This Easy Green Bean Casserole tastes even better than the classic, and it’s made without canned soup. It’s so good, you might want to make extra to be prepared for second helpings!
Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Got your menu planned yet? Need some ideas? This week, I’ll be cooking up some easy and delicious side dishes that would be perfect for any holiday table – or any dinner, for that matter!
I sure do love turkey, but when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, for me, it’s all about those yummy side dishes. Who’s with me on this?
Sometimes I have a hard time deciding which ones to make, because I have many favorites, but this particular green bean casserole is so delicious that it always makes it to the table.
It’s the green bean casserole that made me love green bean casserole!
What makes it so special? I make my own homemade from-scratch creamy mushroom sauce. It’s incredibly simple, takes just a few minutes, and the flavor is so much better than using cream of mushroom soup. Night and day, I tell ya!
Also, I use frozen green beans instead of canned beans (which can sometimes be mushy and…well, not so green). Frozen beans stay greener and have a much better texture and fresher taste.
These two changes really make HUGE difference and will take your green bean casserole to the next level. Trust me on this one!
And what about those French-fried onions? You can’t have a proper green bean casserole without them. Honestly, those little gems are so darn tasty and crispy that I don’t even try to replace them with anything else!
Ingredients you need:
- Frozen cut green beans
- Butter
- Fresh mushrooms
- Onion
- Garlic
- All-purpose flour
- Water
- Roasted chicken base (such as Better Than Bouillon (#notsponsored))
- Heavy whipping cream
- French-fried onions
- Salt and pepper
Here’s a look at how to make Easy Green Bean Casserole:
Tips & Tidbits:
- I think that regular cut frozen green beans are the perfect size for this casserole, but you could use whole beans or even French-cut beans.
- Cook the green beans two minutes less than what the package recommends. They will continue to cook while the casserole is in the oven, so this will help keep them from getting too soft.
- Make sure you drain the beans well after cooking, so that there is no excess water to thin out your sauce.
- You could certainly use fresh green beans, if you prefer.
- Not a fan of mushrooms? Leave them out. Your casserole will still be super tasty!
- Wait until everything is mixed together to taste and judge the seasoning. If you taste the sauce right after simmering, you might think it’s a little salty, but once you add the heavy cream, the green beans, and the onions, it all evens out pretty perfectly.
- You can assemble the casserole up to a day ahead of time (don’t put the onions on top or they will get soggy). Cover and refrigerate.
- When ready to bake, let the dish sit out at room temperature for 30 minutes to take the chill off, then top with the onions and bake (it may take longer since it is colder than if you made it fresh).
- Need more servings? Double the recipe and use a larger baking dish.
Although it seems like we usually only think of green bean casserole around the holidays, this dish is too darn good not to be enjoyed more often. It’s a perfect side dish for Sunday dinner too!
Up next…more sides! In the meantime, have a look around and check out some of my other favorites. The list below will get you started.
I hope you try this Easy Green Bean Casserole recipe and love it as much as I do. Thanks for visiting today!
- Easy Classic Bread Stuffing
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Pineapple-Orange Cranberry Sauce
- Easy Broccoli Cheese Casserole
- Yellow Squash Casserole
- Condensed “Cream Of” Soup Substitute
Easy Green Bean Casserole (No Canned Soup!)
Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen cut green beans
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
- ½ cup diced onions
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups water
- 1½ teaspoons roasted chicken base, such as Better Than Bouillon
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 cups French-fried onions, divided
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Cook the green beans in lightly salted boiling water for two minutes less than recommended on the package (since they will continue to cook in the oven, this will help keep them from getting too soft). Drain well (you don't want any excess water to thin our your sauce).Note: To use your time most efficiently, start making the creamy mushroom sauce while the green beans are cooking.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and onions; sauté, stirring occasionally, until softened.
- Add the garlic and sauté, stirring frequently, for another minute.
- Add the flour and cook, stirring frequently, for another minute.
- Combine the water and the roasted chicken base. Add to the skillet, stirring constantly until smooth (a whisk is a good tool here). Simmer gently for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. The mixture will thicken up a bit during this time.
- Turn off the heat and stir in the heavy whipping cream
- Add the cooked green beans and 1 cup of the French-fried onions; stir gently until well-combined. Taste and add salt and pepper, if needed (I usually don't need to add much salt, if any, because the chicken base and the fried onions already have salt).
- Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart baking dish. Top with the remaining French-fried onions.
- Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until bubbly. Enjoy!
Notes
- You could certainly use fresh green beans, if you prefer.
- Not a fan of mushrooms? Leave them out. Your casserole will still be super tasty!
- You can assemble the casserole up to a day ahead of time (don’t put the onions on top or they will get soggy). Cover and refrigerate.
- When ready to bake, let the dish sit out at room temperature for 30 minutes to take the chill off, then top with the onions and bake (it may take longer since it is colder than if you made it fresh).
- Need more servings? Double the recipe and use a larger baking dish.
frozen
very chill article
Door Step
Great work! Thank you for sharing this information It gives me great pleasure to read this information.
Terri
Just made this today for Thanksgiving. Made 2 changes that are certainly optional. I used 1/2 crimini mushrooms and 1/2 shitake. OMG! Ya gotta do this if you like mushrooms! I also used canned green beans; I don’t like fresh. This is the best green bean casserole ever and NO SOUP! Thank you!
Michelle
Thank you so much, Terri! I’m so happy that you enjoyed the casserole, and the combination of mushrooms you used sounds delicious. I appreciate you taking the time to comment and rate the recipe. Thanks!