Campbell’s 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!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This green bean casserole is one of those classic holiday dishes that I find myself craving year-round. But, if I ate it too often, it wouldn’t feel quite as special on days like Thanksgiving and Christmas. So, I like to reserve it for the holiday season… for the most part. 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 French’s 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. 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 at your Thanksgiving/Christmas feast, or alongside a casual weeknight dinner. Up to you!
Overhead view of green bean casserole in a white ceramic casserole dish

Ingredient Notes

My favorite thing about this creamy green bean casserole 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!

Here’s a quick look at what you’ll need along with my notes. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for a printable list.

  • 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.

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.

Green bean casserole in a white ceramic casserole dish

Tips & Variation Ideas

  • 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

Why is my green bean casserole so soupy?

It could be because the green beans were not drained thoroughly enough, and too much water was added to the casserole. If you use fresh, blanched green beans, be sure to drain the ice-cold water completely before adding the veggies to the casserole. If you use frozen or canned green beans, also be sure to carefully drain those according to the instructions above.

Is it better to use fresh green beans or canned green beans for this casserole?

You can use fresh, frozen, or canned green beans – they all work! 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, so that’s what I tend to go with.

A wooden spoon scooping up a serving of green bean casserole from a ceramic baking dish.

Serving Suggestions

Every time I serve this easy green bean casserole, I fall in love with it all over again. Of course, it pairs great with more festive side dishes like homemade stuffing (another Thanksgiving must-have), cranberry sauce, and sweet potato casserole. For a savory holiday main, try this Instant Pot pork roast. It comes complete with tender roasted carrots and potatoes!

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.

  • Store in the fridge: 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 it? 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 Holiday Side Dishes

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A wooden spoon scooping up a serving of green bean casserole from a ceramic baking dish.
Recipe

Green Bean Casserole

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 8
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This cozy Campbell’s Green Bean Casserole has sharp cheddar cheese, crunchy fried onions, and cream of mushroom soup wrapped up in a classic side dish. Perfect for casual dinners and holiday feasts!


Ingredients

  • 4 cups green beans*
  • 10.5 ounce can Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • dash of hot sauce
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I used white cheddar cheese)
  • 1 1/2 cups crispy fried onions, divided

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. If using fresh green beans, trim the ends and put in a microwave safe bowl with about two tablespoons of water. Cover loosely with clear wrap and microwave for 5-7 minutes, or until they begin to get tender. Keep in mind that they’ll continue to cook in the oven. When done, cover the green beans in cold water to keep them from cooking more.
  3. If using frozen green beans, microwave until thawed, then drain them.
  4. If using canned green beans, drain them.
  5. In a large bowl, combine the green beans, soup, milk, pepper, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, cheddar cheese and 1 cup of crispy fried onions.
  6. Pour the mixture into a 1 1/2 quart dish and bake for 25-30 minutes.
  7. Top the casserole with the remaining crispy fried onions and bake for another 5 minutes, then serve.

Notes

  • Can use fresh, canned or frozen green beans. If using canned, you’ll need two 14.5 oz cans. If using frozen, a 16-oz bag of green beans is about 5 cups.
  • Makes 6-8 servings.
  • To Store & Reheat: Transfer cooled casserole to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Note that onions will lose their crispiness – add new ones just before reheating if desired. Reheat casserole in an oven-safe dish at 350°F for 20 minutes, or until heated through.
  • To Freeze: Fried onions will soften just like they would in the fridge. If you don’t mind this, freeze casserole in a freezer-safe container for up to 4 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Serving
  • Calories: 116
  • Sugar: 2.3 g
  • Sodium: 439.4 mg
  • Fat: 7.6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 7.2 g
  • Protein: 5.6 g
  • Cholesterol: 15.1 mg

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40 Comments
  1. Jen

    Do you think this could be adapted to a crock pot? I need the oven for other dishes. If so, would I want to consider any adaptations?

    1. Lindsay

      I’ve never made this in a crock pot, but I imagine you could. I’m not sure about adaptations, other than the cooking time. I’m guessing you could cook it on high for about an hour or so.

    1. Lindsay

      You can double it. I would keep the temperature the same, but it would likely take a bit longer to bake since there’s more in the casserole dish.

  2. ML

    This is a great dish to take to as a guest fir dinner. I used one can of regular mushroom soup and one can of golden mushroom and it gave the casserole a rich flavor. 






Lindsay
About Lindsay

I’m the baker, recipe developer and photographer behind Life, Love and Sugar. I love sharing trusted recipes with helpful tips to give you great results.

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