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ULTIMATE Green Bean Casserole

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Behold, the original ULTIMATE Green Bean Casserole recipe!ย  Featured in magazines across the web and consistently rated THE best green bean casserole recipe EVER, this will convert even the most determined green bean haters!ย  Tender green beans, bacon, cheese, cream, mushrooms and more, this deluxe green bean casserole is made from scratch and is guaranteed to become your go-to from now on!

green bean casserole recipe ultimate best from scratch cheese mushrooms bacon cream daring gourmet

What is Green Bean Casserole?

Green Bean Casserole is the quintessential American side dish for family gatherings, holidays, church socials, potlucks…the recipe clipping that virtually every American woman has had lying somewhere at some point throughout the past gazillion decades.ย  Only this one is different.ย  This one’s the best. ย Ever.ย  And it’s made from scratch. If up until now you’ve just been kind of “meh” towards green bean casserole, prepare to experience a major paradigm shift in attitude. ย This isn’t your Aunt Betsy’s green bean casserole recipe.

Why This One’s the ULTIMATE

I developed this recipe years ago when I had about two pounds of fresh green beans and some fresh mushrooms that I needed to use up.ย  As I browsed through my fridge I also noticed some thawed bacon, a block of white cheddar, and some cream.ย  The wheels started turning as the blueprint for the ultimate green bean casserole recipe unfolded in my mind.ย  And the rest is history.

This ultimate, from scratch green bean casserole has since become one our most popular recipes every Thanksgiving and Christmas.ย  Dozens of websites have praised it and online magazines have linked to it.ย  But most importantly of all, year after year our readers have fallen in love with it.ย  Just read the hundreds of rave reviews below.ย  Without exaggeration this green bean casserole has literally become world famous.ย  Yes, it’s THAT good!

green bean casserole recipe ultimate best from scratch cheese mushrooms bacon cream daring gourmet

Even passionate green bean and green bean casserole haters have consistently been converted through this recipe.  My brother included.  My brother has hated green beans ever since he was old enough to say the word.  And he has never once relented.  But…he ate this.  He ate THIS!   He ate it…and he liked it!  And as far as I’m concerned that seals the deal.  Verdict drawn.  Yes.  The ULTIMATE Green Bean Casserole.

This recipe take a little longer than the 2 minutes and 38 seconds required to open a can of condensed mushroom soup, mix it with water, toss it with green beans, dump the mixture into a casserole dish, sprinkle with French fried onions, and put it in the oven to bake (ie, the classic recipe first introduced by Campbell’s in 1955).  But this Ultimate Green Bean Casserole is still quick to make and to say that there is no comparison between the two is the understatement of the century.  This isn’t called “ultimate” for no reason and we’re confident you’re going to love it as much as we and thousands of others do!

green bean casserole recipe ultimate best from scratch cheese mushrooms bacon cream daring gourmet

Gluten Free Green Bean Casserole

You can substitute gluten free flour for thickening the sauce.  Alternatively you can dissolve 1 1/2 tablespoons of cornstarch in the chicken stock and then proceed with melting the butter, then adding the half and half and chicken stock/cornstarch, and whisking continually as it simmers until it’s thickened.  For the onions you can use gluten free French fried onions.

Can You Freeze This?

We do not recommend it.  Creamy sauces have a tendency to break and separate when they’re frozen and thawed and the last thing you want is a watery mess at your dinner table.

Can It Be Made Ahead of Time?

Yes!  Prep everything and place it in the casserole dish, except for the French fried onions, cover and refrigerate for up to a day before you’re ready to serve it.  When you’re ready to bake it, take it out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.  Then sprinkle on the French fried onions and proceed with baking.

This also makes it convenient to bring the assembled casserole (minus the French fried onions) to another location where you’ll be having dinner and then simply add the onions and bake the casserole once you arrive.

ultimate green bean casserole recipe best from scratch cheese mushrooms bacon cream daring gourmet

Ultimate Green Bean Casserole Recipe

This recipe begins by frying up bacon along with onions, mushrooms, and garlic.  Next we make a roux with butter and flour which will not only serve as a thickener for the cream sauce but will add wonderful depth of flavor.  Next we pour in the cream followed by that glorious white cheddar and watch it melt into a rich, luxuriously delicious sauce.  Fresh green beans are then folded in the sauce, the mixture is poured into a casserole dish and topped with crispy, crunchy, utterly irresistible French fried onions.  It’s baked until bubbly and oozing and then served at the table where it will completely disappear, every last drop of it, within minutes.

Let’s get started!

Fry the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crispy.

frying bacon in skillet

Add the onions and cook for 4-5 minutes until soft and translucent.

Add the mushrooms and garlic and cook for 4-5 minutes until the mushrooms are soft.  Transfer the bacon/mushroom mixture to a bowl and set aside.

frying bacon onions mushrooms in skillet

Melt the butter in the same skillet, add the flour, and whisk until combined.

Continue whisking for another minute until the mixture has slightly deepened in color.  This will add flavor and cook off the “flour” flavor.

making a butter flour roux

Whisk in the half-and-half and chicken stock and continue to whisk, letting the mixture simmer, until it has slightly thickened. Whisk in the white cheddar cheese until combined.ย  Add the bacon/mushroom mixture and stir to combine. Add the salt and pepper.ย 

Let the sauce simmer for a couple of minutes, stirring frequently.

adding cream and cheese to skillet

Add the blanched green beans and stir to thoroughly combine. Pour the bean mixture into a 9×13 inch casserole dish. Sprinkle all of the French fried onions evenly over the casserole.

