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    Home » Recipes » Thanksgiving

    Classic Green Bean Casserole from Scratch

    November 11, 2021 By Sara McCleary Updated November 10, 2021 - This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe
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    Green bean casserole is an American Thanksgiving classic. A combination of tender green beans coated in creamy mushroom sauce topped with crispy fried onions. The combination is surprisingly addictive and a Thanksgiving favourite.

    green bean casserole

    The first time I heard of green bean casserole I thought it sounded strange. The first time I tried it I understood its popularity. Quite honesty you could put anything in a creamy mushrooms sauce and I would think it tasted delicious. But honestly, this recipe is.

    It may be made from scratch (Campbell's original recipe is made with mushroom soup) but it's still a simple recipe. To make life even simpler I fry my onions in an air fryer. Less oil and mess.

    As mentioned the taste combination is quite addictive. Creamy mushroom sauce with fresh tender green beans. The fried onions add crunch and a deep onion flavour. My Aussie readers may want to bookmark this recipe for the Sunday roast or when winter comes back around.

    Sara xxx

    What's in this post
    • Green Bean Casserole Ingredients
    • Serving Suggestions
    • How to Make Green Bean Casserole
    • Make the Recipe Ahead of Time
    • Sara's Top Recipe Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Printable Recipe

    Green Bean Casserole Ingredients

    green bean casserole ingredients
    1. Onion: Brown, yellow or white onions can be used. Yellow onions are milder than brown, and white onions (often called salad onions) are slightly sweeter in taste. Or use packed fried cripsy onions like French's Fried Onions.
    2. Green Beans: Fresh green beans, also known as French beans or haricot vert. Yes, you can use frozen green beans if you wish.
    3. Mushrooms: I use large button mushrooms, but you could also use Swiss brown or flat mushrooms. Be aware if you use larger flat mushrooms your mushroom sauce will be darker due to the darker mushroom gills (underside of the mushroom).
    4. Cream: Full cream thick cream is used. You can use light thick cream, or light evaporated milk to cut the fat content in this recipe.
    5. Garlic: If your garlic cloves are large only use 2 cloves. You can substitute 1 teaspoon of crushed garlic from a jar.
    6. Nutmeg: Adds a little warmth and spice to the green bean casserole. Don't be heavy handed a little nutmeg goes a long way.
    7. Salt: To season. Omit if on a low salt diet.
    8. Flour: Plain/all purpose flour used to thicken the mushroom sauce.
    9. Butter: Unsalted is used in this recipe. If you do use salted butter, check the sauce before adding extra salt to season, it may not need it.
    10. Pepper: Ground black pepper to season.
    11. Chicken Stock: Substitute chicken stock with vegetable stock to make this a vegetarian dish.
    12. Parmesan Cheese: Adds an extra little umpf and umami kick to the mushroom sauce. Not normally used in green bean casserole, you can leave it out if you wish. But I feel it really elevates the flavour of the creamy mushroom sauce
    13. Panko Crumbs: Adds more crunch to the onions than regular bread crumbs. A little trick I picked up from Alton Brown's recipe.
    a spoonful of the casserole

    Serving Suggestions

    This may be a classic American Thanksgiving dish, but it doesn't need to be Thanksgiving to enjoy it. Perfect for a Sunday roast, winter indulgence, or even as a Christmas side dish.

    • Obviously goes a treat alongside a Thanksgiving turkey. Maybe my smoked turkey with orange maple butter, or poached turkey breast with easy gravy?
    • To change things up it could accompany a Christmas or Easter ham, like my rum and coke glazed ham, or old fashioned glazed ham.
    • It's a great side for corned beef due to the creamy sauce.
    • Plus it goes along well with some other side faves, parmentier potatoes, maple bacon brussels sprouts, and cheesy cauliflower.

    How to Make Green Bean Casserole

    Scroll to the bottom of the page for a printable version of this recipe.

    onion and breadcrumbs in a glass bowl
    breadcrumb coated pnions

    Pre-heat air fryer for 5 minutes at 200°C/390°F Place sliced onions in a large bowl. Add flour, panko crumbs, salt, and pepper. Toss onions until coated.

    coated onions in the air fryer basket
    air fryer onions resting on a cooling rack

    Place a layer of onions in the basket of your air fryer. Depending on the air fryer size you will need to fry the onions in 2-3 batches in order to not to crowd them. Fry onions for 8 minutes. Moving and tossing them around halfway through frying.

