Valentina Ablaev
This recipe is the only easy green bean casserole recipe you’ll ever need again! The casserole is so easy to make but tastes absolutely incredible! This side dish will be the star of your thanksgiving feast! Fresh green beans in a rich mushroom sauce topped with cheese and fried onions – the perfect combination of flavors.
Green bean casserole is a thanksgiving delicacy along with all the classics. This casserole will look great next to your thanksgiving turkey and a rich mushroom gravy.
Look no further for the best green bean casserole recipe! Fresh green beans are coated in a creamy sauce, loaded with mushrooms. Baked in the oven, this casserole is topped with cheese that melts perfectly over the top. Our homemade fried onions add the perfect crispiness that makes for an incredible bite.
What Makes this Green Bean Casserole Better?
- Fresh ingredients. Fresh green beans give this casserole the best flavor and texture.
- Great flavors. This is no bland green bean casserole. This casserole is seasoned and flavored all throughout.
- Not soupy. This sauce is thick and creamy, better than any runny casserole.
Ingredients for Green Bean Casserole
- Green beans – this recipe uses fresh green beans.
- Mushrooms – white mushrooms add such an amazing flavor.
- Cheese – your favorite cheese combo brings a great creaminess to this dish.
- French-fried onions – our easy fried onion recipe brings the perfect crunch to this dish.
- Cream of chicken and sour cream – the secret to a creamy and rich casserole.
- Seasoning – a combination of salt, black pepper, and paprika.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
Add protein: This dish would taste incredible bulked up with some protein! Add crispy bacon bits to the dish or even cubed cooked chicken breast to this casserole.
How to Make a Green Bean Casserole
1 – Cook green beans. Boil the trimmed green beans for 15 minutes. Drain and add to a casserole dish.
Make onion rings. Follow our easy recipe to make the best onion rings.
2 – Mushrooms. Saute the chopped mushrooms and onion until soft. Add the mushrooms to a casserole baking dish.
3 – Combine. In a small bowl, stir all the sauce ingredients. Pour the sauce into the casserole dish. Sprinkle cheese over the green bean mixture and arrange the crispy fried onions around the edges of the dish. Cover the casserole with foil.
4 – Sprinkle cheese over the green bean mixture and arrange the crispy fried onions around the edges of the dish. Cover the casserole with foil.
Bake. Bake at 375°F for 25 minutes, remove the foil, and bake for another 10 minutes.
Expert Tips:
- Use High-Quality Ingredients: Fresh beans add a great flavor but if you use canned ingredients, use high-quality beans for the best flavor.
- Let it Rest: After baking, let the casserole rest for about 10 minutes before you start digging in. This helps the flavors meld and makes serving easier.
Serving Suggestions
- Classic holiday side dish: A classic thanksgiving spread is the perfect place for this green bean casserole. Serve alongside sour cream mashed potatoes and a homemade honey baked ham!
FAQ’S
This recipe uses fresh green beans although canned and frozen are often used. If you can’t get fresh beans, frozen green beans are the next best thing.
Use your favorite mixed cheese! Colby Jack combines Mild Cheddar and Mozzarella, or Four Cheese. All of these cheeses are great options for this easy casserole recipe!
This creamy green bean casserole recipe is GREAT to prepare ahead of time! Follow instructions up until baking, cover with foil, and refrigerate. Bake when ready to serve.(TIP: Don’t add the onion rings until ready to bake because the onion rings will become soggy.)
We use a thick sauce and the green beans absorb it preventing it from being runny.
If your sauce isn’t thick, make sure you’re using enough cream of chicken soup.
Cream of mushroom soup can be used in place of cream of chicken for a different flavor!
Store & Make Ahead
- Storage. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Make the casserole in advance and wait to bake! Just assemble the casserole in advance and wrap tightly in plastic wrap and just bake before serving! - Freeze. This casserole can be frozen for quick enjoyment! Freeze the casserole before it’s baked! Simply add to a freezer-safe aluminum pan and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat: Add the frozen casserole to the oven and bake the same way but add about 15 minutes to the baking time.
More Holiday Recipes
If you enjoyed this green bean casserole recipe, be sure to try our other classic thanksgiving recipes; here are some of our favorites:
If you tried this classic green bean casserole recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below – we appreciate it!
The Best Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
- 12 oz white mushrooms, trimmed
- 1/2 large onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup Mexican four cheese
- 2 Tbsp olive oil (or canola oil)
- 1 batch of fried onion strings
sauce-
- 21 oz cream of chicken soup
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup water
- ¼ tsp salt, or to taste
- ⅛ tsp ground pepper, or to taste
- ¼ tsp ground paprika
Instructions
- Arrange the green beans so that the stems are all facing the same direction, then trim off the stems. (If preferred, you can cut the green beans in half.) Place the green beans in a large pot and cover them completely with water. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain the beans and transfer them to a casserole dish.
- Prepare a batch of crispy onion rings.
- Clean and slice the mushrooms, and finely chop the onion. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet, and sauté the mushrooms and onions until they turn golden.
- Add the cooked mushrooms and onions to the green beans and mix well. Season lightly with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the sauce, then stir it into the casserole dish with the green beans.
- Sprinkle cheese over the top and arrange the fried onions around the edges of the dish. Cover the casserole with foil.
- Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cream is bubbling and the cheese has melted completely. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use High-Quality Ingredients: Fresh beans add a great flavor but if you use canned ingredients, use high-quality beans for the best flavor.
- Let it Rest: After baking, let the casserole rest for about 10 minutes before you start digging in. This helps the flavors meld and makes serving easier.
- Storage. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Make the casserole in advance and wait to bake! Just assemble the casserole in advance and wrap tightly in plastic wrap and just bake before serving!
- Freeze. This casserole can be frozen for quick enjoyment! Freeze the casserole before it’s baked! Simply add to a freezer-safe aluminum pan and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat: Add the frozen casserole to the oven and bake the same way but add about 15 minutes to the baking time.
