Best Green Bean Casserole Recipe [Video]

Green Bean Casserole is the ultimate comfort food, loaded with fresh green beans, cream of mushroom soup, cheddar cheese, and topped with crispy French fried onions. This is the perfect holiday side dish, easily made at home, and ready in about one hour.

We love making easy and delicious Casseroles, because they are tasty, can feed a larger crowd, and usually make enough leftovers. Enjoy this dish on your Thanksgiving table with Roast Turkey and Sweet Potato Casserole. 

A classic holiday side dish

This easy and healthy Green Bean Casserole is such a classic dish that is always a hit with my family, especially for Thanksgiving dinner.

Green Bean Casserole is a Thanksgiving tradition in many American homes. The tender green beans, homemade crispy fried onions, and creamy mushroom sauce make this the best green bean casserole you have ever served. And you do not have to wait for the holidays. Our green bean casserole recipe is the perfect comfort food for any meal.

But this recipe is just the perfect holiday dish for the whole family to enjoy. Firstly, it is delicious with a creamy inside and crispy topping. Also, it has an unmatched flavor combination and is very simple to make with a few pantry ingredients. You can adapt to your own taste preference, since you can swap the green beans with other veggies, such as broccoli or cauliflower.

Mrs. Dorcas Reilly gets the credit for inventing this delicious recipe. She was a supervisor in the Camden, New Jersey Campbell’s test kitchen at the time. Wanting to make this an easy recipe for anyone, she chose basic ingredients like green beans and cream of mushroom soup with pre-made fried onions. Then, she baked it for 20 to 30 minutes and found out how well the ingredients blended to make a savory and creamy dish.

This recipe calls for a twist to the classic green bean casserole recipe by making homemade french-fried onions. The cream of mushroom soup goes so well with this dish by giving it an extra creamy texture. And you can use canned or frozen green beans and store-bought crispy onions instead to save time.

Ingredients list:

Casserole:

• Green beans: I like to use fresh green beans, especially when in season. However, you can either use fresh or frozen ones. Also, canned beans can be used. Just know that canned ones will provide a softer texture. 
• Condensed cream of mushroom soup: This is probably the secret ingredient here because it brings the flavors together, and makes this dish super creamy. You can use homemade cream of mushroom soup, or use a store-bought version. 
• Milk
• Chicken broth
• Onion and garlic
• Seasoning: I use thyme, paprika, salt, and black pepper. 
• Cheese: Shredded cheddar cheese. 
• French fried onions: We used homemade ones.

Topping:

• Shredded cheddar cheese
• French fried onions: For a crispy and crunchy topping.

Homemade French fried onions:

• Vegetable or canola oil: For frying.
• Large onions: Sliced into thin rings.
• Milk or buttermilk
• All-purpose flour
• Garlic powder
• Hot red pepper powder
• Kosher salt
• Ground black pepper

How to make green bean casserole?

Homemade French fried onions:

1. Separate rings: To begin, separate the onions into individual rings before putting them in a large bowl.
2. Soak onions: Next, pour in two cups of milk and let them soak for about 20 minutes.
3. Make the coating: In the meantime, put flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper into a medium bowl and whisk thoroughly.
4. Fry the rings: Fill a skillet or deep fryer half full of oil and let it heat up.
5. Coat and fry: While you wait, coat the onion rings in the flour mixture and then fry them in the oil until they are golden brown, stirring often.
6. Drain and continue: Next, remove those fried onions and put them on a baking sheet covered with paper towels to drain the excess oil.
7. Finish the rings: After, continue to coat and fry the rings in batches until they are done. Put them aside until you are ready to use them.

Casserole:

1. Preheat oven: First, preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a baking dish with olive oil or non-stick baking spray.
2. Prep the green beans: Then, if you are using canned green beans, just drain them and set them aside. If using fresh green beans, wash them in cold water and trim the ends.
3. Make the sauce: Next, combine chicken broth, milk, and condensed soup in a large bowl and stir until creamy. Add the garlic, pepper, paprika, thyme, and onions to the bowl and stir again.
4. Mix in the green beans: After, pour the green beans into the bowl with one cup of french-fried onions and cheddar cheese. Mix thoroughly.
5. Transfer mixture: Now, pour the green bean mixture into a prepared casserole dish and smooth the top with a spatula before adding the rest of the cheese and one cup of French fried onions on top.
6. Bake: Then, bake your green bean casserole in the oven for about 20 minutes or until the onions start turning brown and the cheese is melted.
7. Serve baked casserole: Finally, top with the rest of the French fried onions and bake for another 10 minutes before serving.

