Oven Baked 4-Ingredient Amish Beef and Ritz Cracker Bake
The Ritz Beef Bake That Somehow Made the Room Quiet is a creamy, comforting ground beef casserole layered with cream of mushroom soup and a buttery Ritz cracker topping. It is warm, filling, inexpensive, and easy enough for a busy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef preferably 80–90% lean
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper or a little more if extra bite is preferred
- 2 cans cream of mushroom soup 10.5 ounces each, straight from the can, no milk or water
- 2 sleeves Ritz crackers about 60 crackers, lightly crushed with plenty of uneven bits
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 stick, melted
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Place a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef, sprinkle in the salt and pepper, and cook while breaking up the meat until no pink spots remain, about 7 to 10 minutes.
- Carefully drain off the excess grease from the skillet using a safe draining method.
- Spread the cooked beef evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Spoon both cans of cream of mushroom soup over the warm beef and spread it from corner to corner, leaving the soup thick and not thinning it with milk or water.
- Place the Ritz crackers in a large zip-top bag and lightly crush them with your hands or a rolling pin, keeping plenty of uneven pieces.
- Pour the melted butter over the crackers in the bag or in a mixing bowl, toss until coated, then scatter the buttery crackers evenly over the soup layer to cover the whole top.
- Bake on the middle rack for 25 to 30 minutes, until the edges are bubbling and the cracker topping is a deep golden brown.
- Let the casserole sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving so it settles enough to scoop.
Notes
Cool leftovers, cover them, and refrigerate within 2 hours; they will keep for 3 to 4 days. Reheat in a 325°F oven until hot through the center, ideally 165°F, covering loosely with foil at first and uncovering near the end to help the topping crisp. Individual servings can be microwaved, though the topping will be softer. To make ahead, assemble through the soup layer and refrigerate for up to 24 hours, then add the buttered Ritz topping right before baking; add 5 to 10 minutes if baking from cold.
Nutrition
Calories: 650kcal
Love this recipe?Fllow us at @tasteofrecipes for more