comment icon 52 more comments Okay, maybe green bean casserole hits the holiday table every year and you are like YES PLEASE, PASS IT HERE. Or maybe you see it and you’re like, hmm, mushy green beans and kinda gloppy gravy bits, NO THANKS (harsh, but we get it). Or maybe you’re not from the Midwest and you’re reading this like, I’m sorry, whaaa?? No matter where you’re at, please forget everything you know (or don’t know) about green bean casserole and get ready for this savory, creamy veg gem.
In This Post: Everything You Need For Green Bean Casserole
Green Bean Casserole From Scratch – Nothing Canned!
Though the “Green Bean Bake” was originally developed in the test kitchens at Campbell’s by a woman named Dorcas Reilly, and we are forever prayer hands emoji grateful to her for this treasure, there is a fresher path to glory. First, we are dealing with fresh green beans. They are quick-blanched to help hold their texture and color. That’s right! You will see actual bright slivers of green in your casserole and not the well…green-brown that a canned bean brings to the table. We were able to pretty consistently find a package of pre-cut french green beans which was a real bonus and timesaver but, of course, any fresh green bean will do.
Sauce For Green Bean Casserole
And the sauce? Please don’t be mad Dorcas but, we ditched the cream of mushroom soup here. Do not haunt our holiday tables! We wanted to see if we could start from scratch and go mushroom-less. (Though, you KNOW we do truly love those mushrooms, just not here). We wanted it to be silky and ready to coat each beautiful bean, but not something so thick that your plate is taken up mostly by sauce. We still wanted it to feel like a vegetable! Something more balanced for your dinner plate. Something bright to tuck next to your mashed potatoes and your sweet corn casserole (coming soon!). You’ll start slow and steady with making a roux, peppered with onion and shallot. You’ll kick that up with some white wine (so good!) and broth, and then a splash of soy sauce to keep that umami flavor. Did we mention we sprinkled some gruyere cheese in that sauce as well? Cuz we did. We sure did. And the result is magnificent. Creamy, savory, just the right amount of sauciness to make the whole thing feel special. It is a holiday after all.
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Ingredients To Make Green Bean Casserole
If you’re doing any other holiday food prep, many of the ingredients are probably already on your lists or in your pantry but here’s some of the extras you need to make this dreamy side dish (or whole meal, we don’t judge) happen.
green beans (we used pre-cut french green beans for convenience, but any fresh green bean will do)shallots and garlicwhite wine, whole milk, and veg broth for the liquidssoy sauceshredded gruyerecrispy french-fried onions (again, we’re not monsters)
How To Make Green Bean Casserole
Even without the added conveniences of canned soup and vegetables, this is still a pretty easy dish to throw together and toss in your oven, probably with an intricately layered oven rack map and precise time schedule…we get how holidays go. If it’s not already a holiday favorite of yours, we hope you find a new menu staple here. Rich and special and deeply cozy, but still a vegetable that feels like a vegetable, so you can keep passing it round and round your table.
Other Thanksgiving Classics
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes (creamy, fluffy, and SO GOOD)Sweet Potato Casserole with Brown Sugar Topping (that crunchy topping is everything!)Baked Mac and Cheese (creamy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and heavy on the OMG yum factor)
One More Thing!
This recipe is part of our cozy casserole recipes. Check it out! 5 from 11 reviews
title: “Green Bean Casserole Recipe” ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-30” author: “David Polsgrove”
The BEST Green Bean Casserole Recipe
I will admit I have never been a fan of green bean casseroles that are made with canned processed soups. The resulting casserole is just way too thick and gloppy for me. However, my rendition of homemade green bean casserole is nothing like that. Namely, there are no processed “cream of” soups used. It’s the best green bean casserole for me because it retains some of the traditional aspects of green bean casserole but there’s a modern spin to it. The subtle flavor of fresh thyme and robust flavor of the sautéed fresh mushrooms sends this predictable and common dish to the next level with delighted surprise. The shining star for me, apart from the creamy white cheddar cheese sauce, is the crispy bread crumb and Parmesan cheese topping. I love the texture the topping adds, not to mention flavor galore. You can’t go wrong with fresh Parmesan, ever! For those of you who love green bean casseroles or want to make it in your slow cooker, be sure to check out my Slow Cooker Cheesy Green Bean Casserole recipe. This truly is the BEST EVER green bean casserole. I hope you love it!
