Are you looking for a filling side dish to serve at dinner tonight? Try my green bean casserole with cream cheese! Made with crisp green beans and a creamy sauce, it’s divine!

A serving of Green Bean Casserole with Cream Cheese on an off white plate.

I’m a big fan of casseroles — most of the time, you just need to dump all of the ingredients into a baking dish and watch as the magic happens. A few of my favorites include sausage green bean potato casserole, corn casserole without sour cream, green bean tater tot casserole, canned green bean casserole, and 5 ingredient squash casserole.

This recipe for cream cheese green bean casserole is about to become one of your go-to’s too. Made with green beans, sour cream, and Philadelphia cream cheese, it’s topped with a layer of Ritz crackers and bacon.

As a twist, there are no cream of chicken and cheese ingredients that a lot of recipes call for. I’m leaving out the fried onions, too, to make this a green bean casserole without fried onions.

If you can’t go without this traditional topping, I encourage you to check out this version of green bean casserole — also made with no soup.

Serve it as a hearty side dish, or eat a plate on its own for lunch. No matter when or how you enjoy it, you’re going to love this green bean casserole with cheese and sour cream!

Overhead view of ingredients needed to prepare green bean casserole.

How to Make Green Bean Casserole with Cream Cheese

A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.

Overhead view of green beans in water, ready to cook in a silver pot.

STEP ONE: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook for 3 minutes, or until they turn bright green but are still crisp.

Cream cheese filling mixture in a clear bowl with a spoon.

STEP TWO: While the oven heats up and the beans cook, add the cream cheese and sour cream to a large bowl and mash them together. Stir in the milk, garlic powder, and salt until combined — it’s okay if there are lumps remaining, as they will melt as the green bean casserole with sour cream bakes!

Green Beans and cream cheese mixture in a clear 9x13 baking dish.

STEP THREE: Add the beans and cream cheese mixture to a 9×13-inch pan and mix so that the beans are coated in the sauce. Combine the Ritz crackers with the butter and sprinkle the topping evenly on top.

Crushed Ritz Crackers with melted butter sprinkled over the top of the green bean casserole in a clear 9x13 baking dish.

STEP FOUR: Bake your cream cheese green bean casserole for 20 minutes, then add the crumbled bacon on top — remember, this is a recipe for green bean casserole without fried onions. Bake for 10 more minutes or until it becomes golden and bubbly. Serve it while it’s hot!

Baked Green Bean Casserole in a clear 9x13 baking dish with crushed bacon sprinkled on top.

What to Serve With Green Bean Casserole With Sour Cream

Variations for Green Bean Casserole With Cheese and Sour Cream

Add more vegetables like carrots, potatoes, or even zucchini.
Sprinkle the top of this green bean casserole without fried onions with a bit of cheddar cheese for even cheesier results — you won’t miss the fried onions one bit.
You could also use more varieties of cheese like gorgonzola, Colby Jack, or some Velveeta sauce to make this green bean casserole with cream cheese a cheese lover’s dream.
Skip the bacon if you’re vegetarian!

Green Bean Casserole in a clear 9x13 baking dish with a scoop removed.

What is the Best Way to Thicken Green Bean Casserole?

If you find that the sauce in your green bean casserole with sour cream isn’t thick enough, I suggest making a slurry of flour or cornstarch with water.

Stir it in with the rest of the ingredients until you get the consistency you’re after.

Is it Better to Use Frozen or Canned Green Beans for Green Bean Casserole?

I personally prefer to use fresh green beans. That said, if I had to choose between frozen or canned varieties, I would choose frozen. You can add them to the baking dish without thawing.

Canned green beans contain a lot of excess moisture, which will make your green bean casserole with cheese and sour cream go soggy.

Closeup view of a single serving of green bean casserole with cream cheese on an off white plate.

Can I Substitute Heavy Cream for Milk in Green Bean Casserole?

Absolutely! You can use milk, heavy cream, or even half and half in this green bean casserole with cream cheese recipe if desired.

Should I Make Green Bean Casserole the Night Before?

You can! My cream cheese green bean casserole is a wonderful make-ahead dish. I would avoid freezing and reheating it as the sauce may break down and go watery.

Close up view of green bean casserole in a clear 9x13 baking dish.

Other Casserole Recipes You’ll Love: