Green Bean Casserole

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Made with creamy cheddar cheese, crispy fried onions, cozy cream of mushroom soup, and more, this classic Campbell’s Green Bean Casserole hits all the right notes. It’s a quick and easy side dish that nobody can get enough of!

An Easy Old-Fashioned Green Bean Casserole Recipe

This warm and comforting green bean casserole is one of those holiday dishes I’m super tempted to whip up on a regular basis. But, if I ate it too often, it wouldn’t feel quite as special on days like Thanksgiving and Christmas. So, even though it’s a constant craving in the back of my head, I like to reserve it for the holiday season… for the most part!

Not only is this creamy-crunchy casserole a dream come true for your taste buds, but it’s also incredibly quick and easy. With only 10 minutes of active prep time, the oven does the vast majority of the work. You can even prepare it a day or two in advance at your convenience.

My favorite thing about this crowd-favorite side dish is the trio of secret ingredients that give it an extra boost of flavor – a little soy sauce, some Worcestershire sauce, and a dash of hot sauce. I have to credit my brilliant mother for that game-changing hack. Sorry mom, the secret’s out!

Why You’ll Love This Campbell’s Green Bean Casserole

This green bean casserole recipe is a must-have for your recipe box! Here’s why I think you’ll love it just as much as I do:

• Creamy and crispy. Each bite of this cozy casserole is filled with creamy mushroom soup, tender green beans, and crispy fried onions. The overall texture is next-level!
• Flavor, flavor, flavor. This Campbell’s green bean casserole is packed with spicy hot sauce, sharp cheddar cheese, earthy mushroom soup, salty soy sauce, and more. It’s an addicting combination for the tastebuds!
• Quick. As noted above, it only takes 10 minutes to prep this casserole for the oven, and then all you have to do is wait for it to finish cooking.
• Perfect for all kinds of occasions. You can serve this comforting side dish with Sweet Potato Casserole at your Thanksgiving/Christmas feast, or alongside a casual weeknight dinner. Up to you!

What You’ll Need

The best recipes only require a handful of ingredients, and this creamy green bean casserole is no different. See the recipe card beneath this post for precise amounts.

• Fresh Green Beans – Don’t forget to blanch them before you add them to the casserole. We’ll go over this process in the step-by-step instructions.
• Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup – Campbell’s is my go-to soup for this recipe, but you can use whatever kind you like.
• Milk – Any kind you have in your fridge will work.
• Black Pepper – Freshly ground black pepper provides the best boost of flavor.
• Soy Sauce & Worcestershire Sauce – Add rich umami flavor to the casserole.
• Hot Sauce – Use your preferred brand to add a little kick!
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese – White cheddar is my go-to – the sharpness is so satisfying!
• Crispy Fried Onions – You should be able to find these in the canned foods section at your local grocery store. I usually use French’s fried onions (so you can call it a French’s green bean casserole too, if you like!).

Do I Have to Use Fresh Green Beans?

While I personally prefer to use fresh green beans for this casserole, you definitely don’t have to. I’ve made it with canned and frozen ones as well! Just ignore the blanching process if you’re not going the fresh route and follow the instructions that apply to the green beans you’re using.

• For Canned Green Beans: Be sure to drain them well.
• For Frozen Green Beans: Let them thaw in the fridge overnight or defrost them in the microwave. Drain the green beans well after thawing/defrosting.

How to Make Green Bean Casserole

Ready to fall in love with a classic side dish all over again? Let’s dive right in.

• Heat up the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Blanch the green beans. Trim the ends of the green beans and transfer them to a microwave-safe bowl with about 2 tablespoons of water. Cover the bowl loosely with clear wrap and microwave it for 5-7 minutes, or until the green beans begin to get tender (keep in mind that they’ll continue to cook in the oven). Immediately submerge the blanched green beans in cold water to keep them from cooking more.
• Combine the other ingredients. Mix the blanched green beans, soup, milk, pepper, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, cheese, and 1 cup of the fried onions in a large bowl.
• Bake the casserole. Pour the mixture into a 1.5-quart dish and bake the casserole for 25-30 minutes.
• Add more fried onions and continue cooking. Add the remaining crispy fried onions to the top of the casserole and bake it for another 5 minutes.
• Enjoy! Serve warm.

Can I Make This Casserole Ahead of Time?

Absolutely! You have so much to prepare for the holidays, why not make life simpler and do some prep work in advance? Start by combining everything but the crispy fried onions, cover the bowl tightly with clear wrap, then refrigerate it for 1-2 days.

When you’re ready to bake your casserole, mix in the fried onions and continue to follow the recipe as usual. You may have to add a few minutes to the initial bake time since the casserole will be going in cold.

Tips & Recipe Variations

There really isn’t much you have to watch out for when you’re making this green bean casserole. Even so, a couple of expert tips couldn’t hurt!

• Don’t go overboard with the blanching. You only want to blanch your green beans until they’re just starting to get tender. If they soften up too much, they’ll end up overcooking. Submerge them in ice-cold water as soon as you’re done blanching them to halt the cooking process.
• Season the casserole to fit your taste preferences. Whether you want to kick up the heat with a little extra hot sauce or fully omit a flavoring you’re not too fond of, go right ahead. Your casserole, your call!
• Bake the casserole immediately. Make sure the oven is done preheating when you combine the ingredients. If the mixture sits for too long, the fried onions will start to lose their crispiness.
• Add bacon bits. Crispy bacon makes everything better, including this casserole!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Goes With Campbell’s Green Bean Casserole?

This easy green bean casserole is a worthwhile addition to any meal. Here are some festive dishes that complement it particularly well:

• Serve it with stuffing. I have to start off with another Thanksgiving must-have – Homemade Stuffing! This stuff is so irresistible, you’ll want to enjoy an extra helping for dessert.
• Pair it with pork roast. Looking to stray from that traditional Christmas ham but don’t want to hear any complaints? No one could get mad at this sweet and savory Instant Pot Pork Roast. It comes with tender roasted carrots and potatoes!
• Serve it with sweet potato casserole. When you’re preparing multiple side dishes for a special occasion, it only makes sense to include both a sweet casserole and a savory one. Topped with gooey toasted marshmallows, sweet potato casserole (linked above!) will leave you speechless.

How to Store & Reheat Leftovers

It’s definitely best to enjoy this casserole fresh, but leftovers can be stored and reheated later if necessary. Just keep in mind that the onions will lose their crispiness. If you’d like, you can add some new ones just before reheating.

• To store. Transfer the cooled casserole to an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 3 days.
• To reheat. Reheat it in an oven-safe dish at 350°F for 20 minutes, or until it’s heated through.

Can I Freeze Green Bean Casserole?

Technically, yes, but the fried onions will soften just like they would in the fridge. If you don’t mind this, you can freeze your casserole in a freezer-safe container for up to 4 months. Thaw it out in the fridge overnight before you reheat it.

More Classic Casserole Recipes

Check out the recipes below if you’re looking for more easy casserole side dishes!

• Creamy Cornbread Casserole
• Loaded Sweet Potato Casserole
• Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole

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