    Place onions on a cooling rack, repeat with remaining onions. By placing the "fried" onions on the cooling rack they will not go soggy. (Works if frying in oil too)

    green beans in a colander

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add beans and cook for 2-3 minutes, until just tender. Drain beans in a colander and refresh by running the beans under cold tap water. Dry beans with a clean tea towel or kitchen paper and set them aside.

    Alternatively, beans can be cooked in the microwave or steamed until tender.

    mushrooms in a frying pan
    crushed garlic added to the mushrooms

    Place frying pan/skillet over medium heat, add butter. Once the butter has melted add mushrooms, and cook for 5 minutes.

    Add salt, pepper, and garlic and cook for a further 2 minutes. Be careful not to burn the garlic.

    flour added to the mushroooms
    adding stock to the mushrooms

    Sprinkle flour over the mushrooms. Stir flour through the mushrooms until evenly coated and flour is no longer visible.

    Continue stirring the mushrooms while gradually adding half the chicken stock. Keep stirring until any lumps have dissolved. Pour in the remaining stock.

    thickened mushroom sauce in a pan
    adding beans to the mushrooms sauce

    Add cream, parmesan, and nutmeg, stir until completely incorporated. Continue cooking the mixture for a further 5 minutes, stirring as it cooks, until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens.

    The sauce is ready when you can draw a line with your finger through the sauce on the back of the spatula or wooden spoon. Add beans to the mushroom mixture and mix well.

    green beans and mushroom sauce mixture in a baking dish
    green bean casserole ready for the oven

    Place bean mixture into a 2.5ltr/2.5 quart baking/casserole dish. Cover the top of the bean mixture evenly with fried onions.

    Place the baking dish into the oven and bake for 15 minutes. It is ready when the bean casserole is bubbling around the edges and the onions are deep golden brown.

    Make the Recipe Ahead of Time

    You can make this recipe ahead of time. The trick is to keep the key components separated.

    • Beans: Cook the beans, drain, and then plunge in a bowl of water with ice to stop them cooking. Dry the beans well with a clean tea towel or kitchen paper. Place beans in a ziplock bag, remove as much air as possible and seal. Store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
    • Fried Onions: Make a day ahead. Store in an airtight container at room temperature (they will go soggy in the fridge).
    • Mushroom Sauce: Make as per the recipe, but do not add the beans. Store sauce in an airtight container in the frdige for up to 2 days.
    • On the Day: Place sauce in a large pan/skillet and warm on a medium heat. Once the sauce is warm add the beans and mix well. Place bean mixture in a baking tray/casserole dish and top with onions. Bake as per the reciipe.

    Sara's Top Recipe Tips

    Warm the Chicken Stock

    Place the chicken stock in a small saucepan and warm it until it is just over lukewarm temperature. By adding warm stock to the mushroom flour mixture it will be less lumpy or lump free.

    By adding warm liquid to the already warm mushroom they aren't going into shock. Warm liquid and warm mushrooms will mix together more easily to create the sauce. Cold liquid causes a hot mixture to seize slightly and that is what forms lumps.

    Don't deeply brown the onions when air frying

    The fried onions need to be just golden as they will continue to brown in the oven on top of the casserole. If onions start to brown too quickly when baking cover the baking dish loosely with aluminium foil. Remove foil for the final few minutes of baking to crisp them up again.

    Couldn't be bothered frying onions?

    That's okay, buy ready made crispy fried onions. French's Fried Onions are incredibly tasty and easily available in US supermarkets. Aussie readers click the link above to buy them from catch.com. Fried shallots are available in Asian grocers and the Asian aisle in Aussie supermarkets, they aren't as nice as French's but will do the job.

    Alternatively, forgo the fried onions all together. Instead, top the green bean casserole with a mix of panko crumbs (1 cup) and grated parmesan cheese (½ cup).

    green bean casserole

    Recipe FAQs

    Who invented Green Bean Casserole?

