This homemade green bean casserole recipe with fresh green beans includes tender fresh green beans smothered in a homemade creamy mushroom sauce, topped with a delightful crunch of French fried onions. It’s the perfect side dish to elevate any holiday meal and a true crowd-pleaser for any occasion!

Serve with Roast Chicken and Homemade Cornbread.

Best Green Bean Casserole Recipe

This classic green bean casserole is made from scratch (minus the crispy fried onions)! You won’t find canned cream of mushroom soup or mushy green beans in this recipe. The homemade mushroom sauce tastes so much better, and it’s healthier. In my humble opinion- it’s the best and most delicious green bean casserole recipe!

This fresh green beans casserole is packed with tender green beans, a cream sauce, and onion topping that is baked until golden brown and ready to be the star side of your Thanksgiving table. You can enjoy it all holiday season.

You will also love the Roasted Green Beans Recipe with Garlic and Lemon, Italian Flat Green Beans, Beans and Greens, and Sautéed Frozen Green Beans Recipe (Easy).

Simple Ingredients

Fresh green bean casserole is a wonderful 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.
• Unsalted Butter: This luxurious ingredient adds a rich, creamy element to the casserole. It’s used to sauté onions, garlic, and mushrooms, infusing the dish with a delightful buttery aroma.
• Onion: Finely chopped onions are a foundational element, contributing a sweet and savory note to the casserole. They melt into the creamy sauce, adding depth and a subtle hint of sweetness.
• Garlic: Minced garlic elevates the flavor profile with its aromatic, slightly pungent quality. It complements the earthiness of the mushrooms and provides a hint of warmth.
• 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.
• Half and Half (or Half Milk and Half Heavy Cream): 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.
• Salt and Black Pepper: These seasonings are the flavor enhancers. They’re your trusted companions in the kitchen, ensuring that every bite is perfectly seasoned to your liking.
• All-Purpose Flour: The unsung hero that thickens the sauce to the ideal consistency. It creates a silky texture that envelops the green beans.
• Chicken Broth or Vegetable Broth: The savory liquid gold that infuses depth of flavor into the sauce. Chicken broth adds a hearty note, while vegetable broth keeps it vegetarian-friendly.
• 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.
• 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.

See the recipe card for quantities.

How to Make Green Bean Casserole From Scratch

Bake: Place the casserole in the oven for 20 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the casserole is bubbling.

Serve: Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your homemade green bean casserole!

Variations

Here are three variations of green bean casserole recipes:

1. Vegan Green Bean Casserole:

• Replace butter with vegan margarine or olive oil.
• Use almond milk or another non-dairy milk instead of half and half.
• Swap chicken broth for vegetable broth.
• For the topping, use vegan-friendly panko bread crumbs and crispy fried onions or make your own by frying thinly sliced onions in a mixture of flour and plant-based milk.

2. Bacon and Cheddar Green Bean Casserole:

• Add cooked and crumbled bacon to the mushroom sauce for a smoky flavor.
• Mix in shredded cheddar cheese into the mushroom sauce for a cheesy twist.
• Top the casserole with extra cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon along with the panko and fried onions before baking.

3. Mediterranean-Inspired Green Bean Casserole:

• Infuse Mediterranean flavors by adding sun-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese to the mushroom sauce.
• Season the dish with oregano, thyme, and a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for some extra zest.
• Instead of the traditional topping, mix crumbled feta cheese and breadcrumbs with olive oil and sprinkle it over the casserole before baking for a Mediterranean twist.

How to Store and Reheat

Storing Green Bean Casserole:

1. Allow the casserole to cool to room temperature.
2. Cover the casserole dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or transfer leftovers to an airtight container.
3. Refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking.
4. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Reheating Green Bean Casserole:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. If reheating the whole casserole, remove the plastic wrap or foil.
3. If reheating individual servings, use an ovenproof dish.
4. Bake the casserole, covered, for about 20-30 minutes or until heated through. You can uncover it for the last 10 minutes to crisp up the topping.
5. If you prefer to reheat in the microwave, place individual servings on a microwave-safe plate, cover with a microwave-safe lid or microwave-safe plastic wrap with a small vent, and heat in 30-second intervals until hot.

Note: For the best texture and taste, reheating in the oven is recommended as it helps maintain the crispiness of the topping.

How to Make Ahead of Time

You can make green bean casserole ahead of time to save time on the day you plan to serve it. Here’s how:

1. Prepare and Assemble the Casserole:

• Follow the recipe instructions until you assemble the casserole in a baking dish, but do not bake it.

2. Cover and Refrigerate:

• Once the casserole is assembled, cover it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent air from getting in and refrigerate it. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking.

3. Bake When Ready:

• When you’re ready to serve, preheat your oven to the specified temperature in the recipe (usually around 375°F or 190°C).
• Remove the plastic wrap or foil from the casserole dish.
• You may want to let the casserole sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes to take off the chill from the refrigerator.
• Bake the casserole in the preheated oven according to the recipe instructions. You may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time since it’s starting from a cold temperature. Keep an eye on it and bake until it’s hot and bubbly, and the topping is golden brown.

4. Serve:

• Once the casserole is heated through and the topping is crispy and brown, remove it from the oven, and let it cool slightly before serving.

Making the green bean casserole ahead of time allows you to enjoy the convenience of preparing it in advance while still serving a freshly baked and delicious side dish for your meal.

If you love casserole recipes, you will also enjoy this Chicken Pot Pie Casserole with Biscuits!

FAQs

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