The quintessential American side dish for family gatherings, holidays, church socials, potlucks…the recipe clipping that virtually ever American woman has had lying somewhere at some point throughout the past gazillion decades. Only this one is different.
This one’s the best. Ever.
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. This isn’t your Aunt Betsy’s green bean casserole.
A developed this recipe a couple of weeks ago when I had about two pounds of fresh organic green beans that I needed to use up. I posted about it on my Daring Gourmet Facebook Page and on my readers asked me about a recipe for a green bean casserole. So I made two dishes using up those green beans: Southern-style Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Bacon and this green bean casserole. The bacon complemented the green beans so beautifully in the first dish, so why stop there, I thought?
Everything tastes better with bacon, right?
And cheese.
And cream.
Yes, let’s just combine them all. Ultimate Green Bean Casserole. The outcome was so fabulous that I made it again two days later for Thanksgiving. And the proof in the pudding, so to speak, was when my brother tasted it. My brother has hated green beans since he was old enough to say the word. He has never relented to eating them. Ever. No exceptions. But he ate this. He ate this! Seriously, I don’t think you understand how monumental that is. He ate it…and he liked it!
Yes. Ultimate Green Bean Casserole. The best.
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 an understatement. This isn’t called “ultimate” for no reason. You’re going to love this version and it’s destined to become your new go-to recipe for green bean casserole.
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Let’s get started!
Chop up the bacon, onions and garlic. Note: Bacon is WAY easier to dice while it’s still frozen.
Fry the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crispy. Add the onions and cook for 4-5 minutes until soft and translucent.
While the onions are cooking, chop the mushrooms.
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.
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.
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.
Add the bacon/mushroom mixture and stir to combine.
Add the salt and pepper.
Let the sauce simmer for a couple of minutes, stirring frequently.
Add the blanched green beans (see recipe box for instructions on blanching).
Stir to combine.
Pour the mixture into a 9×13 inch casserole dish.
Since this is a made-from-scratch version, don’t go using nasty hydrogenated oil-packed French fried onions. There are several good options out there. I had two in my pantry to choose from. I went with Lars’ Crispy Onions this time.
You can conveniently purchase Lars’ crispy onions on Amazon and the best deal is buying them in bulk. They currently have a 3-pack and a 12-pack (a much better deal if you think you’re going to use them a lot, and they keep for a while.)
Sprinkle all of the French fried onions evenly over the casserole.
Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes in an oven preheated to 350 degrees F.
Dig in!
- 3 slices thick-cut bacon, diced
- ½ 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
- ½ cup shredded white cheddar cheese
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ 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 French fried onions
- 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 9x13 casserole dish and sprinkle the French fried onions all over the top. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
I can tell just by reading the recipe that there is no comparison between this and the stuff made with canned mushroom soup. My sister loves green bean casserole, so I will make sure she gets this recipe.
Thanks for passing this on to your sister, Susan!
I can not wait to make this. I can not get condensed soup in Germany and have tried making it with powdered soup, but it does not work as well. I never thought of just using a white based sauce – well a jazzed up white base sauce! Thank you.
Hi Beth! Fantastic, I’m happy you’re making this! Whenever you get to it, let me know what you think. In the meantime, have a wonderful Christmas in Germany! In my opinion there just isn’t any place like Germany for enjoying the Christmas season – it’s magical. If you haven’t already been to Rothenburg ob der Tauber for the Christmas market and for the Kaethe Wohlfahrt store (talk about magical!), it’s a must! The Christmas market there isn’t one of the bigger ones, but it’s my favorite of all them because of the atmosphere. I love Rothenburg!
I am dying to try this! I make a similar version and add a pinch of nutmeg, makes all the difference! I can’t wait to do this with bacon and cheese! Thank you for all your time and wonderful recipes.
Hi, Michaela! Thank you! This one’s a keeper, for sure. I’ll be making it again for Christmas 🙂
Looks A-MAZING! It has to be good if it involves cheese, bacon and onion. 🙂
Oh, isn’t that the truth! It’s like I’ve been saying ever since getting back from my deep South vacation: The Southerners do it best – everything with bacon or bacon grease! 🙂 Thanks so much, Carmel Moments, and thank you for visiting!
Hey there!
Just bumped into your site and was amazed to see the recipe list.. great work 🙂
I would like to know any alternative for the below as i am a Vegge:
1 cup half-and-half
1 cup chicken broth
Love,
Nita
Thank you, Nita, and welcome! You know, I really don’t know a whole lot about what kinds of vegan products are out there. I know there are vegan cheeses, and I would imagine there are probably vegan substitutes for cream as well. For the chicken broth simply substitute vegetable broth. And for the bacon, there are also vegan “bacon” products available. Good luck!
I actually did a research on how to make this dish without dairy and soy because my friend who invited us over for X’mas can’t take them now due to her baby allergies. Looks like coconut milk can be the best bet to replace half-and-half. We’ll see. Daiya cheese is really the only option to substitute cheese…cheddar though…oh well.
