The Surprising Green Bean Casserole Recipe Fans Are Calling 'the Ultimate Hack'

I’m still working on nailing down the perfect Thanksgiving menu and scrolling all of the social sites for side dish ideas. I keep seeing different ways to make green bean casserole and I’m considering cooking one for the first time. This classic American comfort dish was created by Campbell’s Soup in the 1950s and it has graced countless holiday tables (except for mine!) with its creamy, savory flavor. 

Green bean casserole is fairly easy to make—just combine cooked or canned green beans with cream of mushroom soup, season with salt and pepper and stir in fried onions for crunch. Pour the mixture into a casserole dish, top with more fried onions and bake until bubbly and golden. Even though it’s simple and many people love it, I have never made it, but I recently saw one green bean casserole recipe that has changed my mind about this dish. 

Cheez-It—yes, the crackers—shared this Cheez-It Green Bean Casserole recipe on the brand’s Instagram page. This looks so satisfyingly crunchy and I can’t wait to try it! 

Related: My Chef-Husband Just Taught Me the Best Way to Make Green Bean Casserole and My Thanksgiving Is Forever Changed

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How to Make Cheez-Its Green Bean Casserole

Cheez-Its are a popular baked cheese cracker snack known for their crisp texture and bold, cheesy flavor. They’re made with real cheese, so they have a savory, slightly salty taste that appeals to almost everyone. But can they make green bean casserole more appealing?

To make this recipe (which they call an “elite Thanksgiving side dish”) you need to chop fresh mushrooms, garlic and onion and add them to a baking sheet with fresh green beans. Top the mixture with olive oil, salt and pepper and toss until the veggies are coated. 

Next, put some Cheez-Its in a Ziploc bag and crush them. Add in some grated Parmesan cheese and set aside.

Make a simple roux of butter, flour and heavy cream or milk by whisking them all over low to medium heat until thickened. Add seasonings (this is where you can add whatever flavors you like) and more shredded cheese and stir it all until blended and melted. Add in the green bean and mushroom mixture and coat the veggies in the cream sauce.

Add the mixture to a baking dish and top with the Cheez-It and cheese blend, then place whole Cheez-It crackers on top. Bake the casserole until the crackers are slightly brown, serve and enjoy!

Related: Why Campbell’s Green Bean Casserole Is My Forever Thanksgiving Favorite

How to Customize Cheez-Its Green Bean Casserole

The great thing about this, aside from the fresh ingredients, is that Cheez-Its comes in a variety of flavors, including white cheddar and spicy variations, like jalapeño. This means that you can choose the flavor profile that you want, add any seasonings to the casserole that complement the Cheez-Its and even change the cheese that you use. 

I think a Cheez-It Green Bean Casserole with jalapeno Cheez-Its and pepperjack cheese would be next level! If you’re short on time, you could also make the classic green bean casserole and swap out the fried onions for Cheez-Its. It will definitely get people at the table talking.

Speaking of talking, the comments section of the video was full of people who approved of this idea.

“Best snack food 🤝 best Thanksgiving food,” someone commented. This is a winning combo that I didn’t see coming, but I am so here for it!

“ELITE,” another person said. 

“The ultimate hack,” someone else chimed in. It’s going on my holiday menu!

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Related: The Side Dish That’s the First to Disappear on Andrew Zimmern’s Thanksgiving Table