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.
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
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
I’m sorry if this turns out to be an unpopular opinion — but under no circumstances should cheese *ever* be added to green bean casserole. I will say that the rest of the recipe turned out very well (with the cheese omitted).