Hi Ayako! Yeah, I really don’t know a whole lot about good dairy substitutions. I don’t think I’d recommend coconut milk though – it has too strong of a flavor, the wrong kind of flavor. I’m pretty sure there are vegan “half and half” substitutes you can buy. And really most kinds of cheese will work well in this casserole. But then the problem with non-dairy cheese is that it doesn’t really melt too well. You know though, all these critiques are obviously coming from someone who eats dairy – people who are used to eating dairy free would probably think it all tastes perfectly normal and good 🙂
I cooked Christmas dinner this year for my in-laws who are old-fashioned not only in their life style but in their diets. I knew whatever I made had to be traditional and something they were familiar with, so what’s more traditional than green bean casserole! I tried this recipe and they loved it! We all loved it!
That’s wonderful, Jeanie, I’m so happy to hear it was such a hit! Thanks for your feedback!
FYI – I did make this dish with coconut milk and Daiya cheese. It was still delicious, and coconut milk did not bother anyone. However the fake cheese didn’t melt as its package says! Sad to see cheese swimming in the sauce! Still enjoyable, so thank you.
Great, I’m glad you and your friends enjoyed it with those substitutions. I feel your pain about the cheese though. That’s the problem with fake cheese. Even though the package claims it melts, most of the pictures I’ve seen of vegan dishes that use fake cheese, like pizza for example, just show kind-of-sort-of melted blobs on top. Still, I think it’s awesome that you made a veganized version of this for your friends and the fact is, since fake cheese is what they’re used to, they probably didn’t even bat an eye at the swimming cheese 😉
That fact is, nobody who had the dish was used to fake cheese. My friend was recently forced to go without dairy or soy due to her baby’s allergies. Bacon was actually used! Maybe that saved it. Still everybody liked the dish…you should be proud! BTW I did give away the fake cheese to my friend after that. Next time I totally will follow your recipe, exactly.
Haha! I’m totally proud of you, Ayako! Yes, make it the “right” way next time and you’ll love it! 🙂
hey…. are these store brought French Fried Onions- or do you have a recipe for these???
Hi Karen! Yes, they’re store bought – if you scroll down through the prep pictures you’ll see the ones I used (some fantastic ones imported from Europe with no junk ingredients). I make most everything from scratch, but there are some items, like with these, where they’re so good store bought, and made with clean ingredients, that I save myself the time and use them.
I made this this week. I made a vegetarian version (no bacon, vegetable broth) for my daughter and the baconlicious version for the rest of the family. They loved it!! Even the carnivores liked the veggie version. Thanks so much!
Wonderful! I’m happy to hear that both versions were a hit in your family. I’m still in shock that even my life-long green bean hating brother enjoyed this casserole. He said the flavor was so good that it made the green beans tolerable 🙂 Thanks for your feedback, Robin! Best, Kimberly
Made this for Easter and had to email the recipes to everyone as they LOVED it!!!! I wanted to make a Green Bean Caserole but did not want to use a soup!!!! This is now my FAV!!
Fabulous, I’m so happy it was such a big hit! Thanks for the feedback!
This was absolutely fantastic! I’m such a big fan of green bean casserole and have been craving it, but didn’t want to settle for the boring and processed traditional recipe, and wanted to utilize the fresh green beans I just picked up from the market! I served it with a grilled ham steak, and made a glaze with 1/4 cup fresh maple syrup, tablespoon dijon mustard, and tablespoon cider vinegar. Christmas in July! Yum!!
Tiffany, that sounds fantastic and your family/friends are a lucky bunch! You’ve got me seriously craving that entire meal right now 🙂 So glad to hear the casserole was a hit and thank you for the feedback!
First time making a green bean casserole, used to shudder at the thought. Coming from a Greek family, we only made fresh green beans sautéed in tomato and onion sauce. You recipe came out incredible and I used our green beans fresh from our garden. Thank you for a splendid recipe.
I’m so thrilled to hear that, Elena, thank you! And how wonderful that you were able to use those magnificent fresh green beans from your garden!
This recipe was a complete success. The first time I made it, I didn’t have quite enough of this, and had a little too much of that, and it came out fantastic anyways. It was so popular that it was immediately requested again three days later. I get my green beans from an Asian market as they are generally higher quality than the Walmart variety when the finished product is done. However, they require more cleaning and much more aggressive end removal.
So, I wound up making this in huge batches and freezing up to 4 casseroles for a “month’s worth”. This works really well as long as the mushrooms are fully cooked- I let the pre-green bean mushroom soup simmer longer than given; I leave the onion topping off until right before they go into the oven. As long as it’s fully defrosted, the cooking times are the same if not shorter. We haven’t been able to notice any decrease in quality, and this is practically a meal in and of itself.
We tend to do batch cooking on a few days out of the month, and I was so happy that we could do it with this! My sister has always been a green bean casserole fiend, but her husband hated them. This recipe went over equally well with both! I was so excited to find this website as well; we are looking forward to trying all sorts of your other recipes.
Thank you!
