Green Bean Casserole

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

Easy Old-Fashioned Green Bean Casserole

This warm and comforting green bean bake 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!

What You’ll Need

The best recipes only require a handful of ingredients, and that’s exactly the case for this veggie casserole. 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
• Milk: Any kind you have in your fridge will work.
• Black Pepper
• Soy Sauce
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Hot Sauce: Use your preferred brand.
• 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.

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.

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

Still not sure what kind of green beans you’d like to use? Perhaps going over the differences in texture and taste will help you make up your mind. Canned green beans are the softest and tend to have the least flavor, whereas frozen green beans are the crunchiest with the strongest flavor. Fresh green beans are a happy medium.

How to Make Green Bean Casserole

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

1. Heat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F
2. Blanch Green Beans: Trim the ends of the green beans and transfer them to a microwave-safe bowl with about two 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.
3. Combine Ingredients: Combine 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.
4. Bake: Pour the mixture into a 1.5-quart dish and bake the casserole for 25-30 minutes.
5. Add More Fried Onions & Continue Cooking: Add the remaining crispy fried onions to the top of the casserole and bake it for another 5 minutes.
6. Enjoy! Serve warm.

Can I Make It 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? Combine 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’s going in cold.

Tips for Success

There really isn’t much you have to watch out for when you’re making this 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 to Taste: 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 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.

Serving Suggestions

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

• Serve 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 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 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, this easy Sweet Potato Casserole will leave you speechless.

Storing and Reheating 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.

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

Does Green Bean Casserole Freeze Well?

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.

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More Holiday-Worthy Sides to Try

• Cranberry Pecan Cheeseball
• Creamy Cornbread Casserole
• Honey Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Butternut Squash & Cranberries

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