    Green bean casserole was created in Campbell's test kitchen by employee Dorcas Reilly in 1955. It was originally called Green Bean Bake.

    What is the original Campbell's Green Bean Casserole Recipe?

    The original recipe is; 1 can Campbell’s condensed cream of mushroom soup, ½ cup milk, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, dash of pepper, 4 cups frozen or fresh cooked green beans, 1 ⅓ cups French's French Fried Onions.
    Pre-heat oven 180°C/350°F.  In a baking or casserole dish mix soup, milk, soy sauce, beans, and ⅔ cup onions until combined.  Season with salt and pepper.
    Bake for 25 minutes or until hot.  Stir the bean mixture.  Sprinkle with the remaining ⅔ cup onions. Then continue baking for another 5 minutes, or until the onions are golden brown. Serve immediately.

    How long can I keep any leftovers?

    If you have made the green bean casserole from scratch on the day of serving then it will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Can I freeze green bean casserole?

    Unfortunately you can't. This recipe does not freeze very well at all. The onions will go limp and soggy, plus there is a chance that the mushroom sauce may split.

    Printable Recipe

    green bean casserole recipe

    Green Bean Casserole

    Recipe Author: Sara McCleary
    Green bean casserole is an American Thanksgiving classic. A combination of tender green beans coated in a creamy mushroom sauce, which is then topped with crispy fried onions. The combination is surprisingly addictive and a Thanksgiving favourite.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Course Sides
    Cuisine American, Thanksgiving
    Servings 10
    Calories 223 kcal

    Ingredients

    Beans & Creamy Mushroom Sauce

    • 750 grams (1½ lbs) green beans | trimmed and cut in half
    • 50 grams (2 tablespoons) butter | unsalted
    • 360 grams (12 oz) mushrooms | cut into bite size pieces
    • ¾ teaspoon salt | Kosher or sea salt flakes
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 3 garlic cloves | minced
    • 2 tablespoons flour | plain/all purpose
    • 250 mls (1 cup) chicken stock | or vegetable stock
    • 250 mls (1 cup) cream | heavy/thick
    • 50 grams (½ cup) parmesan cheese | grated
    • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

    Air Fried Onions

    • 2 brown onions
    • 35 grams (¼ cup) flour | plain/all purpose
    • 2 tablespoons panko crumbs
    • 1 teaspoon salt | Kosher or sea salt flakes
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Prepare Beans and Air Fryer Onions as per the instructions below.
      See the notes section for instructions on how to fry the onions in oil or bake them in the oven.
    • Pre-heat oven 180°C/350°F
    • Put the chicken stock in a small saucepan and heat until it is a little warmer than lukewarm. Leave it on the stove to keep warm
    • Place frying pan/skillet over medium heat, add butter.
    • Once the butter has melted add mushrooms, and cook for 5 minutes.
    • Add salt, pepper, and garlic and cook for a further 2 minutes. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
    • Sprinkle flour over the mushrooms. Stir flour through the mushrooms until evenly coated and flour is no longer visible.
    • Continue stirring the mushrooms while gradually adding half the warm chicken stock. Keep stirring until any lumps formed have dissolved. Pour in the remaining stock.
      Adding warm stock to the mushroom and flour mixture reduces the chance of developing lumps.
    • Add cream, parmesan, and nutmeg, stir until completely incorporated.
    • Continue cooking the mixture for a further 5 minutes, stirring as it cooks, until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens.
    • The sauce is ready when you can draw a line with your finger through the sauce on the back of the spatula or wooden spoon.
    • Add beans to the mushroom mixture and mix well.
    • Place bean mixture into a 2.5ltr/2.5 quart baking/casserole dish.
    • Cover the top of the bean mixture evenly with fried onions.
    • Place the baking dish into the oven and bake for 15 minutes. It is ready when the bean casserole is bubbling around the edges and the onions are deep golden brown.
      If onions are starting to brown too quickly cover the baking dish loosely with aluminium foil. Remove foil for the final few minutes of baking.
    • Serve immediately.

    Beans

    • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add beans and cook for 2-3 minutes, until just tender.
    • Drain beans in a colander and refresh by running the beans under cold tap water.
    • Dry beans with a clean tea towel or kitchen paper and set aside.
      Alternatively, to cook the beans you can use a microwave or steam them until tender.

    Air Fryer Onions

    • Pre-heat air fryer for 5 minutes at 200°C/390°F
    • Place sliced onions in a large bowl. Add flour, panko crumbs, salt, and pepper. Toss well until onions are coated.
    • Place a layer of onions in the basket of your air fryer.
      Depending on the size of the air fryer you will need to fry the onions in 2-3 batches in order to not to crowd them.
    • Fry onions for 8 minutes. Moving and tossing them around half way through frying.
    • Place onions on a cooling rack, repeat with remaining onions.
      By placing the "fried" onions on the cooling rack they will not go soggy.

    Oven Temperatures

    All oven temperatures are fan forced.

    Measurement Notes

    All measurements are Australian metric standard. All measures are level, and cups are lightly packed unless specified. 1 teaspoon = 5ml / 1 tablespoon = 20mls / 1 cup = 250ml /4 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon.

    Recipe Notes

    HOW TO FRY ONIONS IN OIL
    You will need around 1 litre/4 cups of vegetable oil to fry the onions in.
    Place sliced onions in a large bowl. Add flour, panko crumbs, salt, and pepper. Toss well until onions are coated.
    In a heavy based skillet or frying pan add enough oil to come up the sides 3 cm/1 inch.  Heat oil over medium high heat.  Test to see if the oil is hot enough by using the end of a wooden spoon/wooden chopstick, or a piece of onion.  If the oil sizzles immediately it is ready.
    Add some onions, not all of them.  Give them space to fry, don't crowd the onions.  Fry them for 1-1½ minutes until they are light golden brown.
    Remove onions from the pan with a slotted spoon, shaking any excess oil away, and place on a cake cooling rack.  Do not put the onions on kitchen towel as they will go soggy.  
    Repeat with the remaining onions.  Leave onions to the side once cooked until needed.
     
    HOW TO "FRY" ONIONS IN THE OVEN
    Pre-heat oven at 250°C/475°F.
    Place sliced onions in a large bowl. Add flour, panko crumbs, salt, and pepper. Toss well until onions are coated.
    Line a baking sheet/low sided baking tray with baking/parchment paper.  Spread onions out evenly on the tray.  Spray with a little oil or cooking spray.
    Place tray on the middle shelf of the oven and cook for 30 minutes.  Make sure to toss the onions 2-3 times during cooking to evenly brown.
    Once onions are lightly brown remove the tray from the oven and move onions from the baking tray to a cake cooling rack.  Do not put the onions on kitchen towel as they will go soggy. 
     
    ALTERNATIVE TOPPING TO ONIONS
    Top the green bean casserole with a mix of panko crumbs (1 cup) and grated parmesan cheese (½ cup).
     
    LEFTOVERS
    If you have made the casserole from scratch on the day of serving then it will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.  Place leftovers in an airtight container.
     
    GENERAL COOK'S NOTES
    All oven temperatures are fan-forced, increase the temperature by 20 Deg C (70 Deg F) for convection ovens.
    All measurements are Australian tablespoons and cups. All measures are level, and cups are lightly packed unless specified.
    • 1 teaspoon equals 5ml
    • 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml (Nth America, NZ & UK use 15ml tablespoons)
    • 1 cup equals 250ml (Nth America use 237ml)
    • 4 teaspoons equal 1 tablespoon
    • I use the below unless specified in my recipes.
    Herbs are fresh | Vegetables are of a medium size | Eggs are roughly 60 grams in weight (large) 
     
    NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION BELOW IS A GUIDE ONLY

    NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

    The recipe's nutritional information is an approximation based on an online calculator. It is meant solely for reference purposes. If you're looking for precise details, be sure to double-check with your own research.

    Calories: 223kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 7gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 601mgPotassium: 372mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1051IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 119mgIron: 2mg
    Did You Make This Recipe?I do a happy dance when people share how they went. Tag me on Instagram @bellyrumbles & #bellyrumbles
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