Laura, you’ve made my day 🙂 I’m absolutely thrilled that it was such a success and even won over your green-bean-casserole-hating brother-in-law! I really appreciate the detailed feedback on how you went about freezing it successfully – that is fantastic to know and will be very helpful to anyone else interested in freezing it. Thank you!! And welcome to The Daring Gourmet! Best, Kimberly
Just a note – your ingredient list doesn’t include the crispy fried onions. Fortunately, I had read the whole blog (how could I not when the pictures are mouth watering!!) but when I got to the store with the list, I saw no onions.. Luckily, I remembered them from your pictures!
Thanks for catching that, I’ve added it to the list of ingredients!
I always buy fresh green beans but I ventured out the other day and bought frozen from Trader Joe’s. Can I use those for blanching or should I buy fresh?
Hi Stacey, nothing beats fresh but frozen is a great alternative and will do the job beautifully. They’re already blanched so all you have to do is thaw and thoroughly drain and they’re ready to use. Happy cooking!
Can this be made the night before and be refrigerated so that it is ready to bake the next day?
Hi Liz, yes it can! Just wait until the next day to sprinkle on the French fried onions when you bake it so they’re nice and crispy.
Hi Kim,
This looks AMAZING! I plan to make this for our work Thanksgiving potluck this Friday and then for my family Thanksgiving! Would you say this recipe is easily doubled/tripled?
Thanks so much, Madalyn! Yes, it can very easily be doubled/tripled/quadrupled 🙂 It can be assembled in advance, too, just wait to add the French fried onions until you’re ready to bake it so they’re crispy. Happy cooking!
I’m incredibly happy to find this recipe! I’m going to my dad’s for Thanksgiving and I wanted to make something special. The bacon and cheese was the touch I was looking for, along with being able to prepare it in advance, since I’m driving 2 hours to get there. I’ll let you know how it comes out. Thank you again for posting this 🙂
That’s wonderful, Masumi! You and your family are going to love this! It’s not necessary, but if possible wait until you get to your dad’s house to sprinkle the onions on and bake it there so the onions are crispy. If that’s not possible it’s not a big deal, but the crispy onions are always ideal.
Hi! If I double the recipe, does it change the baking time?
Hi Amy, no you won’t need to change the baking time. Happy cooking!
Pro: It’s awesome.
Con: You can’t get enough of it.
Yesssssss!! Thanks, Zach!
I can’t wait to make this for thanksgiving! One question, can I make and combine the night before?
Hi Tarantini, absolutely! Everything can be assembled and then baked the next day, just wait to add the French fried onions until you’re ready to bake it so they’re nice and crispy. Happy Thanksgiving!
What about using frozen green beans? Does it change anything?
Yes, you can absolutely use frozen green beans. Just thaw and drain them first (no blanching needed).
When it says it serves 6, is that as a Thanksgiving side? If I triple it for 15 people it that way overdoing it?
Yes, that’s for 6 side servings. Tripling it probably won’t be overdoing it.
Making this for Thanksgiving tomorrow, it sounds insanely delicious!!
Thanks, Kelly, enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!
I HATE green bean casserole, but my husband said he likes it. Okay, he likes green beans and the fried onions. But we don’t cook with canned soup in this house. I will be making this version tomorrow morning, cuz I am a sweet wife like that
Super sweet, Audrey, you ROCK!! Happy Thanksgiving!
I put this casserole together this afternoon and have it ready to top with onions and bake tomorrow before my family’s Thanksgiving meal. It looks beautiful – so much prettier than the traditional version already with bright-green beans. I can’t wait!!
Wonderful, Pam! Have a terrific Thanksgiving and when you have a moment please let us know what you and guests thought of the casserole!
In the oven now… Tasted the sauce and it is amazing! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Kayla! I’ve got mine ready to put in the oven, too 🙂
Can’t find shredded white cheddar last minute… Would an Italian blend work?
Sure, that will work, Gina! Happy Thanksgiving!
This looks delicious! I am hoping to make this for thanksgiving tonight, but my uncle is on a gluten free diet. Is there a way I can not add the flour to the sauce? Or use something else instead to thicken it? Thanks!
Hi Leia! Absolutely, you can use cornstarch instead of flour. It will only slightly alter the flavor (you won’t be getting the nice flavor from the butter-flour roux), but it will still taste 100% awesome. So, use 1/2 the amount of cornstarch as you would flour and skip the part where it says to whisk it in with the butter. You can still melt the butter (butter makes everything taste better) but then mix the cornstarch in with the chicken broth until dissolved and simply pour the half-and-half and chicken stock/cornstarch mix into the pan with the melted butter and then whisk to combine and thicken as it simmers. Happy Thanksgiving and let us know what you all thought of the casserole!
I made this recipe exactly how you stated for Thanksgiving tonight. It was a huge success!! My family is very traditional in their cooking and everyone raved about it! My one and a half year old son was definitely the biggest fan! Thank you so much for a wonderful, fresh recipe!
I’m so happy to hear that, Shauna, and greatly appreciate your taking the time to let us know how it went! Thank you!
