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Easy Green Bean Casserole

ByEric Jones
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Looking for the perfect side for Thanksgiving? Look no further than this Easy Green Bean Casserole! This recipe is flavorful, super creamy, and loaded with cheese, cream of mushroom, and course, green beans. And we can’t forget about the texture, so I topped it off with extra crispy onions to give us just enough crunch.

green bean casserole with serving removed

This Easy Green Bean Casserole is a classic shareable family side that is best known for its appearance at Thanksgiving. It’s one of the top requests of all Thanksgiving sides. I do not shy away from anything creamy, and the same holds for mushrooms. So growing up, this always made its way to my plate.

Side dishes can come off as “not so fulfilling,” but this dish may change that perspective. The green beans are teamed up with onions, mushrooms, and cheeses, resulting in a creaminess that will have you return for seconds.

green bean casserole with wooden serving spoon

This green bean casserole with canned green beans is one of the few times I would prefer to use a canned vegetable (I’m team “fresh” as much as possible). I guess it’s just how I grew up and is actually how this dish was created and intended to be prepared. While I prefer the canned approach, you can use fresh green beans. More on that later.

Green bean casserole ingredients:

  • It starts with the french-style cut green beans (regular green beans work too). Canned green beans make this dish softer, simple, and easy. Fresh green beans require more cook time to ensure they are tender, but you can use fresh or frozen green beans if you prefer more texture. If using fresh or frozen, boil your beans for around 8 minutes for fresh and 5 minutes for frozen.
  • Fresh baby Bella mushrooms bring home the earthiness that pairs great with the other ingredients. If you don’t like mushrooms, you can take these out. You can also use white button mushrooms.
  • Chopped onions are a must-have with you want to bring out the flavors.
  • I use chicken stock for this dish, but vegetable stock will also work. Broth gives the recipe more flavor.
  • Cream of mushroom, whipped cream, minced garlic, flour, and butter are like secret weapons because they enhance the creaminess and flavor.
  • I know it’s not easy to think of cheese and green beans together, but the grated Parmesan cheese and Monterey jack shredded cheese make this recipe even better.
  • The seasonings are simply ground thyme, black pepper, allspice, and salt.
  • Lastly, the crispy onions are the toppers that make this recipe what it is, and you can’t leave them out. I use French’s crispy fried onions, and they really do steal the show.

How to make this classic green bean casserole:  

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Begin by adding 1 tbsp butter into a cooking pan at medium heat, cooking the onions and mushrooms for at least 5 minutes. You will then add 2 tbsp of butter. Once melted, add the flour, and garlic, stirring until it thickens.
  3. Stir in the chicken stock and whipping cream, then add the salt, black pepper, allspice, thyme, Parmesan cheese, cream of mushroom, and Monterey cheese, stirring until the cheese is melted. Lower the heat to low.
  4. Drain the green beans from the can and add them to a large bowl, seasoning with salt. Pour the cheese sauce and 1 cup of crispy onions into the same bowl and mix. Add all ingredients into a 13×9 casserole dish (paid link). Top off with remaining crispy onions evenly.
  5. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
overhead image of green bean casserole

Can I prepare this dish ahead of time?

Absolutely! Green bean casserole stores perfectly in the fridge. You can complete all the recipe steps except adding the remaining crispy fried onions on top (save this final step, so they do not get soggy). Store in an airtight container for up to 48 hours before baking.
Before baking, top the casserole with the crispy fried onion and bake according to the recipe directions.

Freezing it? The prepped casserole will keep in the freezer for two weeks. Allow it to thaw and bake as usual.

Can I use fresh green beans?

Canned green beans make this dish softer, simple, and easy. Fresh green beans require more cook time to ensure they are tender, but you can use fresh or frozen green beans if you prefer more texture. If using fresh or frozen, boil your beans for around 8 minutes for fresh and 5 minutes for frozen.

If you are a person that loves sides during the holiday time or family dinner, this recipe will be a great addition. This Easy Green Bean Casserole will be a pleasant surprise for all who enjoy it.

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green bean casserole with serving removed

Easy Green Bean Casserole

  • Author: Eric Jones
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 4-6 1x
Print Recipe

Description

This Easy Green Beans Casserole recipe is flavorful, super creamy, and loaded with cheese, cream of mushroom, and tender green beans.

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 3 tbsp butter. divided
  • 1/2 cup yellow onion, chopped
  • 8 oz fresh Bella mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 2 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1/4 cup chicken stock
  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • 10 oz cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese
  • 1 tsp sea salt, divided
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp ground allspice
  • 1/2 tsp ground thyme
  • 3 cans french-cut style green beans, drained
  • 1 1/2 cups crispy fried onions, divided

Instructions

  1.  Preheat oven to Bake at 350 degrees.
  2. Add 1 tbsp butter to a skillet at medium heat.
  3. Add onions and mushrooms to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes.
  4. Add 2 tbsp butter to the skillet. Once melted, stir in flour and garlic until it begins to thicken.
  5. Stir in chicken stock and whipping cream until combined, then add cream of mushroom, parmesan cheese, Monterey jack cheese, 1/2 tsp salt, black pepper, ground allspice, and ground thyme. Stir until the cheese melts. Lower heat to low.
  6. Drain green beans from the can then add to a large bowl. Season with 1/2 tsp salt.
  7. Pour the cheese mixture and 1 cup of the crispy onions into the bowl with green beans. Fold until combined.
  8. Add all ingredients into a 13×9 casserole dish (paid link) and top evenly with remaining crispy onions.
  9. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

Equipment

(paid link)

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Low Carb
  • Method: Oven Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Calories: 283
  • Sugar: 4.5g
  • Sodium: 362mg
  • Fat: 19.9g
  • Carbohydrates: 19.7g
  • Fiber: 7.8g
  • Protein: 10.8g
  • Cholesterol: 57mg

I'm Eric --- a husband, father, Louisiana native, and lover of Tex-Mex and double-stacked burgers. On this site, you'll find Southern recipes I learned from my grandmothers using simple, approachable ingredients.