Best Green Bean Casserole Recipe (2024)

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This is the BEST Green Bean Casserole recipe for your table! It is a traditional holiday staple, yes, but also great any time of the year as a delicious side dish.

Is there anything better than Thanksgiving food? I’ll go ahead and answer that question for you: NO! Thanksgiving dinner is the best, which I guess is the reason it is one of the most important food holidays in existence. The assortment of color and flavors is endless! And no Thanksgiving table is complete without a green bean casserole.

This version of Green Bean Casserole is fresh and creamy (but not too creamy), cheesy and crunchy. It is my favorite version of all time because it is not doused in creamy liquid and the green beans do not come from a can. If you are new to the delicious green casserole or if you are looking for a change of pace this year, give this recipe a try!

HOW TO MAKE GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

STEP 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9×13 casserole dish with cooking spray and set aside.

Fill a large saucepan about halfway with water and bring to a boil. Add 2 pounds green beans (ends trimmed) and cook for 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat. Drain and rinse immediately with cold water.

STEP 2

In a large mixing bowl, add the green beans, 1 can of cream of mushroom soup, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional), along with 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well and pour the green bean mixture into the prepared baking dish.

STEP 3

Top with remaining 1/2 cup of cheese and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Add a 6-oz. container of French-fried onions to the top and bake for an additional 5 minutes. Serve warm!

RECIPE TIPS: MAKE THE BEST GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE EVER!

If you love the crunch in green bean casserole, add extra crispy onions! The more the merrier!
If you love the added spice from the cayenne pepper, you may like to sprinkle red pepper flakes over the top before baking, too!
Replace fresh with frozen green beans if you are having a tough time finding fresh at the store. Be sure to allow them to thaw completely first.
Sprinkle black pepper over the top just before serving for an extra flavorful serving.
Sprinkle up to 2/3 cup shredded cheddar over the top of the casserole (underneath those delicious little onions!) before baking for an extra cheesy dish.

What to Serve With Green Bean Casserole

Green bean casserole is a great Thanksgiving dinner or any-time side dish. Read on for 15 delicious ideas about what to serve with green bean casserole no matter when you are serving it!

CAN YOU COOK GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE AHEAD OF TIME

Yes! That is one of the things I love about this recipe. Prep Green Bean Casserole up to 2 days before baking, but leave the French fried onions off until just before you put it in the oven. This will save you 30 minutes, which is valuable time, especially if you are making this side dish on a holiday!

CAN YOU FREEZE GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

If you want to freeze this casserole for later use, you have a couple options:

Freeze unbaked – Assemble the layers as directed in an aluminum baking pan (minus the fried onions) and wrap tightly in foil. Place into resealable freezer bags and freeze for 3-4 months. When you are ready to enjoy the casserole, let it thaw completely (preferably in the fridge overnight) and bake as directed on the recipe.

Freeze baked – Assemble the layers (minus onions) and bake as directed in an aluminum baking pan. Let the casserole cool completely and wrap tightly in foil. Place into resealable freezer bags and freeze for 3-4 months. When you are ready to enjoy the casserole, let it thaw completely (preferably in the fridge overnight). Reheat in a 250 degree F oven uncovered for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.

WHO INVENTED GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE?

Green bean casserole was created in the 1950s by Campbell soup company as a way to incorporate their product into a side dish.

HOW MANY CALORIES IN GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE?

One serving of Green Bean Casserole equals approximately 185 calories.

HOW MANY CARBS IN GREEN BEANS?

One cup of fresh green beans contains approximately 7 grams of carbohydrates.

HOW MANY CALORIES IN GREEN BEANS?

One cup of fresh green beans contains approximately 31 calories.

ARE GREEN BEANS GOOD FOR YOU?

Green beans are a low calorie food good for snacking or side dishes. They are a good source of vitamins C and K, as well as iron, fiber and folate.

CAN DOGS EAT GREEN BEANS?

Green beans are not only safe for dogs, they are actually recommended by vets as a nutritious treat!

DO I NEED TO COVER A CASSEROLE IN THE OVEN?

There is no hard and fast rule for whether or not a casserole should be covered with foil during baking. All recipes differ, but here are some things to consider when deciding whether or not to cover your baking dish.

Covering a dish during the baking process traps in moisture and keeps ingredients from getting crispy or burnt. If the dish contains exposed noodles or bread or something that may burn or dry out easily, then it should be covered for a majority of the cook time. Also, if the recipe contains uncooked rice, pasta or grains, it is important to cover the pan in order to trap steam inside helping it to cook more quickly and evenly.

Leaving a dish uncovered during baking will ensure that the top layer gets browned and it also aids in reducing liquids inside the dish. If all of the ingredients in the dish are pre-cooked, baking uncovered is recommended.

OTHER MAKE AHEAD THANKSGIVING RECIPE IDEAS

Plain ol’ (but very delicious) Mashed Potatoes can be made the day before and heated before serving. Or you can make Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes in just 20 minutes!
Speaking of potatoes, this Sweet Potato Casserole is a must-have Thanksgiving dinner option.
Homemade Cranberry Sauce can also be made a day ahead. Be sure to press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the sauce before refrigerating.Make the dessert ahead of time to save yourself a ton of time!
These TOTALLY DELICIOUS Pumpkin Bars stay perfectly fresh when stored in a covered container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Creamy Crockpot Corn and Crockpot Mac and Cheese are two holiday hit recipes that can simmer in your slow cooker while you get everything else done in the kitchen!
Add 1 cup of fresh mushrooms to the mixing bowl along with the green beans for an extra mushroom-y side dish. The green beans mushrooms combo is a delicious one!

