Green Bean Casserole Recipe
This Green Bean Casserole is the ultimate upgrade to the classic holiday side dish. Made with fresh green beans, a homemade creamy mushroom sauce, and crispy fried onions, it delivers rich, savory flavor without any canned soup! Perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any cozy family dinner, it’s easy to prepare, make-ahead friendly, and always gets rave reviews.
Servings: 6
Calories: 506kcal
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs green beans
- 2 tbsp canola oil
- 1 small yellow onion
- 8 oz baby bella mushrooms
- 4 garlic cloves
- 5 tbsp all purpose flour*
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- Salt
- Fresh cracked black pepper
Homemade Fried Onions:
- 2 large yellow onions thinly sliced
- 2 cups low fat buttermilk
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1-2 tsp coarse kosher salt less if using table salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
Homemade Fried Onions:
- Slice two large yellow onions thinly and place them into a bowl. Thin slicing is key to crispy onions. Cover with low fat buttermilk and let them soak for 10-15 minutes.
- While soaking, prepare the coating by mixing flour with coarse kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Preheat about 2 inches of oil in a heavy skillet to 350°F and spread a couple of layers of paper towels on a baking sheet.
- Take out batches of onions from buttermilk and shake off excess of buttermilk. Toss in the seasoned flour mixture and fry in small batches for 1–2 minutes, until golden brown.
- Use a metal strainer to take out onions onto the paper towels. Spread them out to cool, and don’t cover so they stay crispy.
Blanch Green beans:
- Snip the ends off green beans where the bean attached to the vine. You can cut green beans in half or leave them whole.
- Prepare ice water bowl by combining cold water and a couple of cups of ice in a large mixing bowl.
- Bring a large pot of water to boil and drop green beans in it. Boil them for about 3-4 minutes (depending on thickness).
- Take green beans out of the hot water and immediately into the ice water.
- After green beans have cooled, take them out onto a paper towel to pat dry.
Creamy Mushroom Sauce:
- Preheat a large cooking pan over medium heat.
- Slice onions and mushrooms thinly.
- Add oil to the pan and onions. Saute until transparent.
- Add mushrooms and cook until mostly done.
- Mince or press garlic and add it to the pan. Cook until fragrant.
- Sprinkle flour over the veggies and stir until veggies are coated in flour.
- Start slowly pouring in milk while whisking continuously. Pour in heavy whipping while while still stirring. Continue to stir slowly as the mixture thickens.
- Season with salt, and pepper and cook for a couple of minutes. Take off heat.
Assemble Casserole:
- Preheat oven to 375℉ and lightly grease a 9x13 casserole dish.
- Add green beans into the casserole dish, pour in mushroom cream sauce, and add 1/2 cup of fried onions. Mix everything together until evenly incorporated.
- Cover with foil and bake for 35-45 minutes, depending if you want green beans crunchier or softer.
- Take the pan out and carefully take off the foil. Spread remaining fried onions over the top and bake for another 7-10 minutes.
Video
Notes
- French's Fried Onions shortcut - to use store-bought, get a 6 oz package of fried onions. If you need to keep them gluten free, you can get gluten free fried onions that many grocery stores do have in stock, especially during the holiday season.
If making homemade fried onions, use gluten free all purpose flour instead of regular flour. - Storing: Store leftover green bean casserole in an air-tight food storage container, in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- To reheat it: you can reheat individual portions in the microwave, in 30 second increments. You can also reheat it in the oven at 350℉ until just hot.
- Make ahead: blanch green beans and store them in the refrigerator or freeze them. Fry onions and store them in a large air-tight container, in a cool and dry plate, for a day. To keep them longer, refrigerate. Crisp them back up in the oven at 375℉.
Nutrition
Calories: 506kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 313mg | Potassium: 640mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1565IU | Vitamin C: 16.1mg | Calcium: 220mg | Iron: 1.7mg