Cheesy Green Bean Casserole (2024)

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by Erin

Our delicious Cheesy Green Bean Casserole is a classic holiday side dish that the whole family is going to love as part of your next Thanksgiving menu! Made with fresh green beans, a homemade mushroom sauce, crispy french onions, and lots of melty cheese!

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The Best Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

Our family is big on holiday tradition, especially traditions related to food, and a classic green bean casserole is no exception! This traditional side dish recipe is a staple at our holiday table on Thanksgiving Day or for Christmas dinner. As much as we love to keep things consistent with traditions and the classic version, we also know that, on occasion, it is fun to make some slight tweaks. We love our Green Bean Casserole with Bacon and now we have this easy cheesy green bean casserole recipe! Either way, you will have a classic dish that is sure to be a crowd pleaser!

Dietary restrictions? We also have a Dairy-Free Green Bean Casserole and Gluten-Free Green Bean Casserole!

What You Will Need

  • green beans – we have to use fresh green beans and give them a quick blanch, but you can also use canned green beans or frozen green beans.
  • butter – a little to sauté the flavor starters and then add more to make a creamy roux.
  • garlic & yellow onion – traditional flavor starters for so many casserole recipes.
  • fresh mushrooms – just pick-up some baby bella mushrooms at your local grocery store. Simple button mushrooms or white mushrooms are great too.
  • all-purpose flour – the thickening agent to create a creamy mushroom sauce.
  • chicken broth – option to grab a store-bought version or make your own homemade chicken broth.
  • cream – to keep things a little lighter and dairy-free we suggest unsweetened/un-flavored NutPods, but you can also use heavy cream or half-and-half.
  • salt & pepper – simple seasonings that are always a must!
  • shredded cheddar cheese – we love a sharp cheddar cheese, but any variety of shredded cheese works.
  • french-fried onions – that classic crunchy topping that can’t be skipped!

How To Make Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

The first steps to making this easy recipe are to blanch the fresh green beans. This is done by adding the cut green beans to a large pot of boiling water tocook for 2-4 minutes, add the cut green beans to cook for 2-4 minutes, and then transfer the blanched green beansto an ice bath to cool and stop the cooking process

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Now bring a large skillet to a medium heat and melt butter. Add the garlic and onion to soften for about 2-3 minutes. Then add the mushrooms to cook for another 2-3 minutes.

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Add the rest of the butter to melt and then mix in the flour to create a bit of a paste around the onions and cooked mushrooms. Keeping the pan at a simmer, gradually whisk in the broth and cream. Let it simmer for a couple of minutes to get a thick, creamy texture.

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Remove the hot pan from the heat and add the salt, pepper, and 1.5 cups of the cheese. Mix to fully combine and melt the cheese.

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Place the tender green beans in a casserole dish and then pour the soup mixture over the top. Mix in 3/4 cup of crispy onions and then bake in a 350 degree ovenfor about 20 minutes of cook time.

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Finally, sprinkle the remainingfrench fried onions and shredded cheeseon top and place it back in the oven for 5-10 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.

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Best Ways To Serve Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

There is simply nothing better than this homemade green bean casserole recipe that can be served alongside a classic turkey, no matter how you cook it (roasted, grilled, smoked, or deep-fried). Of course it’s the holidays, so we also suggest adding some mashed potatoes, stuffing, turkey gravy, cranberry sauce, and any of your other favorite side dish recipes.

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Cheesy Green Bean Casserole (9)

Made this delicious recipe and loved it?! We would love it if you would take a minute andleave a star rating and review– it is also helpful if you made any substitutions or changes to the recipe to share that as well. THANK YOU!

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Other Green Bean Recipes You Might Like

  • Green Beans with Bacon
  • Grilled Green Beans
  • Smoked Green Beans
  • Green Beans Almondine
  • Garlic Green Beans

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Cheesy Green Bean Casserole (10)

Cheesy Green Bean Casserole Recipe

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  • Author: Erin Jensen
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 60 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings 1x
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Stove Top + Oven
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

Cheesy Green Bean Casserole is your classic holiday side dish made from scratch with fresh green beans and a cheesy twist!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 2 pounds fresh green beans
  • 7 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 1 small sweet yellow onion, halved and thinly sliced
  • 812oz baby bella mushrooms, sliced
  • 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened/unflavored Nutpods OR heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly shredded, divided (more if desired)
  • 2 cups crispy fried onions, divided (more if desired)

Instructions

  1. Oven: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Blanch Green Beans: Fill a medium saucepan 3/4 full of water and bring to a simmer. Meanwhile, take a large bowl and fill 3/4 of the way with water. Add ice to create an ice bath. Set aside. Add green beans to the simmering water. Let cook 2-4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, carefully remove the green beans from the simmering water and place them directly into the ice bath. Let sit for 5 minutes or until fully cooled. Remove and place into a 9×13 baking pan.
  3. Cook Onions + Mushrooms: Bring cast iron skillet to medium/medium-high heat. Add 3 tablespoons of butter and let melt; swirl to coat the pan. Add garlic and onion. Move around pan until until the onions have softened, approximately 2-3 minutes. Add mushrooms and move around pan until they have softened, another 2-3 minutes.
  4. Make Sauce: Add remaining 4 tablespoons of butter to pan and let melt. Add flour and mix to combine. Slowly add in the chicken broth and then the creamer, whisking the entire time and ensuring the mixture is hot enough to just barely simmer. Let simmer, uncovered, 3-5 minutes. Once thickened remove from heat and add in the salt, pepper, and 1 1/2 cup cheese. Stir to combine. Taste and adjust salt or pepper, as needed.
  5. Combine: Pour the creamy sauce over the green beans in the baking dish and add approx. 3/4 cup of the french fried onions; stir to combine.
  6. Bake: Place in oven, middle rack and uncovered, for 20-30 minutes or until bubbly. Remove and cover with remaining cheese and french fried onions. Return to oven for an additional 5-10 minutes.
  7. Cook + Serve: Remove and let cool sightly at room temperature before serving (sauce will thicken as it cools).