Homemade Green Bean Casserole Ingredients
Making green bean casserole from scratch with cheese requires fewer ingredients than you might think! Comfort food doesn’t mean complicated! For a holiday side dish that I know your friends and family are going to rave about, you’ll need the following easy-to-find fridge and pantry ingredients:
Green beans, fresh, Baby bella mushrooms and/or sliced white mushrooms, or a combo of the two Unsalted butter Garlic All-purpose flour Milk Chicken (or vegetable) broth, low-salt Fresh thyme Salt and pepper White cheddar cheese Fresh parsley Panko bread crumbs Red onion Parmesan cheese
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Prepare Fresh Green Beans for a Casserole
You will need to trim them, halve them, and then boil them, or blanch them, for 3 to 4 minutes in boiling water, and then add them to an ice bath. Shocking them in ice water stops the cooking process so that they don’t get mushy. Plus, it helps preserve a brighter green color in the final green bean casserole.
How to Make Green Bean Casserole
This green bean mushroom casserole recipe isn’t hard, but there are a few separate pans going at the same time. Make sure you read the recipe in entirety in the recipe card below before beginning it so you know what you’re doing and what you’re doing next.
What Temperature to Bake Green Bean Casserole?
For the world’s best green bean casserole from scratch, preheat your oven to 375F. Do NOT crank up the heat to make it cook faster, you’ll only wind up with a burnt breadcrumb topping that way. When you’re making the sauce with the milk that’s added to the sautéed mushrooms, have patience here and don’t rush it because you don’t want to create any lumps! That can happen if you do this over too high of a heat and don’t have patience when stirring. If you’re baking the green bean casserole with other items in the oven that need a higher oven temp, that’s fine. Cover it with foil and in the final 5 minutes of baking, take the foil off so the topping crisps up and the cheese lightly browns.
How Long Does It Take to Cook Green Bean Casserole?
The homemade green bean casserole will need to bake for roughly 20 minutes at at 375F. You want the casserole to be bubbling around the edges and for the breadcrumb topping to be golden brown.
Make-Ahead Instructions
You can prepare classic green bean casserole up to 24 hours in advance and then bake it for 20 minutes on the day you plan to serve it. Therefore, it makes for a great side dish that you can transport to an event or gathering. You can also actually make the fresh green bean casserole in advance up to when you bake it, then freeze it for up to 3 to 4 months. Allow it to thaw and come to room temp before baking it off.
Protein Add-In Ideas
For those among us who want to work in some protein into this beloved holiday side dish, feel free to incorporate:
Cooked ham, cubed, or deli sliced Cooked turkey, shredded or cubed Cooked chicken, shredded or cubed Cooked bacon, crumbled
In this sense, if you have leftover holiday ham, turkey, or chicken, it’s the perfect way to use it up!
How to Store Green Bean Casserole
For anyone who finds themselves with way too many Thanksgiving leftovers on their hands, not to worry. Leftover green bean casserole will keep airtight in the fridge for up to a week
Can You Freeze Green Bean Casserole?
Yes, it can be frozen for up to 3 months. It should be noted that the topping will not be crunchy when it comes to leftovers.
What to Serve with Green Bean Casserole
Whether serving this as a Christmas or Thanksgiving green bean casserole, you can serve it with any of your favorite holiday entrees and sides! Here are some of my favorite holiday recipes that pair perfectly with this homemade green bean mushroom casserole:
Classic Marshmallow Sweet Potato Casserole Balsamic Brussels Sprouts Mashed Potatoes and Gravy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping Slow Cooker Sausage Stuffing Honey Baked Ham
More Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes:
Slow Cooker Cheesy Green Bean Casserole – Fresh green beans are cooked with bacon and a THREE CHEESE sauce in the slow cooker to free up valuable oven space! NO CANNED SOUP nor processed sauces here. An EASY comfort food side dish that’s perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, parties, and events! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Classic Traditional Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe — Nothing frilly or trendy. Classic, amazing, easy, homemade stuffing that everyone loves!! Simple ingredients with stellar results! It’ll be your new go-to recipe!! The Best Mashed Potatoes — Buttery, creamy, PERFECT mashed potatoes that rival your favorite restaurant’s version but EASY and ready in 45 minutes!! Easy Homemade Perfect Gravy — An EASY, foolproof recipe with lots of TIPS for PERFECT gravy that’s ready in 5 minutes!! The whole family will LOVE this gravy over their Thanksgiving turkey, mashed potatoes, or as a comfort food addition to your dinner table during other times of the year!! Cabernet Cranberry and Blueberry Sauce — Make your own cranberry sauce with amazing depth of flavor in 30 minutes! The best cranberry sauce you will EVER have, guaranteed! Parker House Rolls — The BEST homemade dinner rolls because they’re so light, airy, fluffy and practically melt in your mouth! They have a wonderful buttery flavor that will make them an instant family favorite at your next holiday gathering or make them for a special meal! Sweet Potato Bites with Marshmallows and Pecans – Slices of sweet potatoes are brushed with a maple cinnamon-and-sugar mixture, baked, and then topped with marshmallows and pecans! Sweet, decadent, FAST and EASY! Great for busy weeknights especially when the weather is chilly. Or put these perfect little bites on your Thanksgiving and holiday menus! ‘
