12 Recipes You Can Make With A Box Of Buttery Ritz Crackers

The unsung hero of Southern casseroles.

<p>Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox</p>

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

While Ritz crackers are great for pairing with cheese and are even delicious on their own, they can also be found on the ingredient list for many classic Southern recipes. Southerners know that you can't go wrong by finishing a casserole with a Ritz cracker topping. They also make a great addition to breading for chicken and can even be used as the base for No-Stuff Deviled Eggs.

Read on for our best recipes that use Ritz crackers. They just might convince you to keep a box on hand in your pantry at all times.

Pineapple Casserole

<p>Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall</p>

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Being just one of the six required ingredients for this classic Southern casserole, Ritz crackers play an important role in this recipe. A whole sleeve makes up the topping and adds a little bit of crunch to each bite.

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Pimiento Cheese Chicken-Broccoli Casserole

<p>Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis</p>

Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Instead of just using crackers to scoop up pimiento cheese, opt for this casserole instead. It combines rotisserie chicken, pasta, broccoli, plenty of cheese, and of course a jar of pimientos for a cheesy casserole that's topped with crushed Ritz crackers.

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No-Stuff Deviled Eggs

Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch

Though deviled eggs are pretty easy to make, this recipe makes them even easier. A Ritz cracker serves as the base for slices of hard-cooked egg and a mayonnaise mixture. Of course, they're finished with a sprinkling of paprika.

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Tuna Noodle Casserole

<p>Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox</p>

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Make sure to reserve the cracker mixture that tops this casserole for the last 5 to 7 minutes of cooking. You'll know it's ready to take out of the oven when the topping is browned.

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Chicken-Fried Steak With Cream Gravy

<p>Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely </p>

Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Buttery crackers are included in the breading for this chicken-fried steak recipe to give it an extra crispy crust. Just make sure they're finely crushed for the best results.

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Old-School Squash Casserole

<p>Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman</p>

Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman

This old-fashioned recipe makes use of not just one, but two full sleeves of Ritz crackers. Both kids and adults will enjoy their veggies when they're covered in creamy cheese and a buttery cracker topping.

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Old-Fashioned Apple And Cheese Casserole

<p>Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox</p>

Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

The crunchy crackers in the topping for this classic casserole are tossed with butter and cinnamon which pairs nicely with the Honeycrisp apples in the filling.

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Stovetop Broccoli Casserole

<p>Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Micah Morton, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner</p>

Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Micah Morton, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner

When the holidays come around, oven space can be hard to come by. Enter this broccoli casserole recipe that comes together entirely on the stovetop.

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Scalloped Corn Casserole

<p>Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox</p>

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Crushed Ritz crackers are combined with panko for a crunchy, salty, and all-around delicious topping for this corn casserole. A little bit of thyme also adds a touch of freshness.

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New-School Pineapple Casserole

Photo: James Ransom; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Christine Keely
Photo: James Ransom; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

The classic casserole was given an upgrade in this new recipe. Instead of canned pineapple chunks, it uses fresh slices. But one thing remains the same: It still calls for Ritz crackers for the topping.

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Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Courtney West
Courtney West

No matter the occasion, you can't go wrong with a cheesy broccoli casserole that's topped with Ritz crackers. From a potluck to family dinner to a holiday meal, it'll disappear quickly.

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Poppy Seed Chicken

Southern Living
Southern Living

This recipe proves that a dish doesn't need to have an extensive ingredient list to be delicious, as it comes together with just six basic ingredients. Serve it over rice for a comforting meal that will become a family favorite.

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Read the original article on Southern Living.