If you’re looking for the best green bean casserole recipe, you’ve found it! We’ve got the top variations on this traditional side dish. Think bacon, cheese and slow cooker varieties! Plus tips on how to make this casserole in advance.
Green Bean Casserole Recipe
I’ll admit it. Green bean casserole is my favorite Thanksgiving side dish. You can have the potatoes, corn and cranberry sauce. It never fails that I go back for seconds on rich & creamy green bean casserole.
Campbell’s green bean casserole recipe and French’s green bean casserole are very similar. From my research, Campbell’s is different only in that it calls for less milk and a splash of soy sauce for flavor. Both recipes are timeless, but today we’ll share with you a few different variations of the traditional green bean casserole you know and love.
How to Make Green Bean Casserole
The base of this easy green bean casserole recipe are the following ingredients:
- 2 cans of green beans. You can use French style or traditional cut green beans. Whichever your family prefers! Be sure to drain the green beans.
- Cream of mushroom soup. You can also use cream of chicken soup, although it will give the casserole a slightly different flavor. Do not dilute the cream of mushroom soup.
- Soy Sauce. Throw a splash in. You’ll love the flavor boost this gives!
- Garlic Powder & Black Pepper. I love adding in garlic powder. If you don’t feel quite the same about garlic powder, leave it out or add less if you’d like.
- French fried onions. Mix in half of the onions with the green beans and soup. This distributes that classic flavor into every bite!
Notice that I don’t add salt. We almost always add bacon or cheese, so when you combine that with the french fried onions, we don’t think any more salt is necessary. You can always add it after if you’d like.
Green Bean Casserole with Bacon
We’re bacon crazy. It only makes sense that we’d add bacon to this. Use store bought REAL bacon bits or cook your own then crumble it. We add about 3/4-1 cup of chopped bacon.
Green Bean Casserole with Cheese
Have you ever tried cheese in green bean casserole? It’s delish! You can use cheddar (which we prefer) or swiss cheese. Either works, but each gives a different twist to the flavor. We recommend grating your own cheese because it melts more quickly and smoothly than pre-shredded, but if all you have time for is pre-shredded cheese, that’s totally fine.
Fresh Green Bean Casserole
Yes, you can make the best green bean casserole with fresh green beans. Just be sure to steam the green beans first to the doneness that you’d like. I recommend keeping the green beans at least somewhat crisp because they will continue to cook in the casserole.
Another way to cook the green beans is to boil them for about 10-15 minutes in chicken broth and then drain when they are done. This will add to their flavor!
Can you Make and Freeze Green Bean Casserole?
Yes! Mix together the green bean mixture and spread it in the prepared pan. Before baking, wrap the pan in plastic wrap, then again in foil so it is well sealed. Freeze the casserole. Remove the casserole from the freezer 1-3 days before you are ready to serve it so it can defrost and cook more evenly.
To bake the make-ahead green bean casserole, preheat the oven to 350 degrees, unwrap it and sprinkle french fried onions on top. Then cook it for 35 minutes. It may take slightly longer to bake this way based on how cold the casserole is, so make sure you leave time if it needs a few extra minutes.
CrockPot Green Bean Casserole
You can also free up oven space on Easter, Christmas and Thanksgiving by cooking your green bean casserole in the slow cooker. Make the green bean mixture and spoon it into the slow cooker. Cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2 hours until it is bubbly and heated through. I like to wait to sprinkle the extra french fried onions on top right before serving so they are crisp.
Double the Green Bean Casserole
If you are serving a crowd, double the recipe and bake it in a 9×13 pan. Plan for this to cook about 40-45 minutes.
Other Green Bean Recipes
- Italian Green Beans
- Christmas Green Beans
Tools to Make This Recipe
FAQs
If you are finding that your green bean casserole is soupy, be sure to drain the green beans really well after blanching so you aren't getting extra water in the casserole that way. Then make sure to thicken the sauce properly by letting the chicken broth and half-and-half simmer long enough to thicken.
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.
How do I thicken up green bean casserole? ›
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.
Why is my green bean casserole always runny? ›
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.
Can you overcook green bean casserole? ›
Overcooking the beans won't just drain them of their appealing color, but it will also make them too soft and mushy, resulting in a less appetizing casserole.
Which canned green beans taste best? ›
If your recipe happens to call for Italian green beans, these are the best canned green beans. Del Monte is the brand that makes the most appearances on this list, but if you're looking for French style green beans, go for Great Value. They're less salty and more substantial than Del Monte.
What can I substitute for cream of mushroom in green bean casserole? ›
Instead of condensed cream of mushroom soup, this recipe utilizes an irresistible sour cream sauce thickened with flour and butter. The creamy, tangy mixture adds tons of richness and flavor — so there's no need for any store-bought soup.
What goes well with green bean casserole? ›
Stuffing, cornbread, and rice are also great options that will add some variety to your meal. If you're looking for something a little lighter, a shaved Brussels sprouts salad or roasted sweet potatoes might be just what you need. Another great option is to serve a protein alongside your green bean casserole.
How soupy should green bean casserole be? ›
White sauce of the casserole should be thick enough to coat the beans ,it should not be runny like soup. To make it thick add more corn flour or cornstarch. Casserole cooked in an oven might have runny sauce since the vegetables keep leaching water.
If you're lucky enough to have any leftovers, Green Bean Casserole is delicious when reheated! Just know that the fried onions won't be crisp after being stored. But that's ok--simply sprinkle the casserole with a few more after heating. It will be a comforting addition to any lunch or leftovers dinner night.
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 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.
How do you keep green beans crisp? ›
While the beans are cooking, fill a large bowl with cold water and ice. As soon as the beans are done cooking, transfer them immediately to the ice bath to stop the cooking process and preserve their bright green color. Leave the beans in the bowl of ice water for a few minutes before removing them with tongs.
Why are my home canned green beans mushy? ›
To keep home-canned green beans firm, it's important to follow proper canning procedures to ensure that they are processed at the correct temperature and for the correct amount of time. Overcooking or undercooking can cause the beans to become mushy or tough.
How do you keep fresh green beans crisp? ›
It's best to store your fresh green beans in the fridge, otherwise store green beans in the freezer if you want them to last longer. You can also store unwashed and unblanched green beans in the refrigerator for up to about seven days before you need to store your green beans in the freezer.
How long can a green bean casserole sit out after baking? ›
The casserole can sit out at room temperature for about an hour, then it should be reheated or stored in the fridge.
