casserole recipes and yours is the best one. My only change is that I add cooked chopped onions. This is a recipe keeper." ★★★★★-Jenifer
This green bean casserole recipe is a little different from the traditional classic version.
My recipe does not use canned mushroom soup. Instead, I create a creamy sauce using a roux and sour cream. I add cheese, because lets face it, EVERYTHING is better with cheese!
I also add a buttery Ritz crust mixed with French fried onions on top of the casserole. Both ingredients make a delicious topping on their own.... combined they become the ULTIMATE crunchy topping!
Try it this holiday season as a side dish to your turkey! You will love this homemade green bean casserole with your Thanksgiving dinner! Enjoy! Xoxo ~Katie.
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Ingredient notes and substitutions
To make this easy green bean casserole recipe, you will need the following ingredients.
- Ritz Crackers or buttery round crackers
- green beans- I personally think the best way to make this particular recipe is with canned French green beans or canned cut green beans. Using canned green beans is a time saver. They are also tender and taste great in this casserole. You can also use fresh or frozen green beans. If using fresh or frozen green beans, substitute canned green beans with 4 cups of cooked, cut green beans.
- flour
- seasoned salt-You can substitute with salt and pepper or cajun seasoned salt.
- butter-Use real butter, not margarine.
- sour cream
- cheddar cheese
- fried crispy onions
*Full recipe with ingredient measurements is located at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.
Cooking Tip
If you are watching your salt intake, use salt free butter and salt free green beans in this recipe. You can also use reduced sodium Ritz crackers.
How to make green bean casserole from scratch
Follow these simple steps to make the best green bean casserole recipe!
- In a large sauté pan, melt butter on medium-high heat. Stir in flour. Stir and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Mix in sour cream and seasoned salt. Add drained green beans and half of the cheddar cheese. Gently mix.
- Pour green bean mixture into a greased 2½ quart baking dish. Top with remaining cheddar cheese.
- Mix crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter in a small bowl.
- Mix in french fried onions with the Ritz crackers. Evenly top cracker mixture over the cheese.
- Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Allow to rest 5 minutes or more before serving.
Watch how to make
Can you make green bean casserole ahead of time?
You can make green bean casserole ahead of time. Make the casserole according to directions without the topping. Cover with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate until ready to cook. Set out 15 minutes before cooking to allow it to warm to room temperature and add the topping.
Can you freeze green bean casserole?
You can freeze green bean casserole. Wrap green bean casserole in freezer wrap or transfer casserole in an airtight, freezer safe container without the topping. It can be frozen up to 5 months.
When ready to serve, thaw green bean casserole and add topping. Bake uncovered in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
How do you store leftovers?
Store leftovers in an airtight container or cover casserole dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 3 days.
For best results, reheat in the oven or Air fryer at 350 degrees. You can microwave leftovers, however the topping will be soggy.
Please leave me a comment below if you make this classic holiday side dish and tell me what you think. I would love to hear back, and so would my readers.
Also post your picture of your casserole on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!
📖 Recipe
Best Green Bean Casserole (Cheesy Ritz Topping)
Ingredients
- 43.5 ounces French or cut green beans drained
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- ½ teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1 cup sour cream
- ¾ cup cheddar cheese shredded
Topping
- 15 Ritz crackers crushed
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- ¾ cup fried crispy onions
- ¾ cup cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- In a large sauté pan, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Stir in 2 tablespoons flour. Stir and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat.2 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons flour
- Mix in 1 cup sour cream and ½ teaspoon seasoned salt. Add drained 43.5 ounces French or cut green beans and ¾ cup cheddar cheese. Gently mix.43.5 ounces French or cut green beans, ½ teaspoon seasoned salt, 1 cup sour cream, ¾ cup cheddar cheese
- Add green bean mixture to a greased 2½ quart baking dish. Top with remaining ¾ cup cheddar cheese.
Topping
- Mix crushed 15 Ritz crackers and melted 2 tablespoons butter in a mixing bowl.15 Ritz crackers, 2 tablespoons butter
- Mix in ¾ cup fried crispy onions with the Ritz crackers. Evenly top cracker mixture over the cheese.¾ cup fried crispy onions
- Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Allow to rest 5 minutes or more before serving.
Jenifer Spencer says
I have been trying different green bean casserole recipes and yours is the best one. My only change is that I add cooked chopped onions. This is a recipe keeper.
Fred Knull says
Great recipe! I added cooked diced onions to the casserole. I made this as a side dish with my ribeyes instead of baked potatoes. Worked out great.
Allie says
I added crumbled bacon on top. Fantastic!
Tressie says
I cannot stand the mushroom soup been casserole recipe and found this. It is incredible - my kids love it so much I have to double the recipe for leftovers.
Alex Spearman says
Made this as a side for a cookout. I added bacon. Incredible..... It was the first sidedish to go.
Eloise says
I’ve always turned my nose up to green bean casserole but this recipe has me sold. Only this recipe though! It turned out amazing.
Antonio says
I halved the recipe because it was just me and two other friends for supper and it still turned out great. I served it with steak in place of a baked potato. It went well together.
Lauren says
Added chopped water chestnuts and bacon, and mixed with the cheese into the green bean mixture. Turned out fabulous.
Jessica says
Pretty sure there is msg in all of those canned soup versions 😉 So this recipe is my all time fave!! Such a classic dish, now made a million times better with homemade goodness. Thank you!
Jenny says
A great recipe. Nothing beats a good green bean casserole. And I love the toppings suggestions with Ritz crackers; it is a little different than mine, probably better, and I can't wait to try this. Thank you so much.
Cathleen says
Can you believe that I have never had a green bean casserole before?? This needs to change! Bookmarked to make for Thanksgiving, thank you so much for sharing this recipe 🙂
Claire says
We're a cheddar cheese household through and through so this green bean casserole really hit the spot! It was so good we'll be serving it at Thanksgiving.
Tammy says
Green bean casserole is a Thanksgiving classic but I always like making it from scratch. Such a delicious and rich recipe!
Dennis says
Your green bean casserole was a big hit with my family! I will definitely be making it again.
Vicky says
This sounds soo delicious! I especially love that you didn't use a canned version of cream of mushroom soup. I need to try this recipe soon!
Sharon says
This green bean casserole was a hit! I had never thought of using buttery crackers for the topping on top of the crispy onions.
Colleen says
This is my first time making a green bean casserole, mainly because I'm not a fan of canned soup. It was delicious and my whole family loved it. Thank you!