In a food processor, combine the saltine crackers, sugar, and melted butter. Pulse until the crackers are coarsely chopped.
Press the mixture into a pie dish, using a cup or a tamper to compact it well, including the sides. (See the note below for adjusting the crust amount for smaller pie dishes.)
Chill the crust in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake the crust for 13 minutes.
Filling
While the crust cools, beat the eggs in a large bowl using the mixer’s whisk attachment or by hand until well combined.
Mix in the sweetened condensed milk and lemon juice until evenly blended.
Pour the filling into the crust and bake for 16 minutes, until the center is slightly jiggly.
Cool the pie for an hour, then place it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or until it is cold. Serve cold with whipped cream and the sea salt sprinkled on top.
Notes
Alternative Method for Crust Making
If you don’t have a food processor, place the crackers in a sealed bag and crush them using a rolling pin (remove the trapped air before crushing). Then, combine with melted butter and sugar in a bowl.
Pie Dish Size
This recipe is ideal for an 8- or 9-inch deep-dish pie pan. Adjust the crust amounts for a regular 8-inch pan by using these amounts:
One sleeve of saltine crackers (about 36 crackers)