Made this for thanksgiving today, had multiple “best green bean casserole I’ve ever had” comments. Thank you so much for the awesome recipe!
Fantastic! So thrilled it was such a hit and I really appreciate the feedback, Adam, thanks!
I made this and it was awesome. I was doubling the recipe, so I did the 2 c. half&half, and instead of 2c. broth, I did 1c. broth and 1c. white wine. It was incredible. I also made fresh fried shallots from scratch instead of prepared fried onions. It was a hit, thanks for the great recipe!
Awesome!! So glad it was a hit and I really appreciate the feedback, Angie!
Hi Kim, we are soo excited to try this out. We don’t cook a whole lot so I was wondering if leaving the mushrooms out would change it much? (My daughter will not eat mushrooms for nothing). If so, is there something we could replace them with to still give it the taste?
Thank you so much 🙂
Hi April! Yes, you can simply leave them out. There really isn’t a substitution for mushrooms or the mushroom flavor, but this casserole will still taste great even without them. Happy cooking!
I made this for thanksgiving this year, and my family is not big on green bean casserole. They hate anything “soupy” or with a lot of sauce in general, so I made one recipe except put the sauce over two pounds of green beans instead of one. I was also generous with the bacon and mushrooms. It was a huge hit, and they requested it again for Christmas dinner!
Fantastic! So glad to hear that, Gina, and I appreciate the feedback! Merry Christmas!
Hello, this sounds amazing! Can this be prepared the day before and baked the next day? Thanks!
Sure can, Vincent! Just add the French fried onions last right before you’re ready to bake it so they don’t get soggy.
I made this for a large group and it was hands down the favorite. Will never make it the “classic” way again! Amazing recipe! Thanks for sharing!
That’s awesome, Rachel, so glad you liked it, thank you!!
I made this for Thanksgiving last year and loved it! We’re supposed to be having a pot luck at work within the next week and wanted to make this. I just got a crockpot (I’m still learning how to use a slow cooker) and was wondering if it’s possible to get it together and put in the slow cooker for the baking time? Do you know how long that would take? I’ve only used a slow cooker twice 😐
Hi Yolanda! That’s a great question. I’m not sure, I’ve never tried making this in a slow cooker. My guess is that it will alter the consistency. Also, in order to get the onions on top to be crispy it has to be baked in the oven – doing it in the slow cooker will make the onions very soggy.
I will be making this and am wondering if you have any advice… can it be made in advance? Can it be frozen? Thank you in advance;) Happy thanksgiving! Connie
Hi Connie, everything can be made in advance except for the crispy onions (otherwise they’ll get soggy). Sprinkle on the onions just before you’re ready to bake it. Happy Thanksgiving!
Do you think I could substitute broccoli for the green beans?
Hi Cory, absolutely! That’s a great substitute for any green bean haters among your guests.
Can I prepare this the day before?
Everything but the crispy onions, Kelly, or they’ll get soggy. Add those just before baking.
This recipe sounds amazing, just wondering how I can make this dish for 12 people without compromising the flavor. Any ideas?
Hi Suzy, simply double all the ingredients and divide it between two casserole dishes and it’ll be perfect! Happy Thanksgiving!
Another question, how long would you recommend the bake time to be if I make 2 dishes?
Hi Suzy, if you’re baking two separate 9×13 casseroles side by side in the oven at the same time the total baking time is still the same (30 minutes).
Hi Kimberly, I love this recipe and cannot wait to make for thanksgiving this coming week. I have seen nutmeg added to some green bean casseroles, you thoughts on this? How much and at what point? Have also added chopped water chestnuts to other gbc casseroles w nice crunch effect. Your thoughts?
Hi Linda, thank you! Sure, I think a little nutmeg would be fine. A little goes a long way, so I’d just add a small pinch, like 1/8th teaspoon or slightly more. Water chestnuts won’t interfere with the flavor since they have none, they just add texture, so if you like some crunchiness in the casserole go for it! Happy Thanksgiving!
Made this for an early Thanksgiving and my dad declared it the quintessential green bean recipe against which all other green bean casseroles should be measured 😀 THANK YOU!! It really is amazing.
Awesome, Hannah, I’m so thrilled to hear that! And what a compliment! I’m so glad it was a hit and appreciate the feedback – and please tell your dad “thank you” from me 🙂
Holy cow, this is THE BEST green bean casserole EVER!!! I will be making this again for Thanksgiving and for every Thanksgiving every year from now on. Seriously, THANK YOU!!
That’s awesome, Krista, I’m so glad you enjoy it as much as we do and I really appreciate the feedback, thank you!
OMG!!!! As a born and bred southerner, I love green bean casserole but now that I’m an adult and in charge of Thanksgiving I wanted to trade the canned version to a fresh version (can’t serve canned GB casserole with Barefoot Contessa sides!). I normally wouldn’t try a new recipe the day before Thanksgiving but I am soooooo glad I did!!!! This recipe is OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!!!! Thanks so much!!!! It is now a new staple on my holiday menu. It’s literally the best recipe ever and will go GREAT with my Cajun fried turkey!
