Fresh Green Bean Casserole (No Soup)

This homemade Fresh Green Bean Casserole Recipe made with no canned soup features tender-crisp beans coated in a rich, from-scratch creamy mushroom sauce and finished with a golden layer of crispy French fried onions. It’s a comforting, made-from-scratch side dish that is perfect for any holiday spread and always earns rave reviews!

For more ways to cook green beans, try these sauteed frozen green beans or my recipe for Italian flat green beans instead.

Quick Look at This Recipe

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Servings: 8-10 people
• Dietary Info: Simple swap to make vegetarian, made without canned soup, and easily adaptable for dairy-free diets.
• Method: Oven-baked casserole using fresh green beans and a homemade mushroom sauce cooked on the stove, just like my easy steak marsala recipe.
• Technique: Blanching the beans for perfect texture, then baking until bubbly with a crispy onion topping.
• Flavor & Texture: Creamy, savory, and rich with tender beans and a crunchy, golden finish.

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Simple Ingredients

Fresh green bean casserole is an excellent side dish for the holiday season.

• Fresh Green Beans: The star of the show! Fresh green beans are vibrant and crisp, providing a burst of garden-fresh flavor to your casserole. They bring a satisfying crunch and a burst of green color to the dish.
• Aromatics: Finely chopped onions and minced fresh garlic cooked in butter contribute a sweet and savory note to the casserole. They melt into the creamy sauce, adding depth and a subtle hint of sweetness.
• White Mushrooms: Sliced white mushrooms bring the dish an umami-rich, earthy flavor. They release their moisture as they cook, enhancing the sauce’s creaminess. Love mushrooms? Try my mushroom sauce for ravioli next!
• Half and Half: This creamy elixir adds a luxurious texture and subtle dairy richness to the sauce. It’s the secret behind the velvety smoothness that blankets the green beans. You can also use half milk and half heavy cream.
• Chicken Broth: The savory liquid gold that infuses depth of flavor into the sauce.
• Panko Bread Crumbs: These light, airy bread crumbs bring a crispy and delicate crunch to the casserole. They’re the textural contrast that makes each bite irresistible. You will also love this baked cod with panko recipe!
• French Fried Onions: These crispy, golden delights are the crowning glory of your casserole. They add a savory, slightly sweet onion flavor and a satisfying crunch, making the dish visually appealing and unforgettable. You can also use crispy fried shallots, crushed potato chips, or even homemade crispy onions.

See the recipe card for the full ingredient list with quantities.

Substitutions and Variations

• Gluten-Free: Make sure your breadcrumbs and crispy onions are gluten-free, and swap a gluten-free flour blend to thicken the sauce. You’ll love my cheese sauce for pasta recipe with crispy topping.
• Vegetarian: Use vegetable broth instead of the chicken broth to keep this dish vegetarian. An easy swap to accommodate holiday guests who prefer to go meatless.
• Vegan or Dairy-Free: Use vegan margarine or olive oil in place of the butter, a non-dairy milk such as oat milk or canned coconut milk for the half and half, and use vegetable broth. Some brands of fried onions, such as French’s, are vegan, but be sure to check the label.
• Add Bacon and Cheddar: Add cooked and crumbled bacon and shredded cheddar cheese to the mushroom sauce for a cheesy and smoky flavor. Top the casserole with extra cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon, along with the panko and fried onions, before baking. For a similar smoky cheesy flavor, try a bowl of this copycat Outback Steakhouse potato soup recipe!
• Mediterranean-Inspired: Add sun-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese to the mushroom sauce for a bit of Mediterranean flavor, similar to my Mediterranean baked cod dish. Mix crumbled feta cheese and breadcrumbs with olive oil and sprinkle it over the casserole before baking.

How to Make Green Bean Casserole with Fresh Green Beans

To get started, preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). Prepare your baking dish and gather all your ingredients.

1. Melt the butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Add the chopped onions and cook for about 3-4 minutes until they start to become translucent.

2. Add the minced garlic and sliced mushrooms to the skillet. Cook for another 5-7 minutes until the mushrooms have released their moisture and are slightly browned. Season the mushroom mixture with salt and black pepper to taste.

3. Sprinkle the flour over the mushroom mixture, stir, and cook for 2-3 minutes. Slowly pour in the half and half while whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Cook until the sauce thickens, continuing to stir. Add in the broth and simmer, stirring a few times for another 5 minutes until the sauce is smooth and creamy.

4. Blanch the fresh green beans in a pot of salted boiling water for 2-3 minutes until they are bright green and slightly tender. Drain and immediately plunge them into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain again and set aside.

5. Add the blanched green beans to the skillet with the mushroom sauce.

6. Gently stir to coat the green beans evenly with the sauce.

7. Transfer the green bean and mushroom mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle the panko and fried onion topping evenly over the green beans.

8. Place the casserole in the oven to bake for 20 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the casserole is bubbling. Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving along with all your other favorite Thanksgiving recipes. It’s also great with roast chicken and homemade cornbread.

If you love casserole recipes, you will also enjoy our Chicken Pot Pie Casserole with Biscuits.

Fresh Green Bean Casserole Recipe FAQs

Serving Suggestions

Planning a holiday spread? Pair this casserole with homemade au gratin potatoes, roasted turkey tenderloin, and honey-glazed carrots.

It’s also a great side dish for Sunday dinner or other holidays throughout the year. My family loves it as a side with this pork tenderloin with fennel or a small prime rib, and the best ever mashed potatoes.

More Vegetable Casserole Side Dishes

5-Ingredient Jiffy Corn Casserole

Butternut Squash Casserole Recipe Vegetarian

Vegetable Au Gratin Recipe (Creamy Baked Vegetables)

Creamy Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole Recipe

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