NOTE:ย  Since everything but the French fried onions that go on top is made from scratch, choose some quality ones and avoid using those nasty hydrogenated-oil-packed French fried onions (of course you also have the option of making them yourself!). Lars’ Crispy Onions imported from Holland, for example, is made without hydrogenated oils and if you have an ALDI nearby they also carry ones imported from Holland without the hydrogenated oil.

green bean casserole recipe best ultimate from scratch

Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes in an oven preheated to 350 degrees F.

Let the casserole sit for about 5 minutes before serving.

best green bean casserole recipe ultimate from scratch bacon cheddar cheese mushrooms cream daring gourmet

Enjoy!

ultimate green bean casserole recipe best from scratch cheese mushrooms bacon cream daring gourmet

For more delicious side dishes be sure to try our:

green bean casserole recipe ultimate best from scratch cheese mushrooms bacon cream daring gourmet

ULTIMATE Green Bean Casserole

Featured in magazines across the web and consistently rated THE BEST green bean casserole EVER!
4.62 from 511 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 316 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 3 slices thick-cut bacon , diced
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion
  • 2 cloves garlic , minced
  • 12 ounces fresh button or cremini mushrooms , chopped
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup half-and-half
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup shredded white cheddar cheese
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 pound fresh green beans , trimmed, halved, and blanched (boil 5 minutes, place beans in ice water for a couple of minutes, drain)
  • 1 can quality French fried onions
  • or gluten free French fried onions

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Fry the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crispy. Add the onions and cook until soft and translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and garlic and cook for another 4-5 minutes until the mushrooms are soft. Transfer the mixture to a bowl.
  • Melt the butter in the same skillet and whisk in the flour. Once combined, continue whisking for another 2 minutes until the mixture has slightly deepened in color. Add the half-and-half and chicken broth while constantly whisking to prevent lumps. Once slightly thickened, add the cheese and whisk until melted and combined.
  • Next add the mushroom/bacon mixture along with the salt and pepper. Let the sauce simmer for a couple of minutes, then add the green beans. Stir to combine.
  • Pour the bean mixture into a 9×13 casserole dish and sprinkle the French fried onions all over the top. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes until bubbling and the onions are golden and crispy. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Video

Notes

Preparing in Advance: Everything can be done in advance except for adding the crispy onions, otherwise they’ll get soggy. Add those just before baking. Also, let the casserole sit for at least 30 minutes after removing it from the fridge before baking.

Nutrition

Calories: 316kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 12gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 752mgPotassium: 571mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1035IUVitamin C: 13.6mgCalcium: 232mgIron: 1.5mg
Keyword Green Bean Casserole
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Originally published on The Daring Gourmet Dec 7, 2013

kimberly killebrew the daring gourmet

Hi, Iโ€™m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!

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Recipe Rating




4.62 from 511 votes (367 ratings without comment)

512 Comments

  1. I just made this Green bean casserole the sauce is perfect. I used fresh picked green beans and will be baking next day.

  2. I made this for our Easter dinner and it got more rave reviews than anything else on the table! This will definitely be a regular at our family table!

  3. I made this for Thanksgiving this past year (2022). I had never ever made this type of dish for Thanksgiving.
    I am the only one that even tried it.
    I will never make this again. It was nothing like anyone previously had brought to the Thanksgiving dinner!!!

  4. Iโ€™ve been making this recipe for several years. It was my motherโ€™s favorite, so now I make it in her honor. Definitely worth the little bit of extra effort to make this from scratch. Thanks for the the delicious recipe

  5. I make this every year for Thanksgiving and itโ€™s a huge hit. I make extra cheese sauce to use for dipping French bread as an appetizer and itโ€™s amazing on its own, too!

  6. This is by far the BEST green bean casserole Iโ€™ve ever had!!! Hands downโ€ฆTHE BEST!! I have been making this for about 5 years now and itโ€™s a dish I always look forward to making (and eating โ˜บ๏ธ). Thank you for sharing this recipe!!!

  7. I donโ€™t care what others say! I love this recipe! Itโ€™s a great change to the usual green bean casserole!!
    Your instructions were clear and the 3 recipes for x1,x2,x3 were perfectly explained! Thank you again
    AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

  8. Looks delicious! Could this be made without the mushrooms? Didnโ€™t know if it would altar the flavor too much.

  9. I have been using this recipe for 6 years now and I have never turned back to canned soup again. It is extremely delicious and worth the extra effort. Thank you for this recipe!

  10. Maybe instead of patting yourself on the back, just include a list of ingredients with quantities which would be more helpful
    How many does this serve? 6? 8? Who knows?

      1. Thank you for the very specific recipe, with easy instructions, specific quantities, and list of ingredients. Also, Erndog thanks for the reminder to not leave silly comments when intoxicated at 12:45 am. Cheers!

    1. Hi Jennifer, yes you can, minus the French fried onions. Follow all the instructions until you get to the point where you add the green bean mixture to the casserole dish. Do that but donโ€™t add the French fried onions. Cover the casserole dish tightly with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil and freeze it. Remove it from the freezer and put it in the fridge to thaw at least 24 hours before ready to cook it. Once itโ€™s thawed, add the French fried onions and cook as directed.