So glad I found your site!!!!!
Mary-Ella
Chicago, IL
You’ve made my day, Mary-Ella, thank YOU!! We love this casserole and I’m so happy you do, too! Thanks so much for your input, hope you’ll email subscribe and return often, and have a Happy Thanksgiving! Best, Kimberly
BY far the absolute best recipe I have ever used. I made this in advance and could NOT stop eating it! I can’t wait for my family to try this tomorrow at dinner!!! The only modification I would make is don’t add the additional salt! I added it and it’s a bit too salty but still delicious!!!! Thank you!!!!!
Awesome!!! So glad to hear that, Jen, thank you! I just bought all the ingredients for it today myself and will be making it for tomorrow! 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving!
My wife and followed this recipe, but after mixing everything together, we realized we accidentally bought MAPLE bacon. We’re not cooking the casserole until tomorrow right before thanksgiving dinner, so we don’t know how it will turn out or if we need to start over. Do you think it will still taste ok with maple bacon?
Hi James, I think it will be perfectly fine! All the maple bacon I’ve had has been very subtle in flavor and even if a bit of maple comes through I don’t think it will hurt the dish any. Happy Thanksgiving!
This is so much better than the traditional open a can of soup version! It takes a little prep time but if you make it a day ahead it works! I will never make any other way from now on!!
Thanks, Selena, I’m glad to hear that! 🙂 I just made mine this evening and tomorrow I’ll sprinkle on the onions and pop it in the oven! Happy Thanksgiving!
This dish is amazing, made it for a thanksgiving get together and even 3 of the guests who do not like green bean casserole loved it! So fresh and delicious! I used french style green beans and it was perfect! So much better than the canned over salted version!
Fantastic! This casserole has managed to win over quite a few otherwise green bean-hating people, my brother included. So happy to hear it won over your guests! Thanks so much for the feedback, Katrina!
DELISH!! You’re are so right! Never making this again with the “traditional” cans of crm. mushroom or canned green beans again! Made this for Thanksgiving 2 days ago and making it again tonight! Can’t get enough…
Thanks again! I’ll be scanning your site for more great recipes!!
Awesome, Kristin! I look forward to seeing you around 🙂
I made this last week for Thanksgiving at our farm in Sequim,(after I saw Jeanie’s recommendation) and everyone absolutely LOVED it!! I will never go back to using canned soup and canned green beans – this is so very much better. Thank you Kimberly!
Hi Janet, so nice of you to drop by! 🙂 I’m so happy to hear this was a hit. Thanks so much for the feedback and give our love to the family!
I followed your recipe and made this for Thanksgiving and it was amazingly good! I ended up using milk instead of cream because that’s what I had, but it was still plenty decadent. I want to try the pumpkin sausage gravy + biscuits next! I like the format of your recipes too, the large photos help a lot. Thanks!
Awesome, Justin! Thanks so much for the feedback and I’m glad that the format is helpful. Enjoy the pumpkin sausage gravy & biscuits – happy cooking! 🙂
With the exception of the fried onions, can you prepare everything and put it in a backing dish and then thaw in advance of backing/serving?
Yes exactly, Liz. I wouldn’t recommend freezing the casserole though (a texture thing), but keep it refrigerated and then let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking and wait until the very last minute to add the onions before putting it in the oven.
I have always thought green bean casserole was a disgusting forbidden dish. I was looking for a hearty side recipe to use green beans and found this. No cream of … soup… bacon, mushrooms..what’s not to love? This was AMAZING! I can’t wait to make this for my family for the holidays. It’s homey but full of flavor and fresh! Love it!
Thank you!!
Yahoooo! I’m so happy to hear that, Chris, thank you!
I made this last Thanksgiving. I’m making it for Easter now. So delicious! Definitely Better than the canned soup recipe. Thank you for the recipe! Keeper. 😋
Thank you so much! 🙂
Hi Kimberly
Where did you purchase your Lars onions from. That link you have on your blog want $44.00 and I’m not paying that out rageous price for them.
Hi Jackie, I don’t blame you, yikes! I just checked the link in the body of my blog post and it’s $11.79 for a 3-pack. I just updated the link in my recipe box as well which somehow was a different one. $3.93 per jar is a much better than $44.00 😉
I’ve made this recipe for the past 2 years & everyone loves it. I tweeked it. Instead of using white cheese, I use harvarte, grueyere & gouda cheese. I make my onion rings from scratch. Oh my goodness….. it’s so heavenly! This year I’ll do the same but add pancetta to the mix. Thanks for this fantastic recipe!
That sounds heavenly, Ana, thanks for sharing and I’m so glad this dish has become a tradition in your home!
I made this dish last Thanksgiving and boy did my family love it! And this year they’re telling me to make it again…..but I’m like oh shoot I didn’t save the receipe…….thank goodness I found it! And I’m definitely saving it this time!
Thanks so much, Rosie, I really appreciate the feedback and I’m happy you found the recipe again! 🙂
I cant tell you all how good this is!!! I made it last year for Thanksgiving & now my family requests it for every holiday!!! I have actually made a vegetarian version of this as well & it turned out great…me personally I like it just the way it is with a little extra bacon!! Try it … you WONT be disappointed!!
Thanks so much, Sandra! And hear, hear for bacon! 🙂
Love this recipe as an excellent alternative to canned soups. I tried this in a slow cooker to see if I could make the recipe feed the masses (doubled), the answer is no. Bake it in the oven. You could MORE than likely fit a doubled recipe into a 9×13 pyrex glass dish and bake. The slow cooker ruins the texture and consistency of the casserole (steam and uneven cooking). Great recipe otherwise, the bacon and white cheddar add a decadent extra layer that is otherwise missing from this traditionally canned soup casserole. Take it easy on the saute heat, I burned the bacon and onion (doing something else) in the pan and while it tasted great, it took on an unpleasant color when the liquids were added and the pan was deglazed.
Hi Jonathan, I agree with you about the slow cooker. Baking it is the only way to go. So glad you enjoyed this and appreciate the feedback, thank you!
Can I make this (with the onions left off until bake time) and freeze it a couple of weeks before without compromising the flavor/texture? Wondering if anyone has tried this? Thanks!
Hi Laura, I haven’t tried that so I’m not sure how that would impact the texture. I’ll leave this question open to anyone else who has tried freezing it prior to baking….
Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe. It now my specialty for thanksgiving dinner. Everyone loves it!!!! 5 Stars!!!!
That’s super, Liliana, thanks so much!
I am anxious to make this recipe for Thanksgiving. My only concern is getting the French fried onions. Would Whole Foods have them? Are they expensive? Any ideas of how to do something with the French’s Fried Onion rings if that is all I can find! Thx
Hi Barbara, any brand of crispy fried onions will do perfectly (they’re typically called “French fried onions” though not always). Are you referring the specific brand “French’s” when you ask about the onion rings? I’m not familiar with French’s making them in onion “rings” form, but if they do that’s no problem either – just break them up in your hand and sprinkle them over the casserole.
Can I make this two days ahead of time and keep in the fridge til I bake ?
Two days should probably be okay, Daisy. Then add the onions just before you bake it.
I made this for a work potluck. They loved it. I added some paprika to it because they like spicy food.
Perfect, Karen, thanks so much for the feedback!
Green bean casserole is my favorite and this version looks AMAZING!
Hi Kimberly, I’m so excited that I came across this recipe. After reading all the reviews, I feel very confident about making it for Thanksgiving without a trial run. However, I do have a question. Do you use unsalted butter and low sodium chicken broth? I’m worried that by adding 3/4 teaspoon of salt plus the salt from the bacon that it would be too salty if I don’t use the unsalted butter and low sodium chicken broth. Thanks for any suggestions that you can give. I’m so glad that I came across your blog.
Hi Susan, welcome! Yes, I always use unsalted butter. For the broth I use regular, not low-sodium. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 🙂
Brought this to a pot luck and this recipe killed it. Used Panchetta and bacon
Awesome, Dave, thank you! So glad you rocked that potluck!!
Hi! I am making this for TG but I am wondering will the green beans cook more in the oven so they aren’t crunchy. My family likes them soft so if they will still be crispy can I just boil them longer before blanching? Also, if I use shallots instead of onions do I use the same amount?
Hi Wendy, I wouldn’t describe them as “crunchy” but they’re not squishy soft either. Yes, they do continue to cook more in the oven. If you don’t like even the tiniest bit of crunch to your beans then to play it safe go ahead and boil them a little longer. You can use shallots if you prefer. Shallots are sweeter and milder (hence commonly used raw for salads, dressings, etc) so no problem with using an equivalent amount.
Kimberly, I had a question about the blanching time. Most other green bean recipes involving blanching recommend 2 minutes. Five minutes is quite a lot longer- is there a specific texture I’m looking for? I don’t want them mushy. Thanks for any advice, I’m really looking forward to trying this Thursday!
Hi Valerie, they won’t be mushy, they’ll be soft. Most people don’t want a crunchy texture in a green bean casserole but if you prefer a bit of crunch go ahead and reduce the blanching time. Happy Thanksgiving!
If I double the recipe does everything including butter & flour get doubled
Hi Terry, yes, double everything. Happy Thanksgiving!
Can’t wait to make this. Can it be made 2 days before Thanksgiving. Either putting it all together but not baking it until Thanksgiving day or can the whole thing he put together and baked two days ahead . if it can be put together and baked two days ahead should it be put in the freezer for just kept in the refrigerator. I am traveling Thanksgiving day but want to make this and I just won’t have the time to do it all on that day . would like to know what could be made ahead of time if possible
Hi Sandy, I would assemble it all (without the onions), refrigerate it and then bake it on Thanksgiving, adding the onions just before you put it in the oven so they don’t get soggy. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you so much for your prompt reply. I am so happy I could prepare it two days in advance without a problem and then bake it on Thanksgiving day . I want to make it so bad and I was afraid preparing it in advance wouldn’t work. Thanks again.
Hi was wondering if we can use cream of mushroom soup in this?
Hi Farah, yes you can, it just won’t taste nearly as good as using the fresh ingredients.
No! I accidentally bought heavy whipping cream. Can I use it instead of half and half?
Yes absolutely, Brooke! It will just be all the creamier/merrier 🙂 What you can also do is just use half milk and half heavy whipping cream and you’ll have the same thing as half and half.
Hi Kim,
I am going to make this to bring as a side dish for tomorrow night “early thanksgiving”. If I prepare it tonight “everything but the onion topping”, will it be okay for tomorrow? Also, I bought a tin baking dish. Will that change the flavor at all?
Hi Malarie! Yes, you’re are good to go, tin dish and all. Just add the onions just before you slip it into the oven. Happy Thanksgiving!
Great, Thank you!
Happy Thanksgiving 🙂
Hi Kim,
After reading all the exceptional reviews, I am so looking forward to making this for a potluck at work on Thursday. I will be baking it at home but my travel time to work is 1 hour and probably won’t start eating for another 2 hours later. If I warm it up again in the microwave right before we eat do you think the onions will get soggy? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Happy Holidays!
Hi Debra, they will get soggy if they sit that long, there’s just no avoiding that. BUT it’s still going to taste awesome. I’ve had many readers report that they’ve traveled with this to potlucks and it’s been a huge hit. Happy Thanksgiving!
I have made this a few times and it is always a HUGE success. Thank you so much for this recipe.
Thank YOU, Cheyenne!
I want to thank you for this delicious recipe. It is now the #1 requested dish from my family for holiday dinners. It has been a staple for us since 2014.
Thanks so much, Kristy, I really appreciate that! Happy Thanksgiving!
I am so excited to use this recipe. I’ve been asked to make a bean casserole. I have not made one before so I looked up for a good recipe. This does sound very good and I hope to have everyone to like it. And for the fact that I have eaten others, I hope mine will equal to their likings. Happy Thanksgiving
Hi Tami, this recipe is sure to win over the dinner guests – Happy Thanksgiving!
I forgot to Blanche the green beans and put them in the sauce!! ;( is there a way to save it?!
Hi Kim, the only thing you can try is to bake the casserole for a while first before adding the onions to soften up the beans. Cover the casserole with tin foil (so the liquid doesn’t all evaporate while the beans are cooking) and bake for a while – test a green bean for doneness. When they beans are done sprinkle on the onions and then bake uncovered for a few more minutes until the onions are toasted.
This is now a thanksgiving tradition in our home! So good that I’m making twice as much this year in hopes of leftovers!!
That’s the spirit, Kristin! 🙂 Thanks so much and Happy Thanksgiving!
I made this and doubled the recipe. I found using double the sauce made too much sauce for 2 lbs of green beans so I added another 3/4 lb beans to the doubled sauce recipe which seemed to work better. When whisking the sauce and waiting for it to thicken it takes about 5 minutes so be patient with the whisking part. It’s a great recipe and asked for every Thanksgiving. Thanks! I
Thanks, Anna, and thanks also for the tip! Happy Thanksgiving!
I could not find white cheddar cheese… only sharp white cheddar cheese :/ what other cheese do you recommend to use?
Sharp white cheddar is perfectly fine, as long as you like sharp cheeses. As long as you like the flavor of the cheese, you can really use any kind you like.
I have been making a similar version of this for years. I know you say this is the “best ever” but I think mine is, so does anyone who eats it! I HATE mushrooms but can stomach the soup so I do use it. But I have been adding the bacon, onions and fresh garlic. I also put some of the fried onions in too, not just on top. I use nutmeg, basil salt and pepper for that extra kick. I will never eat another boring old imple green bean casserole again.
Hi Vickie, try it with the cheese, that really takes it over the top!
For the last 5 or so years, I’ve been responsible for making/bringing the green bean casserole. I’ve tried several recipes over the years trying to find the “right” one. The others weren’t bad, but they were lacking something. This year I thought, maybe it’s missing bacon, cause what’s NOT better with bacon??? So after putting in bacon green bean casserole in Google, I came across your recipe and all the positive reviews gave me comfort that although it was the 1st time trying/making it (and I had no backup plan), that the result would be good, and I was right. So many people got more today when going back for seconds and commented how good it was (even my 5 year old nephew). I’m done searching green bean casserole recipes. This will be the one I make every year going forward! Thanks!
I’m so thrilled to hear that, Chris, thank you!! 🙂
This. Was. Delicious. A total hit. I omitted the onion because I loathe onion, and I substituted parmesan cheese for the white cheddar (only because I couldn’t find white cheddar) and it was still amazing. The family demanded I bring it to Christmas dinner as well. You don’t have an equally amazing sweet potato dish recipe by chance? Lol thank you so much for posting!
