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    Home » Recipes » Christmas

    Green Bean Pie with Ritz Cracker Crust

    Modified: Oct 15, 2020 · Published: Nov 1, 2018 by Sharon Rigsby · 8 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    Green Bean Pie with Ritz Cracker Crust

    Move over traditional Green Bean Casserole, and make room for a new show-stopping, side-dish for your holiday table, savory Green Bean Pie with a Ritz Cracker Crust.

    A slice of Green Bean Pie with Ritz Cracker Crust garnished with fresh mushrooms and green beans

    The best green bean casserole from scratch, Green Bean Pie with a Ritz Cracker Crust is full of fresh, tender green beans and earthy mushrooms, enveloped in a creamy, decadent, cheesy sauce, and topped with the traditional French fried onions. But, it gets better, in this recipe, because it is a pie, all this deliciousness is contained in a simple crunchy crust made with Ritz Cracker crumbs and yes, even more, French fried onions. It’s epic!

    Green Bean Casseroles and Thanksgiving go together like turkey and dressing. It’s a tradition! You’ve been there, and you know what I’m saying is true. I can’t remember a Thanksgiving that a fresh green bean casserole wasn’t front and center on our table and my guess is a majority of you would agree.

    Green Bean Casserole Origin

    The traditional green bean casserole with canned French fried onions and cream of mushroom soup, which most of us grew up eating, was first created in 1955 by Dorcas Reilly with the Campbell Soup Company, and it’s been a favorite ever since.

    I’m not one to monkey with success, but it seems like I can never leave well enough alone. And, certainly no disrespect to Dorcas, whose green bean casserole recipe will go down in history as one of the most popular holiday dishes of all time. But, this year I wanted to put a new spin on an old classic, and the idea for Green Bean Pie with Ritz Cracker Crust was born.

    A slice of Green Bean Pie with Ritz Cracker Crust on a white plate

    If you like green beans, you might also like these popular recipes for Southern Sweet and Sour Green Beans, Southern Green Beans and New Potatoes, and Green Bean Bundles Wrapped in Bacon.

    How to make Ritz Cracker Pie Crust with French Fried Onions

    Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

    Add the crackers and the french fried onions to the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Process until the crackers and onion rings are finely crushed.

    Crackers in the bowl of a food processor for Green Bean Pie with Ritz Cracker Crust

    Add the melted butter to the cracker crumbs and process until the butter and crumbs are well combined.

    Pour this mixture into a 9-inch tart pan, or 9-inch baking or casserole dish with at least 3-inch sides.

    Use your hands or the smooth bottom of a measuring cup or glass to gently compress the crumbs on the bottom and up the sides of the pan.

    Smoothing out the cracker crust on a Green Bean Pie with Ritz Cracker Crust

    Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool.

    How to make Green Bean Pie Filling.

    Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

    While the pie crust cools, in a large skillet or Dutch oven, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat.

    Add the onions and cook for 5-6 minutes, or until they are tender and lightly browned.

    Cooking onions in a Dutch oven forGreen Bean Pie with Ritz Cracker Crust

    Add the mushrooms, and sprigs of thyme and cook for another 5-6 minutes, or until the mushrooms are tender.

    Cooking mushrooms in a Dutch oven for Green Bean Pie with Ritz Cracker Crust

    Add the garlic and cook for 30-60 seconds, or until the garlic is fragrant.

    Remove the thyme sprigs and transfer the mushroom mixture to a bowl and set aside.

    In the same skillet or Dutch oven, melt 2 tablespoons of butter and add the green beans. Saute for about 15-16 minutes, or until the green beans are crisp-tender, stirring frequently. Turn the heat down to medium if the beans look like they are getting too brown.

    Cooking green beans in a Dutch oven forGreen Bean Pie with Ritz Cracker Crust

    When the beans are done, add the cream cheese, half-and-half, Worchestire sauce, salt, and pepper and cook until the cream cheese is melted and creamy.

    Adding cream cheese to green beans forGreen Bean Pie with Ritz Cracker Crust

    Add the mushrooms back in and remove from the heat.

    Green Bean filling forGreen Bean Pie with Ritz Cracker Crust

    Pour the green bean mixture into the cooled pie crust. If using a tart pan, place a piece of aluminum foil around the bottom of the pan.

    Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the filling is bubbly. Remove from the oven, top evenly with the French fried onions and bake for another 5 minutes.

    Green Bean Pie with Ritz Cracker Crust just out of the oven.

    Remove from the oven and let sit for 15 minutes before serving.

    Green Bean Pie with Ritz Cracker Crust ready to serve.

    Sharon’s Expert Tips:

    • If you don’t have a food processor, place the Ritz crackers and onion rings in a large plastic bag, seal, and roll over them with a rolling pin until they are finely crushed.
    • You can substitute frozen green beans for fresh green beans.
    • Use a serrated knife, like a bread knife to cut the green bean pie slices.
    • I’m sorry to report that this is not one of those dishes you can easily make ahead. The crust gets soggy! However, you could make the crust and the filling the day before, refrigerate the filling, and before serving, add the filling to the crust and bake as directed.

    If you make this recipe, please be sure to rate it and leave a comment below. I love hearing from you! Also, please follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.

     

    Thank you so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones!

