This easy green bean casserole recipe is a classic side dish that’s perfect for any holiday dinner! Made with fresh green beans, creamy mushroom sauce, and french fried onions, and then baked and ready to serve with more crispy onions on top!
Need other holiday recipes to make? These maple glazed carrots and this sausage stuffing are both favorites.
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Easy Greenbean Casserole
This simple string bean casserole is one that everyone looks forward to around the holidays. If it’s not on your Thanksgiving table or the dinner menu for Christmas or Easter, you know something’s missing! Honestly, this and sweet potato casserole are a toss up for my favorite side dish at every thanksgiving dinner.
It’s creamy, crunchy, and so full of flavor. And you know what the secret ingredient is? Soy sauce! Yes, it might sound odd for depth of flavor to the creamy sauce and extra savory note, but trust me, it’s delightful!
With such minimal prep work, it’s a wonder why we don’t eat this great recipe more often! It’s a classic holiday side dish for sure, but it can also be enjoyed any night of the week!
Ingredients/shopping list
- Green beans: Green beans, cut and cooked. I like using fresh green beans instead of canned or frozen. But feel free to use whichever you love them most.
- Cream of mushroom soup: for the classic mushroom sauce. It also works when you want the flavor of the mushrooms, but not necessarily fresh sliced mushrooms.
- Whole milk: This will help thin the condensed soup into the rich cream sauce we love.
- Soy sauce: Yes, I’m serious. Use it.
- Salt & pepper: A bit of seasoning to taste.
- French fried onions: Crispy fried onions are divided. Some are used in the casserole for flavor and texture and some are kept on top for that crunchy topping we all love!
Variations/ Substitutions
1. ½ cup of freshly grated cheddar cheese, Monterey jack cheese or parmesan cheese can add a cheesiness factor the casserole.
2. Use melted butter and Panko breadcrumbs for your topping if fried onions aren’t your thing. ¼ cup sliced almonds would be great too.
3. Add a cup of sliced fresh mushrooms to yours if you want.
4. Or ¼ cup cooked bacon crumbles!
5. Use any lower fat milk or non-dairy milk you have on hand. For extra creaminess, you can even heavy cream.
6. Add up to 2 cups of another veggie like broccoli or sweet peas if you’d like.
7. Any flavor of condensed soup works. It’s the consistency we’re after, so if you don’t love mushrooms, feel free to use cream of chicken soup instead.
8. For a spicier version, add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to the casserole.
How to Make Green Bean Casserole
It’s a simple dish to whip up and always delivers a feeling of comfort food and wholesome family dinners. You can’t beat it!
For fresh green beans: Remove the ends and cut the green beans in half. Place them in a medium pot with water to cover and boil the green beans for about 7-8 minutes until the start to become slightly tender and bright green. Then drain before using.
For frozen green beans: Heat in a microwave safe bowl for about 3 minutes or cook green beans in a pot of boiling water for the same amount of time. Then drain excess liquid before using.
For canned cut green beans: Drain the green beans prior to using.
Step 1: In a large casserole dish, combine the green beans, mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce, salt, pepper, and 1 cup of fried onions.
Step 2: Stir everything well to make sure it’s all combined.
Step 3: Bake in a preheated 350° oven for about 25 minutes. Remove the baking dish from the oven and stir the bean mixture once more.
Step 4: Add the remaining fried onions to the top of the casserole. Continue baking for another 5 minutes, just until the fried onions are golden brown on top. Enjoy!
Tips
- To reduce the amount of sodium or fat in this green bean casserole, you can use low-fat or unsalted mushroom soup. Better yet, swap the canned soup for a homemade cream of mushroom soup, that way you control the ingredients.
- Use fresh, frozen, or canned green beans. Either a (4) 14.5-ounce cans, 20 ounces frozen, or 1.5 pounds of fresh green beans.
FAQ’s
Store this casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Definitely! Assemble the casserole in the baking dish. Do not add the fried onions on top. Keep it in the refrigerator for up to 24-48 hours in advance. If you’re baking it straight from the fridge, place it in a cold oven and then turn it on and you may need to add a few extra minutes to the oven timer. Otherwise, bring it to room temperature first.
Make the casserole just as you would prepare it ahead of time, prepare it without the onion topping. Wrap it in plastic wrap then aluminum foil, freeze it, and then thaw it in the fridge overnight.
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Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients
- 4 cups green beans cut and cooked
- 10.5- ounces cream of mushroom soup 1 can
- ½ cup whole milk
- ½ teaspoon soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups French fried onions divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F.
- In a large casserole dish, add the green beans, mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce, salt, pepper, and 1 cup of French fried onions.4 cups green beans, 10.5- ounces cream of mushroom soup, ½ cup whole milk, ½ teaspoon soy sauce, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Stir to combine well.
- Bake for about 25 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and stir the mixture.
- Then top with the remaining cup of French fried onions
- Return to the oven and bake for an another 5 minutes until the onions on top are golden brown.
Notes
Add ½ cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese or parmesan cheese.
Add ¼ cup of cooked bacon crumbles.
Add ¼ cup of sliced almonds to the topping.
Add an additional veggie like 2 cups of broccoli or sweet peas.
Add a little heat by adding ½ teaspoon or more red pepper flakes. Use 1 ½ pounds of fresh cut green beans, 20 ounces of frozen green beans or (4) 14.5 ounce cans green beans. Use homemade cream of mushroom soup, low fat cream of mushroom soup or unsalted cream of mushroom soup.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclosure
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
Nicole
Can I leave the Soy Sause Out?