Homemade green bean casserole is the perfect side dish to serve at your Thanksgiving dinner and all throughout the holiday season. Fresh green beans baked in a creamy mushroom sauce, topped with french fried onions – a true Thanksgiving staple all made from scratch! 

Your one-stop-shop guide to green bean casserole and all the ways you can make it.

You can thank the Campbell test kitchen for the classic green bean casserole recipe using canned soup and canned green beans. While there is nothing wrong with the original recipe (the canned version) you will be surprised how easy it is to ELEVATE this Thanksgiving classic. We’ll take a look at each key ingredient and outline the different ways you can make this the most delicious green bean casserole out there!

green beans, flour, mushrooms, french fried onions, cream, chicken stock, butter, worestshire sauce

Ingredients at a glance

  • Green beans – I love using fresh French green beans, they are a variety of green beans that are thinner and more delicate with a slightly earthy flavor and are less sweet than regular green beans. In the produce section of your local grocery store, you can find both green beans and French greens beans washed, trimmed, and prepackaged to cut down on the prep work. I did a quick rough chop of the French green beans so they were small pieces and then added them to a large pot of salted water that is rapidly boiling. Be sure to set a timer and promptly remove and drain the green beans after they have been in the boiling water for 4 minutes, no one likes mushy green beans. Some recipes require you to place the blanched green beans into an ice bath or a bowl of cold water but since they are only in the boiling water for 4  minutes that is not necessary here. 
  • Fresh mushrooms – I recommend using button mushrooms or baby portabella mushrooms for that rich umami flavor. Most fresh mushrooms come in 8-ounce packages so you can eyeball what half looks like or use more if you would like. 
  • Butter and flour – your chopped-up mushrooms will saute in the butter until golden brown and fragrant. The combination of the butter and all-purpose flour together will make a roux and serve as the building block for making this the creamiest, dreamiest, best green bean casserole recipe.
  • Garlic cloves – you only will need two cloves of fresh garlic, they will simmer in the butter with the mushrooms and add a delicious nutty flavor.
  • Heavy cream and chicken stock – after adding these ingredients to your mushroom roux you have officially made homemade cream of mushroom soup! You could always use a can of cream of mushroom soup but I promise you that making it yourself is the best way and so much more delicious!
  • Worcestershire sauce – adding a little amount of Worcestershire sauce adds a tangy richness to the homemade cream sauce. I prefer the flavor profile of Worcestershire sauce over soy sauce but if you’re in a pinch you can substitute the two.
  • Crispy fried onions – the quintessential onion topping is one of the best parts of this classic holiday side dish. I have tried making homemade crispy onions but there really is nothing better or more nostalgic than using store-bought french-fried onions.

Let’s get cooking!

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add in the green beans and boil for 4 minutes, as soon as the timer goes off drain and set aside the tender green beans.
green beans in boiling water
  • In a large skillet over medium heat melt the butter and then add your chopped mushrooms and minced garlic. Let the ingredients simmer together for 5-7 minutes.
mushrooms and butter simmering in pot
  • Add the flour to your mushroom mixture, incorporate everything together, and allow to cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
adding flour to mushroom mixture
  • Pour in the chicken stock and whisk constantly. Your sauce will begin to thicken as it simmers for another 2-3 minutes.
chicken stock simmering in mushroom mixture
  • Reduce your pan to low heat and whisk in your heavy cream.
adding cream to soup mixture
  • Add the Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper and mix together.
  • Add in your tender green beans and mix well.
green beans in soup mixture
  • Transfer the green bean mixture to a baking dish and cover the top generously with the french-fried onions.
adding green bean casserole to oven safe dish
topping green bean casserole with french fried onion
  • Bake your green bean casserole at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Green bean casserole 411

Are there make-ahead instructions for green bean casserole? This Thanksgiving side dish is a great recipe to make ahead of time! It can be fully prepared ahead of time just wait to put the crispy fried onions on top until you are about to place it in the oven. After preparing simply cover your green bean casserole dish with plastic wrap or foil and store in the refrigerator for up to two days before baking. Remove the green bean casserole from the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature when you are ready to cook it. Make sure you take off the plastic wrap, add the french-fried onions and into the oven it can go!

How should I store leftover green bean casserole?

Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several days. You can reheat it the next day in the microwave or place it back in the oven if you want the topping to crisp back up.

Can I use frozen green beans instead of fresh green beans?

You certainly can and frozen green beans are certainly superior to resorting to canned green beans. One important factor to take into consideration is that when using frozen green beans part of their cooking process has already taken place since they have been blanched before freezing. You will still add them to the boiling water but only leave them in there for 2 minutes versus the 4 minutes you would do with fresh green beans.

My Thanksgiving Green Beans are also a great side to bring for any thanksgiving meal!

Green Bean Casserole lifted with spoon in casserole dish

Green Bean Casserole

Servings: 8
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds French Green Beans
  • 4 oz Mushrooms Chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 4 tbsp Butter
  • 4 tbsp Flour
  • 1 cup Chicken Stock or broth
  • 1 cup Heavy Cream
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
  • 6 oz French Fried Onions

Instructions 

  • Pre-heat oven to 375°F
  • Chop Green beans to 1 inch and Boil until tender, about 4 min. Drain and set aside
  • In a large skillet over medium heat, melt your butter and add your chopped mushrooms and minced garlic. Let simmer for 5-7 min
  • Add the flour to your mushroom mixture and stir until evenly incorporated. Allow to cook for 2 minutes.
  • Add your chicken stock and whisk for 2 minutes. Your sauce will begin to thicken
  • Reduce your heat to low and add our heavy cream. Whisk until completley incorporated
  • Add your Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix together.
  • Add your green beans and mix unil evenly coated.
  • Transfer to a baking dish and cover the top with the french-fried onions
  • bake your casserole at 375°F for 25-30 min

Notes

-Keep an eye on the crispy onions as this is baking to make sure they do not burn. If they start getting darker than a golden brown then cover the casserole for the remainder of the cooking time
-Dont be shy with your green beans, If you want to add extra go ahead!

Nutrition

Calories: 207kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 50mg, Sodium: 257mg, Potassium: 301mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 1201IU, Vitamin C: 11mg, Calcium: 57mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Author: Fifteen Spatulas