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

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FAQs

How do you keep green bean casserole from getting mushy? ›

Green Bean Casserole Tips

Don't overcook the green beans: Remember when you are blanching the green beans that they will continue to cook and soften while baking in the oven with the rest of the casserole. So it's important to undercook them slightly during this first step so that they don't get mushy in the oven.

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Which is better frozen or canned green beans for green bean casserole? ›

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. And if you're using fresh green beans? You'll need to cook them first by roasting, steaming or boiling them.

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How many cans of green beans equal 4 cups? ›

✿ 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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Should green bean casserole be soupy before cooking? ›

Mistake #5: A Runny Casserole

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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Should you drain 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.

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How to make Paula Deen green beans? ›

Add green beans to pan and sauté over medium heat for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add boiling water to pan and cover. Cook for about 15 minutes, just until beans are tender. Add vinegar, butter and salt and pepper and stir.

Why add baking soda to water when cooking green beans? ›

Your Beans Will Cook Faster

Well, creating an alkaline (or basic) environment by adding a small amount (about 1 teaspoon per cup of dry beans) of baking soda to your soaking/cooking water can actually help your beans cook faster.

Can I eat green beans with brown spots? ›

First, take a look at the color of your raw green beans. They should be a vibrant green color, so if they have lost that bright color, this is a bad sign. A few brown spots here and there are a good indicator that they are aging, but should still be safe to eat.

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Can you freeze green bean casserole? ›

Let the casserole cool to room temperature. Wrap well with plastic wrap and foil, label and date, then freeze for up to 2 weeks. To serve, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Discard the plastic wrap and foil from the frozen casserole.

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How do you make a casserole not soggy? ›

To prevent a soupy casserole, be sure to fully thaw any frozen vegetables in a colander over a bowl, and pat dry, squeeze excess moisture out of greens like spinach or chard, and quickly precook watery fresh vegetables like onions, mushrooms or squashes just until they release their moisture.

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How do you keep green beans from getting mushy? ›

For the crispest boiled green beans: Use the blanching and shocking (in an ice bath) method to stop the cooking process as soon as they're ready (3-4 minutes). Be careful not to overcook the beans: They'll become overly mushy and limp.

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How do you cook beans so they are not mushy? ›

To achieve a soft and creamy texture without the beans becoming mushy, try soaking them overnight in water. Then, cook them gently in simmering water or broth until tender. Avoid adding acidic ingredients like tomatoes until the beans are fully cooked, as acidity can toughen the beans.

Why are my green beans soggy? ›

Most of the time when frozen green beans are soggy, it's because the melted ice from the packaging is adding into the skillet and is too much liquid, or the beans are placed into oil in the skillet that isn't hot.

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