How to make Slow Cooker green bean casserole:

Making this classic recipe in the crockpot is equally easy resulting in tender green beans. Here are the steps:

1. In a large bowl, combine the mushroom soup with sour cream, milk, and seasoning. 
2. Then, stir in the green beans, cheese, and the rest of the ingredients. 
3. Transfer everything to the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 2 hours. 
4. When done cooking, garnish with crispy onions. 

You can also check the detailed Crockpot Green Bean Casserole recipe here. 

How to serve:

This classic side dish is ready in less than half an hour and can be served as a side or a whole meal. Try one of our serving suggestions or share one of your own in the comments section below.

• Sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top for a richer flavor. You can also add some to the green bean mixture when cooking.
• This dish goes great with a turkey dinner. Try our simply delicious roasted turkey recipe for the perfect Christmas dinner.
• Another way to add some crunch to this dish is by adding 1/2 cup of chopped nuts or slivered almonds.
• Some other classic side dishes to go with this green bean casserole include stuffing, corn, mashed potatoes, and sweet potato casserole. 

Frequently asked questions

What style of green beans is best for this recipe?

You can use either French style green beans or regular green beans. However, you like them. In our casserole, we use regular-style green beans since they have a more substantial texture. But French style green beans are fine too. Just change the blanching and bake time. Since the beans are not as thick, they will need to be cooked for a shorter time. When blanching, cook for just two minutes and when baking, cut the time in half to 10 minutes.

How do I blanch fresh green beans?

First, fill a large pot with water and a dash of salt and bring it to a boil. Add the fresh green beans to the boiling water and cook for five to six minutes, stirring occasionally, until they turn dark green. When they are done, drain them and put them in a large bowl of ice water. Then drain again and set them aside.

Should I slice the green beans in half?

I usually don’t, but this is totally up to you. Also, if you are using canned green beans, they already come sliced in half, so you do not need to worry about that. But, if you are using fresh ones, simply use a sharp knife, and slice them in half. 

Can I use canned green beans instead of fresh ones?

While I prefer to use fresh green beans for this casserole, canned beans are certainly an option and an easy one. For the cooked green beans use 1 bag (16 to 20 ounces) of frozen green beans, thawed, or 2 – 3 cans (14.5 ounces each) of green beans, drained.

What is condensed cream of mushroom soup?

Condensed soup is a canned variety of soup that is prepared with a reduced proportion of water. A liquid, like water or milk, is added to the soup when heated up. Condensed soup is used often to add more flavor and creaminess in many recipes.

Can I use a different type of crispy topping?

Yes! While crispy fried onions are traditional, you can experiment with other toppings like buttered breadcrumbs, crushed crackers, or even crushed potato chips.

Can I make this recipe ahead?

Yes, you can make this delicious side dish three days ahead of time. Just prepare as the recipe states but leave out the French fried onions topping. They will get soggy in the fridge so wait until you are ready to serve before adding them. Be sure to let your casserole cool and cover it tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap before storing it.

1. Simply, follow the steps above, except omit the crispy onion topping, so they don’t get soggy. 
2. Then, transfer the mixture to a casserole dish, tightly cover it with aluminum foil, and refrigerate for up to 48 hours. 
3. The next day, add the French onion rings and bake. 

How to store leftovers:

• Store: We suggest keeping your leftover green bean casserole in an airtight container or cover tightly with storage wrap and refrigerating it for up to three days.
• Freeze: It is also safe to freeze your green bean casserole for up to three months. First, let the dish completely cool at room temperature. Then, to freeze, transfer the mixture to a buttered 9-by-13-inch freezer-to-oven baking dish. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Then, freeze it for up to 6 months. Bake frozen, and covered with foil, at 350°F, for 1 hour. Uncover, and bake for another 10-15 minutes.
• Thaw: Remember to put your frozen leftovers in the fridge to thaw overnight before serving.
• Reheat: To reheat, put the green bean casserole in a microwave-safe dish and heat in the microwave for 60 to 90 seconds.

More holiday side dishes to try: