Ultimate Green Bean Casserole Recipe (2024)

Elizabeth Van Lierdethanksgiving

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No matter what, green bean casserole is at the top of our Thanksgiving side’s lineup. This ultimate green bean casserole is made with the classics like Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup and French’s fried onions but made decadent with ingredients like fresh golden brown mushrooms and fresh green beans. The perfect pair with thanksgiving turkey, pork roast or tri-tip. Bookmark this green bean casserole recipe for all your Thanksgiving needs.

Ultimate Green Bean Casserole Recipe (1)

I can only speak for myself but is anyone else’s family totally obsessed with green bean casserole!?

It’s the number one requested Thanksgiving side dish at our house and I am happy to oblige. For as long as I can remember I have been in charge of ‘the’ green bean casserole. Or ‘the bean casserole’ as my Dad likes to say.

Looking for a fun and easy twist?! Try this Crispy Prosciutto Green Bean Casserole twist!

Ultimate Green Bean Casserole Recipe (2)Ultimate Green Bean Casserole Recipe (3)Ultimate Green Bean Casserole Recipe (4)
Green Bean Casserole Ingredients:

  • FRESH green beans
  • Butter
  • Fresh mushrooms
  • Minced Garlic
  • Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup
  • Half and Half
  • Black pepper
  • Soy sauce
  • French’s Fried Onions (the whole can!)

Ultimate Green Bean Casserole Recipe (5)

How To Make Green Bean Casserole:

  1. Grab a pal (and a glass of wine), a large chopping block and trim a few pounds of green beans.
  2. Fill a large stockpot with water and bring to a rolling boil. Boil green beans for 3-4 minutes and then transfer to an ice bath (large bowl of ice+water) to stop cooking.
  3. In a large saute pan, brown up your mushrooms until they are golden and tender.
  4. Stir together the soup, half and half, black pepper, thyme, soy sauce and part of the onions. Combine the soup mixture and green beans.
  5. Bake the casserole for 20 minutes covered, remove foil and add the rest of the onions and continue baking until golden brown and bubbly.

Ultimate Green Bean Casserole Recipe (6)

Can I mix up Green Bean Casserole the night before?

Yes, girl! I know that Thanksgiving prep can be bananas and you can totally mix this green bean casserole the night before. You will make it according to the recipe, just be sure to add in the crunchy onions right before baking instead so they don’t get soggy overnight. Mix in the onions and bake accordingly!

I make up the green bean casserole in my extra-large Le Creuset roaster the night before, wrap tightly, and bake right in the same pan the next day. This roaster is perfect for green bean casserole because I ALWAYS double the recipe and it extra large enough to handle it!

What goes with Green Bean Casserole?

I truly think green bean casserole should be instituted all year long BUT it is a Thanksgiving side classic. This creamy, savory casserole pears perfect with roasted turkey, pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes, and sweet marshmallow-topped yams.

Ultimate Green Bean Casserole Recipe (7) Ultimate Green Bean Casserole Recipe (8)

Tips for The Best Green Bean Casserole:

  • Use fresh beans! I cannot tell you enough! The fresh beans will add such depth and freshness to the casserole. Plus, they hold up WAY better than canned beans and never get mushy.
  • Don’t deviate from the classic too much. I love using the nostalgic items like Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup and French’s fried onions but add in fresh mushrooms for extra added flavor. Bacon is also a great addition for extra flavor!
  • Be sure to blanch your fresh beans and put them right into an ice bath! They will continue to cook in the oven and become perfectly tender. If you don’t blanch your fresh beans they will be hard and crunchy.
  • Reheating for leftovers: tent the casserole loosely with foil and bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 F or until heated through.

Ultimate Green Bean Casserole Recipe (9)

More Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes You’ll Love:

  • Herb Apple Pecan Stuffing
  • Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
  • Butternut Squash and Spinach White Lasagna
  • Brussel Sprout and Caramelized Leek Gratin

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Ultimate Green Bean Casserole Recipe (10)

  • Author: Elizabeth Van Lierde
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 8-10 side portions 1x
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

This ultimate green bean casserole is made with the classics like Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup and French’s fried onions but made decadent with ingredients like fresh golden brown mushrooms and fresh green beans.

Ingredients

Scale

3 lbs of fresh green beans, trimmed

3 tablespoons of unsalted butter

16 Oz of crimini mushrooms, sliced

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 cans of Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup

1 cup of half and half

1 tablespoon of soy sauce
2 Teaspoons of fresh thyme sprigs

2 cups / 1 can of French’s Crispy Fried Onions

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. Bring a large stock pot of water to a rolling boil. Cook green beans for 3-4 minutes and transfer into a large bowl filled with ice water. This will stop the cooking process of the beans. Once cooled, drain and transfer beans to a separate large bowl.
  3. In a large sautè pan, melt butter on medium heat. Add in sliced mushrooms and cook for 5-10 minutes or until mushrooms are golden brown. Add in minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.
  4. In a large bowl, stir together the soup, half and half, black pepper, soy sauce, and thyme sprigs.
  5. Combine the soup mixture, mushrooms, 1/2 crunchy onions and green beans together. Transfer mixture to a large casserole dish. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil, top with remaining onions and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.

Notes

*If making the recipe the night before, make up until step 4, cover with plastic wrap and wait to add the crunch onions until just before baking.

You may also enjoy:

  • Spicy Sausage Pasta

  • Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket

  • Goat Cheese Bruschetta

Ultimate Green Bean Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make green bean casserole not soggy? ›

Don't overcook the green beans: Remember when you are blanching the green beans that they will continue to cook and soften while baking in the oven with the rest of the casserole. So it's important to undercook them slightly during this first step so that they don't get mushy in the oven.

Should green bean casserole be soupy before cooking? ›

Mistake No.

Green bean casserole should have a nice thick sauce that coats the green beans—it should not resemble soup. One common cause of a watery casserole is not adding enough thickener, such as flour or cornstarch, to your sauce.

How do I make my green bean casserole thicker? ›

The Casserole Is Too Soupy

Don't worry, there's a relatively easy and quick fix that will help soak up the excess liquid: Make a slurry of flour or cornstarch in liquid (broth or water) to help thicken it up and then cook it for a bit longer.

Is green bean casserole better with canned or fresh? ›

"Canned green beans are very soft and delicate," Malarkey says. "They tend to mush up while mixing, and I like a little crunch to my green bean casserole." The other two pros we spoke with agreed. When presented with the choice of fresh or frozen green beans for green bean casserole, frozen came out on top.

Why isn't my green bean casserole thickening? ›

Add a thickener

While your green bean casserole is on the stove, incorporate a thickener into the vegetables, such as cornstarch or flour. According to The Kitchn, you can combine cornstarch and a small amount of water or broth in a cup and stir until the lumps are gone, and it becomes a thick yet drizzly consistency.

How long can green bean casserole sit out before baking? ›

How Long Can Green Bean Casserole Sit Out? The casserole can sit out at room temperature for about an hour, then it should be reheated or stored in the fridge.

How many cans of green beans are 4 cups? ›

Notes: ✿ 4 cups of green beans is about 1½ pounds fresh or 16 ounces frozen or 2 cans (15 ounces each) drained.

Can you overcook green bean casserole? ›

Overcooking the beans won't just drain them of their appealing color, but it will also make them too soft and mushy, resulting in a less appetizing casserole.

Does green bean casserole thicken as it cools? ›

Bake until golden brown and bubbling, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool before serving. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. The sauce will thicken as it cools.

Why is green bean casserole so good? ›

Fans love the dish in part because of how simple it is to throw together. It calls for ingredients that could be found in a typical home kitchen pantry: canned or fresh green beans, mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce and black pepper.

What goes well with green bean casserole? ›

If you love this green bean casserole recipe, try one of these Thanksgiving side dishes next:
  • Best Stuffing.
  • Mashed Potatoes.
  • Sweet Potato Casserole.
  • Cranberry Sauce.
  • Butternut Squash Soup.
  • Roasted Acorn Squash.
  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts.
  • Or any of these 50 Thanksgiving Side Dishes!

How many days can you eat green bean casserole? ›

Green Bean Casserole Leftovers

Your creamy green bean casserole will last about four days in the fridge. The crunchy topping will get softer as time goes by; pop it into the oven to reheat to crisp it up a bit. While casseroles have a reputation for being freezer-friendly, green bean casseroles don't freeze so well.

Do people still eat green bean casserole? ›

5. Green Bean Casseroles are served at 20 million Thanksgiving dinners every year. 6.

Does anybody like green bean casserole? ›

Unless you like leftovers, then you should make as much green bean cassrole as you want. That's because according to a new Harris Poll survey for Instacart, 24% of people say green bean casserole is their least favorite Thanksgiving food.

Why is my green bean casserole soggy? ›

Be sure that frozen green beans are completely defrosted and drained before adding them to the casserole, Chef Patel says. If you don't, the excess water from the beans can leak out into the casserole and make it thin and runny.

What causes green beans to be mushy? ›

Undercooked green beans are rubbery; overcooked are mushy. If you are boiling beans, simply begin tasting them after a few minutes. At first you will have a hard time biting through them. As the texture softens, the green beans are closer to being perfectly cooked.

How do you keep casserole topping from getting soggy? ›

Nuts. Naturally crunchy and unlikely to get soggy like the other foods on this list, nuts make a delicious choice for casserole topping. Good, neutral options include chopped walnuts or almond slivers. For bolder flavor and color, opt for pistachios, or make it an extra rich dish with a sprinkling of toasted cashews.

How do you keep green beans crisp? ›

How to Store Green Beans. Green beans should be stored unwashed in the crisper drawer of your fridge. If they came in a bag, keep them in the bag when storing. If they came in a small berry box from the market, transfer them to a reusable storage or plastic bag before storing them in the fridge.

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