Description
This Green Bean Pie with a Ritz Cracker Pie Crust is a comforting, savory dish that combines fresh green beans, mushrooms, sweet onions, and creamy cheese filling all nestled in a buttery, crunchy Ritz cracker crust. Perfect for holiday dinners or as a unique side dish, this pie offers a delicious twist on traditional green bean casseroles with layers of texture and rich flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter (divided)
- 1 small sweet onion, chopped
- 12 oz sliced fresh mushrooms (about 3 cups)
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1-1/2 lbs fresh green beans, rinsed, trimmed and cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 pkg cream cheese (8 oz, cut into cubes)
- 1/2 cup half and half (or whole milk)
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup French fried onions
Crust
- 11 oz Ritz crackers (about 3 sleeves or 100 crackers)
- 1/2 cup French fried onions
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted)
Instructions
- Prepare the crust: Crush the Ritz crackers finely, either by hand or in a food processor. Mix the crushed crackers with 1/2 cup French fried onions and the melted 1/2 cup unsalted butter. Press this mixture evenly into the bottom and slightly up the sides of a pie dish to form the crust. Set aside.
- Sauté vegetables: In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of the unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the chopped sweet onion and sauté until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the sliced mushrooms and fresh thyme sprigs and continue to cook until the mushrooms are tender and most of their moisture has evaporated, around 7-10 minutes.
- Cook green beans: Add the trimmed and cut green beans to the skillet with the vegetables. Pour in about 1/4 cup of water, cover, and steam the green beans until they are crisp-tender, about 8-10 minutes. Remove the thyme sprigs once cooked.
- Add garlic and seasonings: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant. Then, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the pan to melt. Season the mixture with Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, and kosher salt, stirring well to combine.
- Create the creamy filling: Lower the heat and add cubed cream cheese to the skillet. Gently stir while gradually pouring in half and half (or whole milk), allowing the cream cheese to melt and create a creamy sauce enveloping the vegetable mixture.
- Mix in French fried onions: Remove the skillet from heat and fold in 1 cup of French fried onions for texture and flavor.
- Assemble the pie and bake: Pour the creamy green bean mixture into the prepared Ritz cracker crust, spreading evenly. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup French fried onions on top. Bake the pie at 350°F (175°C) for 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
- Cool and serve: Let the pie cool for about 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm as a delicious side dish or a comforting vegetarian main.
Notes
- To ensure the green beans are cooked perfectly, check their tenderness before assembling the pie as overcooking may lead to mushy texture.
- The Ritz cracker crust adds a rich buttery flavor but can be substituted with a traditional pie crust if preferred.
- You can use whole milk instead of half and half for a lighter option, though the filling will be slightly less creamy.
- Fresh thyme can be replaced with 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme if fresh is unavailable.
- This pie can be prepared a day ahead and reheated in the oven at 350°F for about 15-20 minutes.