Green Bean Casserole

This is the BEST Green Bean Casserole recipe for your table! It is a traditional holiday staple, yes, but also great any time of the year as a delicious side dish.

4 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 servings

Calories: 186.85kcal

Author: Megan Porta

Ingredients

▢ 2 lbs. green beans ends trimmed
▢ 10.75 oz. can cream of mushroom soup
▢ 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
▢ 1 tsp. cayenne pepper optional
▢ Salt and pepper to taste
▢ 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
▢ 6 oz. container French-fried onions

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
Fill a large saucepan about halfway with water and bring to a boil. Add green beans and cook for 3-4 minutes. Drain and immediately rinse with cold water.
In a large mixing bowl, add the green beans, soup, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper (if using), salt, pepper and 1 cup of the cheese. Mix well and pour into the prepared baking dish.
Top with remaining 1/2 cup of cheese and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Add the onions and bake for an additional 5 minutes. Serve warm!

Nutrition

Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!

FAQs

Are frozen or canned green beans better for casserole? ›

Green beans from a can have already been cooked to death right in the can and harbor plenty of sodium that could make your casserole too salty. 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.

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How do you make green bean casserole not soggy? ›

If you sense it's a little watery, "add a thickener like roux or starch to absorb the additional liquid or cook a little longer," she says. That'll give it that rich, dense consistency you're looking for.

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

Stir fresh green beans into a béchamel-style creamy mushroom sauce, then top with slivered almonds & iconic crispy French fried onions. So easy & no canned mushroom soup required! Prep up to 2 days in advance, then bake until bubbling at dinnertime.

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What is green bean casserole made of? ›

Mix green beans, cream of mushroom soup, milk, and 1/2 of the fried onions in a medium casserole dish. Bake in the preheated oven until heated through and bubbly, about 25 minutes. Sprinkle remaining onions over the top, and return to the oven for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

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Should you rinse canned green beans before cooking? ›

Unless the recipe tells you to keep the canned beans in their liquid, you should drain your can and give the beans a good rinse before using. This will improve the flavor and texture of your finished dish. Open your cans of beans using a can opener. There may be sharp edges from opening the can.

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Why is my green bean casserole soggy? ›

Your Crispy Onion Topping Is Soggy

Yet it's one of the most common green bean casserole mistakes a home chef can make. If this happens to you, it may be due to adding that topping too early; toppings should be added at the very end of the cooking process, shortly before you pull it out of the oven.

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.

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Why do my green beans taste rubbery? ›

Undercooked green beans are rubbery; overcooked are mushy. If you are boiling beans, simply begin tasting them after a few minutes. At first you will have a hard time biting through them. As the texture softens, the green beans are closer to being perfectly cooked.

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What to pair with green bean casserole? ›

If you love this green bean casserole recipe, try one of these Thanksgiving side dishes next:

Best Stuffing.
Mashed Potatoes.
Sweet Potato Casserole.
Cranberry Sauce.
Butternut Squash Soup.
Roasted Acorn Squash.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts.
Or any of these 50 Thanksgiving Side Dishes!

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.

Is it safe to eat green bean casserole left out overnight? ›

Throw away all perishable foods that have been left in room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour if the temperature is over 90° F, such as at an outdoor picnic during summer).

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Can I eat week old green bean casserole? ›

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.

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How can I thicken my green bean casserole? ›

Start making a slurry, a tool for thickening sauces, by whisking a small amount of cornstarch or flour with water or broth. Whisk until there aren't visible lumps. It should be thick but drizzly in consistency. As you constantly stir, add small amounts of the slurry to the filling.

Why is green bean casserole so good? ›

Fans love the dish in part because of how simple it is to throw together. It calls for ingredients that could be found in a typical home kitchen pantry: canned or fresh green beans, mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce and black pepper.

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What is the white stuff in canned green beans? ›

There are several reasons. First, the beans may be too mature which makes them too starchy. The starch settles out of the food during canning.

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Which is better, frozen green beans or canned green beans? ›

Frozen vs. Canned: In general, frozen vegetables are better than canned. Fresh vegetables are blanched before freezing, and they do lose some nutrients but not a lot. Produce frozen right at its peak has more nutrients than produce that is picked too early, held, and shipped for thousands of miles.

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Do frozen green beans taste better than canned? ›

They don't have any added sodium, and they're also cooked a lot less. As a result, they come out of the oven with the perfect balance of flavor and texture. If you find your green bean casserole is turning out salty and mushy, those canned green beans might be to blame.

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Is it better to can green beans or freeze green beans? ›

Canning Green Beans vs.

This one is totally your personal preference. Some folks prefer the taste and texture of canned beans, while others prefer frozen ones.

Can I substitute frozen green beans for canned? ›

Frozen green beans are not as good as fresh, but they're miles better than canned ones and thus a decent compromise. The nice thing about frozen green beans is that they're quick frozen but not cooked, which means they retain their color—although their texture suffers a bit in the process of freezing and thawing.

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