Notes

  • Mushrooms + Onions: you can remove these from the pan before Step 4 if you prefer and then add them back in after the Sauce has been made if that is easier for you.
  • Gluten-Free: use gluten-free flour and gluten-free french fried onions.
  • Storage: store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6 oz
  • Calories: 130
  • Sugar: 4.3 g
  • Sodium: 235.2 mg
  • Fat: 8.2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 11.9 g
  • Protein: 4.1 g
  • Cholesterol: 21.5 mg

Keywords: cheesy green bean casserole, cheesy green bean casserole recipe, green bean casserole, holiday side dish, side dish recipe, Thanksgiving side dish

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Cheesy Green Bean Casserole (2024)

FAQs

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

Add a thickener

While your green bean casserole is on the stove, incorporate a thickener into the vegetables, such as cornstarch or flour. According to The Kitchn, you can combine cornstarch and a small amount of water or broth in a cup and stir until the lumps are gone, and it becomes a thick yet drizzly consistency.

Why is green bean casserole the best? ›

Green bean casserole was considered a perfect dish for holiday entertaining because it was simple, inexpensive, and could easily be made ahead of time. It became known as a "jiffy casserole" because it went from one bowl to one pan.

What is green bean casserole made of? ›

Ingredients. The recipe, which has not changed, calls for green beans, mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce, ground black pepper, and french fried onions.

How long can green bean casserole stay in the fridge before cooking? ›

Refrigerate up to 2 days. Reheating: Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes or up to 1 hour before you'd like to finish them in the oven. Remove the foil & plastic wrap. Stir ½ cup of the French fried onions into the green bean mixture, then tightly recover the baking dish with foil.

How can I thicken up my 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.

How to make a casserole less soupy? ›

10 Tips To Fix Or Prevent Watery Casseroles
  1. Prep Vegetables Ahead Of Time. Vegetables boiling on a stove - Solstock/Getty Images. ...
  2. Add A Starch. ...
  3. Experiment With Pasta Or Grains. ...
  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

What makes green beans taste better? ›

A little butter, minced garlic, and lemon-pepper seasoning are all you need to bring the best out of fresh green beans.

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

Frozen French-cut green beans are a better option. They hold their texture better than canned, and you can cook them straight from their frozen state. And if you're using fresh green beans? You'll need to cook them first by roasting, steaming or boiling them.

Should I use fresh or canned green beans? ›

"I use fresh French-cut green beans the majority of the time," says lifestyle blogger Chantelle Hartman Malarkey. If fresh isn't available, Malarkey reaches for frozen. "Canned green beans are very soft and delicate," Malarkey says.

How many cans are 4 cups of green beans? ›

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

What is the white stuff in canned green beans? ›

The starch settles out of the food during canning. Second, minerals in hard water can give a cloudy appearance. Third, using table salt instead of canning salt. Table salt contains anti-caking agents that can cause cloudiness.

Does green bean casserole make you gassy? ›

However, too much fiber can cause bloating and gas. "Beans are high in fiber, with half a cup providing between 4 and 8 grams," says Kunik. "Since your body can't digest fiber, it can sit in the digestive tract while the bacteria digest it, producing gas as a byproduct.

Can you freeze a green bean casserole? ›

Stored properly, your leftover green bean casserole will last 3-4 days in the fridge. Freezing: Wrap your green bean casserole tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil, freezer wrap or transfer to an airtight container and keep in the freezer for 6 months.

Will green bean casserole get soggy? ›

Add onions and bake shortly before serving. Finally, it's less ideal, but the entire dish can be cooked, loosely wrapped (so the crispy top doesn't get soggy) and then rewarmed in a low oven before serving. Just keep an eye on the topping so it doesn't get too brown while reheating.'' Hope that helps.

Does green bean casserole reheat well? ›

Then, all you need to do is place the green bean casserole in the oven and let it reheat in there for 15-20 minutes, depending on how large of a portion you need to reheat. You can also choose to throw in some additional toppings like fried onions and pop it in again for 5 minutes.

How do you reduce the liquid in baked beans? ›

All you have to do is continue to let the beans cook but uncover them this time. While they heat up without a lid, the water will evaporate more rapidly and you should have thickened beans in no time. You can simply watch the liquid levels and take the beans off the heat when they've reached your preferred texture.

How do you keep green beans from getting soggy? ›

Store beans in a veggie crisper or an air-tight plastic container. You can keep them in the plastic bag they came in from the store, but condensation may develop and speed up spoilage. To prevent this, place a paper towel in the bag or container to absorb extra moisture, and replace it as it gets damp.

How do you keep a casserole from drying out? ›

Pro Tip: Avoid Dry Casserole.

The best way to prevent it from drying out is to add a little bit of water, around ¼ cup, to the top of it. Allow the water to seep between the food and the sides of the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.

How to thicken green beans? ›

To ensure this flavor-packed sauce clings to the green beans, we add corn starch as our thickener. It helps forms a thicker glaze. If you find the sauce too thick for your liking, you can always add a touch of water to reach your desired consistency!

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