Fantastic, Remi, I’m so glad it was a bit hit – thank you! I don’t have a sweet potato dish recipe posted yet, but that’s a good idea 🙂
In 2015 I made this recipe for my family of 21 and tripled it the only difference is I added about a third can of condensed cream of mushroom soup I know that’s a faux pas, but I added it for sense memory. It was a great hit. Even people that don’t care for green beans absolutely loved it. This year I was pressed for time and did not make it. You would have thought I committed the greatest crime ever. Needless to say I will be preparing it from now on it truly is the ultimate green bean casserole! !!!!!
Haha, Kevin, that’s awesome! Thanks so much for sharing! 🙂
This is a fantastic recipe. I have always ‘avoided’ making this casserole dish because of the typical canned ingredients.
My family loved it. I have to say that I left out the cheese and added a little bit of lemon juice (for freshness) and it was still
yum, yum, yummy!!
I will make it again and again! Thank you!
That’s terrific, Lorrie, thanks so much!
This recipe is absolutely YUMMY!!! I am glad I came across this recipe while searching for something not out of a can. This was my first time trying this recipe and I must say I was pleasantly surprised how delicious it was. Everyone at the table was asking who made the green bean casserole and wanted the recipe. This casserole will definitely be a permanent dish in our holiday dinners. Thank you for an awesome recipe.
Thanks so much, Wanda, I’m thrilled to hear that!
Hi! Instead of the bacon, can I use real bacon bits? Also, can I use yellow instead of white cheddar?
Thank you!
Hi Connie, yes, you can use yellow instead of white, white is just a little more attractive in this. Using fresh bacon and frying it is key though because of the bacon fat it renders – that’s where so much flavor is.
Thankyou-thankyou!!!! Made it for Thanksgiving and was absolutely delish. The name says it all….Will definitely be a holiday staple, but I have a feeling will make it several times a year, why wait??
That’s the spirit, Paige! 🙂 Thanks so much!
This. is. awesome!! Love it! Thanks for posting this!
Thank you, Jenny!
I’m making this now. I sampled a taste before putting it in the oven and it’s DELICIOUS! I will use this recipe from now on.
Awesome, Lesleigh, thanks so much for the feedback!
Thank you for this recipe, made it for thanksgiving and was a big hit. We haven’t had it since my mother was diagnosed with celiac. Not hard to change out flours from wheat to gluten free mix and used crushed chip in place of fried onions (which works out since my sister hates those onions). Turned out great and made figuring out a vegetable easy. Thanks again.
That’s wonderful, Joseph, thanks so much for the feedback!
when it comes to the white cheddar cheese, do you suggest using mild, medium or sharp?
Hi Dana, that just comes down to personal preference. Speaking for myself, I love strong cheeses of all kinds, so I wouldn’t hesitate to use sharp. That said, not everyone at the dinner table may feel that way so you’ll need to gauge it based on your dinner guests. It will taste fabulous no matter which one you choose. Happy cooking!
Made this for Thanksgiving and it was fantastic! Making again for Christmas. My new go-to for green bean casserole. Thank you!
That’s awesome, thanks so much, Keri!
Hi Kimberly,
I normally don’t comment on recipes at all but this, I just had to comment on how delicious it was!! This is probably the best green bean casserole I have had in my life. The ingredients were simply perfect for the dish and the bacon compliments the dish very well. It’s kind of hard to explain the flavor, but it was excellent! It’s pretty easy to make but it takes a little time to make. The results are tasty and well worth it. 😉 I actually doubled the recipe and I even used frozen green beans, which turned out well, if you don’t have fresh ones on hand. This is probably the only way I’ll make green bean casserole from now on!
Thank you very much 🙂
That’s awesome, Asha, I really appreciate your taking the time to leave us feedback. I’m thrilled you enjoyed this as much as we do. Thank so much!
THE BEST GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE EVER!!!!! Trust me on this. Just try it.
Thanks so much, Cori!
Been making this exact recipe for about a year now for every family gathering. And its what everyone talks about. Absolutely the greatest green bean casserole my family and i have ever had. Will be my go to for years to come. Thank you so much.
That’s super awesome, Doug, thank so much!
I was never a fan of green bean casserole, but it was a holiday staple in my boyfriend’s house and I knew it was something that I would always have to make even though I wouldn’t be eating it. For Easter this past year, I decided to look for a recipe sans condensed cream of mushroom soup and stumbled upon this one.
I’m a vegetarian so I used Quorn veggie bacon cooked in some olive oil with some smoked salt thrown in. When it was time to load up my plate I got a heaping of everything else and the smallest serving of green bean casserole you’ve ever seen. Once I tasted it I knew I would be heading back for seconds. IT WAS SO GOOD. My boyfriend loved it more than the kind his mom made (which is always such a compliment). My whole family enjoyed it. While my boyfriend was happy that I liked it, I think he was a little bummed that he had to share the leftovers with me.
I made this again last night without onion as I didn’t have one on hand and the flavor was still amazing. I never comment on recipes, but I just had to share how much I enjoy this one!
Hi Jenny, I really appreciate your taking the time to comment and am so happy to hear you enjoyed this – thank you!