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.

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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:

  • Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Salmon

  • Goat Cheese Bruschetta

  • Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket

Ultimate Green Bean Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep green bean casserole from being runny? ›

You can use a ladle or spoon to scoop out some of the liquid. Be cautious not to remove too many green beans or other ingredients. Add Thickening Agent:Mix a thickening agent into the casserole. Common options include flour, cornstarch, or arrowroot powder.

Should green bean casserole be soupy before cooking? ›

Green Bean Casserole from Scratch FAQs

Cover and freeze until you are ready to bake. You can bake start from frozen without adding the onions until the casserole has already baked for about 20 minutes. Should green bean casserole be soupy? No, your green bean casserole should not be soupy.

How to make 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.

Which is better in green bean casserole canned or frozen? ›

When I make green bean casserole, I skip canned beans all together. Frozen green beans are the best green beans to use for green bean casserole.

Do you have to cover green bean casserole when baking? ›

Spread half of soup mixture over beans in dish. Top with remaining half of beans and soup mixture. BAKE uncovered 30 minutes.

How do you thicken a runny casserole? ›

As a rule of thumb, dissolve 2 parts cold water and 1 part cornstarch. Add the slurry to your sauce as it simmers in the slow cooker. Cornstarch is always a good way to thicken a sauce or soup but personally I would recommend going a different route as the cornstarch slurry may change the flavor of the meal.

Why isn t my green bean casserole thickening? ›

Add a thickener

The extra thickening should thicken the sauce, and if the mixture is still runny, repeat the process. The site also reports that you should use 1 tbsp of corn starch if thickening a small portion and up to 4 tbsp of corn starch for large batches.

What consistency should green bean casserole be? ›

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 many cans of green beans equals 4 cups? ›

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

Is green bean casserole better with fresh or canned beans? ›

Canned green beans have already been cooked to an inch of their life. Expecting them to not be mushy after you've cooked them into a casserole is a fantasy. Start with fresh green beans, cook them until they are just tender and turn them into a casserole. If green beans aren't in season, use frozen.

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.

Do people still eat green bean casserole? ›

Of course, some people do eat Green Bean Casserole year-round, but if Campbells stats about the recipe are anything to go by, most people eat it on Thanksgiving.

How many days is green bean casserole good for? ›

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 most people like green bean casserole? ›

Instacart conducted a survey with The Harris Poll and found that a majority of Americans, 69%, secretly dislike some classic Thanksgiving food but eat it anyway because of tradition. The top offenders were: Canned cranberry sauce (29%) Green bean casserole (24%)

How do you fix a watery casserole? ›

10 Tips To Fix Or Prevent Watery Casseroles
  1. Prep vegetables ahead of time. Solstock/Getty Images. ...
  2. Add a starch. NIKCOA/Shutterstock. ...
  3. Experiment with pasta or grains. Pidjoe/Getty Images. ...
  4. Take the lid off. ...
  5. Drain fat from meat. ...
  6. Choose a dry or low-fat cheese. ...
  7. Sprinkle seeds into your bake. ...
  8. Remove excess liquid.
Oct 29, 2023

How do you keep green beans firm? ›

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.

How do you thicken green beans? ›

Flour or Cornstarch Thickening:Mix 1-2 tablespoons of flour or cornstarch with equal parts water to create a smooth paste. Stir the paste into the simmering green beans. Allow the mixture to cook for a few more minutes until it thickens.

How do you thicken bean water? ›

I like my juices thick with my beans, therefore in a separate bowl I added 1/4 cup of cornstarch or flour and 1/4 cup of water to make a thickening paste. Then, slowly add your thickening paste to the boiling beans and ham. Be sure to stir as you add it in.

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