Green Bean Casserole

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This creamy, crispy Green Bean Casserole Recipe is everything you need and more for a perfect Thanksgiving meal. It’s simply the best recipe!

Green Bean Casserole made its debut in 1955 and was created by Campbell’s. Yeah, the soup company! Since then it has been a beloved Thanksgiving side dish all over the US. I’ve elevated Campbell’s Green Bean Casserole Recipe by adding bacon, and nutmeg. Two simple but impactful ingredients! It’s also quick and easy by using frozen green beans and premade crispy onions! Of course, I have included options to make everything homemade so you get a Green Bean Casserole that you feel good about and that tastes great!

Green Bean Casserole Recipe

With just 8 ingredients and 15 minutes of prep time, you can have green bean casserole as one of your Thanksgiving side dishes! To start out, gather these ingredients.

• Butter – part of the base to make the creamy sauce. Used for flavor.
• All-Purpose Flour – mixed with the butter to make a paste that is the base of the sauce.
• Milk/Heavy Cream – use either one or a mixture of both depending on how thick you want the sauce. Only heavy cream is thickest, the combination is medium and milk is thinnest.
• Bacon – used in the filling and on top.
• Salt and Pepper – to season.
• Frozen Green Beans – I made this recipe go by faster by using frozen green beans. They are just as nutritious as fresh green beans. However, if you don’t like the flavor of frozen green beans, try using fresh green beans that have been steamed OR canned green beans that have been drained and rinsed well.
• Nutmeg – we are using just a pinch for flavor. But if you hate nutmeg, just leave it out.
• Crispy Fried Onions – buy the premade kind or make your own topping by sauteing onions with breadcrumbs, parmesan, salt, and pepper.

How to Make Green Bean Casserole

Make-Ahead

I love how many of my recipes can be made ahead of time. This Green Bean Casserole Recipe is no different. It’s the best partly because your holiday meal prep just got a lot easier. Okay to make ahead of time follow the directions, stopping when you are supposed to top with crunchy onions and bacon. This is to prevent soggy onions. Refrigerate, covered, up to 24 hours.

To bake, uncover, top with crunchy onions and bacon, and bake according to the directions.

Green Bean Casserole Leftovers

Leftover Green Bean Casserole can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make sure to seal in an airtight container. This can either be a lid to your casserole dish or a good seal with plastic wrap.

Reheat. Pop the green bean casserole back in the oven at 350 degrees for about, about 15-20 minutes or until heated through. Watch the casserole closely and if the topping starts to get too toasty and brown, take the casserole out of the oven and lightly cover with a piece of aluminum foil. Then resume baking.

Variations

What’s great about this Green Bean Casserole Recipe is that you can customize it how you like it. If you don’t like bacon, don’t add it! Here are some other ideas to consider.

Spicy. If you are into spicy foods, it is super easy to make this recipe spicy as well. Add a jalapeño, cajun seasoning or crushed red pepper flakes. 

Cheese. Cheese is one of those additions that you can’t mess up. Unless, of course, if you’re lactose intolerant. To you folks, I’m deeply sorry. With this casserole, cheese would be a great flavor booster. Try white cheddar or pepper jack.

Gluten-Free. To those that are in need of a gluten-free green bean casserole simply replace the flour with gluten-free flour. And instead of the regular onion topping, saute some onions with rice Chex cereal, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.

More Thanksgiving Casseroles!

• Buttery Corn Casserole
• Leftover Turkey Casserole
• Potato Casserole
• Sweet Potato Casserole
• French Toast Casserole

Save this recipe by printing it, pinning it or bookmarking it! And have a Happy Holidays 🙂