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This green bean casserole recipe is a must-have for your Thanksgiving feast! It’s made almost from scratch but with fresh additions to make it totally special and way better than the one you grew up with.
You’re going to want to serve it with my Easy Roast Turkey and Sausage Stuffing this year!
Why you’ll love it
Ok, I know that the classic ’60s Campbell’s green bean casserole is iconic, but this is an even better green bean casserole that has fresh ingredients. I understand that change can be controversial, but I am at least showing deference to the original by using classic French’s fried onions. We’ve got all the delicious nostalgic vibes, just upgraded! (And still easy.)
So we’re not using cream of mushroom soup or canned beans here. It’s not because I’m a food snob; I love my weekly McDonald’s and prefer pizza to a fancy meal most of the time. But it just doesn’t need to be in a homemade green bean casserole! I tested them side-by-side, and my version won by a landslide.
What you’ll need
- Green beans – use fresh or frozen. They’re vibrant green, have great texture, and taste so much better than the mushy canned kind!
- Butter – for sautéing
- Mushrooms – fresh sautéed mushrooms are another way to level up this classic. Choose cremini (aka baby bellas) or white button.
- Garlic – more savory flavor
- Italian seasoning – it’s a convenient blend of dried herbs in one jar
- Flour – for thickening the sauce/gravy
- Broth – use chicken or vegetable broth for another layer of flavor
- Heavy cream – real cream sets my recipe apart
- Dijon mustard – you won’t taste the mustard itself! It’s a tried and true trick of mine that’s a subtle savory flavor enhancer.
- French’s fried onions – this shortcut is worth keeping. The last thing you want to worry about on Thanksgiving is burning onions, amirite?
- Parmesan – for an extra luxurious, cheesy touch
Pro tip
I rinse the beans in cold water for a few minutes to stop them from cooking further, but you could prepare an ice bath if you prefer. Simply fill a large bowl with cold water and ice cubes. After the beans have finished blanching, drain them and transfer them to the ice bath, and then drain them again once they’ve cooled.
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- I mince the cloves with this garlic press so you don’t end up with sticky garlic fingers.
- This is the 9×13 casserole dish I recommend.
- Always grate your own parmesan from a block for best texture and taste. I use a Microplane zester.
How to make green bean casserole
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Preheat the oven. Boil the green beans and blanch them, rinse with cold water, and drain them. Add to a casserole dish. In a skillet, sauté the mushrooms, garlic, and Italian seasoning in half the butter, and add them to the baking dish.
Melt the remaining butter in the skillet. Stir in the flour to make a roux. Whisk in the broth, Dijon mustard, and cream. Let it bubble until it’s thickened up a bit. Season with a little salt & pepper. Pour the sauce into the baking dish.
Sprinkle on half the crispy onions. Toss everything so that it’s combined, then spread into a uniform layer. Top with the rest of the onions and the freshly grated parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, until cooked through.
How to make green bean casserole ahead
- Assemble the casserole, let it cool, and then cover tightly in foil and either refrigerate it for a day or two or freeze it.
- You may want to hold off on adding the fried onion topping until right before baking because it’ll likely get soft in the fridge or freezer.
- If it’s frozen, I’d heat it up at 350F, covered with foil for about 45 minutes and then cook for another 15-20 minutes, uncovered, or until it’s hot and bubbly.
Substitutions and variations
- Want to try making your own fried onions? Try this French’s Fried Onions from Scratch recipe.
- You could always add some crispy crumbled Oven Cooked Bacon to this green bean casserole for another tasty twist.
- I don’t recommend substituting the heavy cream for anything with a lower fat content. The sauce won’t be as rich, tasty, or thicken up right.
Leftovers and storage
- I would be very surprised if there’s any leftovers of this green bean casserole! 😉 But they will keep just fine in the fridge in a covered container for a couple of days.
- Reheat in the oven at 350F until warmed through or microwave in short intervals.
- I wouldn’t suggest freezing leftovers of it. The texture won’t hold up well.
What to serve with it
- Make it along with my other Thanksgiving Dishes. Some of my favorites include this Classic Sweet Potato Casserole and Corn Casserole!
- This is normally reserved for the holidays, but it’s so good, there’s nothing stopping you from making anytime with a nice Sunday dinner. Try it with my Easy Baked Pork Tenderloin.
More Thanksgiving recipes
I hope you’ll give this green bean casserole from scratch a try! Drop me a review in the comments below, and you can also find me on Instagram.
Best Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen or fresh beans
- 4 tablespoons butter divided
- 7 ounces cremini or white mushrooms sliced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup chicken or veggie broth
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 cups French's Fried Onions divided
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375F. Move the rack to the top third of the oven.
- Boil a salted pot of water for the beans. Once it's boiling, add the beans and cook for 3-5 minutes (I do frozen beans for 3 minutes and fresh for 5). Transfer beans to a colander and rinse them under very cold water for a couple of minutes. Once they've cooled, ensure they're drained well and add them to a 9×13 casserole dish.
- Add 2 tablespoons of the butter to a skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the mushrooms, garlic, and Italian seasoning, and sauté them until the water has released and been cooked off (about 6-8 minutes). Transfer the mushrooms to the casserole dish.
- In the same skillet, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Once it's melted, stir in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes or until the flour smells a bit nutty and darkens a bit. Add in the broth, cream, and Dijon mustard, and whisk until all the flour has dissolved.
- Let the sauce gently bubble for about 4-5 minutes or until it's thickened up a bit (should have a similar thickness to Alfredo sauce). Don't let it get too thick – it'll thicken up more in the oven. Season the sauce with a bit of salt & pepper (not too much because the onions are salty).
- Pour the sauce into the casserole dish, along with half of the fried onions. Toss everything together and spread it out in an even layer. Top the casserole with the remaining onions and the parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Serve warm.
Notes
- See blog post for make-ahead tips.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Wow, Wow, Wow – made this for my hubby and I – Loved it!! Was nervous about the mixing the flour to make the sauce. Have failed at it before. The way you described it – being like Alfredo sauce – really helped me. Turned out perfect!! Delicious like all your other recipes.
That makes me so happy!! Thanks so much, Darlene!
This was the best green bean casserole I’ve ever had! I’ve tried so many versions – from the original canned soup version to some super fussy totally from scratch versions – and this one beat them all. Plus it came together very easily. The sauce was delicious, and loved the Parmesan cheese on top! Our new favorite side dish for Thanksgiving. Thank you Natasha!! ❤️
That’s what I like to hear!! 😀 Thanks for your review, Jenny!
My favorite green bean casserole recipe now, 2nd Thanksgiving in a row! Can’t wait for many more! Was so excited to have this today, I remembered it being delicious last year and it was fantastic today as well!
Thanks so much!!
The best green bean casserole I have made! Easy to make the night before and pop in the oven the next day!
Thank you so much, Nicole!
I made this for our family Thanksgiving and everyone RAVED over it. Best green bean casserole EVER! Thank you for sharing.
That’s awesome!! 😀 Thanks, Samantha!
I made this for the first time today and it is beyond delicious!
Thanks, Sharon!! 😀 Happy Thanksgiving!
Can this be made without the onions?
Hi! I guess, but they do add the final fun touch and plenty of flavor.
Made this tonight for the first time. Received a lot of side eye because no water chestnuts and there is cheese, but everybody loved it. This was great, a new family favorite.
That’s awesome!!!
I have made this every Thanksgiving for the past 4 years. Last year I was in Hawaii visiting a friend and I still managed to make this in his little convention oven! Out of all the delicious food in Hawaii – I knew I wanted this for that special day.
That’s so nice to hear!! Thanks, Jules!