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    A slice of Green Bean Pie with Ritz Cracker Crust garnished with fresh mushrooms and green beans

    Green Bean Pie with Ritz Cracker Pie Crust

    Sharon Rigsby
    The best green bean casserole from scratch, Green Bean Pie with a Ritz Cracker Crust is full of fresh, tender green beans and earthy mushrooms, enveloped in a creamy, decadent, cheesy sauce, and topped with the traditional French fried onions. But, it gets better, in this recipe, because it is a pie, all this deliciousness is contained in a simple crunchy crust made with Ritz Cracker crumbs and yes, even more, French fried onions. It's epic!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American, Southern
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 428 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Green Bean Pie Filling Ingredients:

    • 4 tablespoon unsalted butter divided
    • 1 small sweet onion chopped
    • 12 oz sliced fresh mushrooms about 3 cups
    • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
    • 1-½ lbs fresh green beans rinsed, trimmed and cut into bite-size pieces
    • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
    • 1 pkg cream cheese 8-oz, cut into cubes
    • ½ cup half and half or whole milk
    • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 cup French fried onions

    Ritz Cracker Pie Crust Ingredients:

    • 11 oz Ritz crackers about 3 sleeves or 100 crackers
    • ½ cup French fried onions
    • ½ cup unsalted butter melted

    Instructions
     

    Ritz Cracker Pie Crust Directions:

    • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
    • Add the crackers and the french fried onions to the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Process until the crackers and onion rings are finely crushed.
    • Add the melted butter to the cracker crumbs and process until the butter and crumbs are well combined.
    • Pour this mixture into a 9-inch tart pan, or 9-inch baking or casserole dish with at least 3-inch sides.
    • Use your hands or the smooth bottom of a measuring cup or glass to gently compress the crumbs on the bottom and up the sides of the pan.
    • Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool.

    Green Bean Pie Filling Directions:

    • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
    • While the pie crust cools, in a large skillet or Dutch oven, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat.
    • Add the onions and cook for 5-6 minutes, or until they are tender and lightly browned.
    • Add the mushrooms, and sprigs of thyme and cook for another 5-6 minutes, or until the mushrooms are tender.
    • Add the garlic and cook for 30-60 seconds, or until the garlic is fragrant.
    • Remove the thyme sprigs and transfer the mushroom mixture to a bowl and set aside.
    • In the same skillet or Dutch oven, melt 2 tablespoons of butter and add the green beans. Saute for about 15-16 minutes, or until the green beans are crisp-tender, stirring frequently. Turn the heat down to medium if the beans look like they are getting too brown.
    • When the beans are done, add the cream cheese, half-and-half, Worchestire sauce, salt, and pepper and cook until the cream cheese is melted and creamy. Add the mushrooms back in and remove from the heat.
    • Pour the green bean mixture into the cooled pie crust and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the filling is bubbly. Remove from the oven, top evenly with the French fried onions and bake for another 5 minutes.
    • Remove from the oven and let sit for 15 minutes before serving.

    Notes

    Sharon's Expert Tips:
    • If you don't have a food processor, place the Ritz crackers and onion rings in a large plastic bag, seal, and roll over them with a rolling-pin until they are finely crushed.
    • You can substitute frozen green beans for fresh green beans.
    • Use a serrated knife, like a bread knife to cut the green bean pie slices.
    • I'm sorry to report that this is not one of those dishes you can easily make ahead. The crust gets soggy! However, you could make the crust and the filling the day before, refrigerate the filling, and before serving, add the filling to the crust and bake as directed.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 428kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 7gFat: 56gSaturated Fat: 26gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 441mgPotassium: 134mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1150IUVitamin C: 11.6mgCalcium: 100mgIron: 1.8mg
    Tried this recipe? Tag me today! Mention @gritspinecones or tag #gritspinecones!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sisdt

      December 25, 2020 at 9:43 am

      5 stars
      This is delicious.
      Would you please posts photos if the dish?
      Everytime I try to save a recipe, the only image is you.😀

      Reply
      • Sharon Rigsby

        December 26, 2020 at 7:05 pm

        Hello, I’m so glad you enjoyed the green bean pie! I am confused about how you are saving the recipe and am not sure why my photo and not the recipe photo would show up. Can you give me a little more information about the application you are using?
        All the best,
        Sharon

        Reply
    2. Janice

      November 25, 2020 at 7:51 pm

      Hi, I’m making this tomorrow. Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving!

      Reply
      • Sharon Rigsby

        November 26, 2020 at 8:01 am

        Hi Janice, I hope you enjoy it!
        Happy Thanksgiving!
        Sharon

        Reply
      • Janice

        November 26, 2020 at 8:16 pm

        5 stars
        As a follow up, this was a big hit at Thanksgiving today! Thank you for the recipe. I’ll post soo. On IG @janicejournals. I appreciated the tip not to assemble the filling and crust until ready to serve. Thank you!

        Reply
    3. Linger

      November 03, 2018 at 8:11 pm

      Sharon, what a fabulous idea to put this classic green bean casserole into a ritz cracker crust. Absolutely amazing. I’m sure it would add such great texture along with a nice flavor. Such a perfect holiday recipe. Thanks so much for sharing!

      Reply
    4. Kathy

      November 02, 2018 at 7:46 am

      Haven’t made it, yet, but this sounds killer!

      Reply
      • Gritsandpinecones

        November 02, 2018 at 1:15 pm

        Thanks, Kathy! Hope you guys are doing well!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Sharon Rigsby, blogger at GritsandPinecones.com

    Hello, I'm Sharon Rigsby, blogger, content creator, videographer, and photographer for Grits and Pinecones®. I have over 50 years of experience in the kitchen, and I like nothing better than developing and reimagining recipes for my family, friends, and you!

    More about me →

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