Green Bean Casserole From Scratch

This Green Bean Casserole From Scratch is totally made from scratch, super delicious side dish that’s a must on your Thanksgiving table. No canned stuff here, only fresh ingredients.

Green Bean Casserole

Green Bean Casseroles are probably a classic and every cook probably has their favorite recipe stashed away in their repertoire. While some prefer using frozen and canned ingredients quickly tossed together with some green beans, I prefer a clean recipe with fresh ingredients and all made from scratch.

I find that using nice fresh ingredients is vital to achieving the flavors we’re going for today. This casserole is pretty dense, with super rich ingredients so we need some fresh bright flavors to lighten it all up. Try this side dish out for your next big holiday get together, believe me you won’t regret it.

My favorite thing about this incredible green bean casserole is the crispy fried onions, and the super rich base – and well I guess all of it. All in all, this casserole is my family’s favorite. A true comfort food that’s a must on your Thanksgiving table.

A lot of people use canned mushroom soup and canned beans and then wonder why their side dish isn’t completely spectacular. Well the answer is simple and it’s one that I repeat often, homemade is always best!

Ingredients In Green Bean Casserole

Crispy onions

• Onions – Medium mild flavored onion like white or yellow.
• Dry ingredients – All purpose flour, salt, and panko bread crumbs.

Green beans

• Veggies – Fresh trimmed green beans and cremini mushrooms.
• Butter – Unsalted so as to control the sodium content of our dish.
• Garlic – Fresh minced up nice and fine. If jarred minced is all you have on hand then keep in mind that 1 1/2 teaspoons equals 1 fresh clove.
• Flour – All purpose flour to help ensure our sauce is nice and thick with a good consistency.
• Nutmeg – Ground up adding the perfect flavor kick to our dish. There’s nothing like nutmeg in a nice creamy sauce.
• Broth – Low sodium chicken broth to control the sodium content of our dish.
• Cream – Heavy cream to form our cream of mushroom soup substitute.
• Bacon – 3 slices of bacon fried up fresh and chopped up.

What Is Panko?

Panko is a variety of Japanese flaky bread crumb used as a crunchy coating for fried foods. If you’re unable to find these at your grocery store, feel free to use whichever breadcrumb you prefer.

What Green Beans Are Best?

While many prefer to use canned green beans, I prefer fresh green beans or even frozen. I strongly recommend this over canned green beans because the beans will be nice and crispy and not mushy.

Frozen green beans are already blanched and flash-frozen, so if you’re using these, you can skip the blanching step. Just be sure to thaw and drain the green beans before adding them to the casserole.

To thaw green beans, place them under running water in a colander. Let the beans drain while you’re preparing the rest of the casserole.

How To Make Green Bean Casserole From Scratch

1. Onions: Prepare the onions first as instructed, since these require baking in the oven. While these are baking you can get on with the rest of the casserole.
2. Green Beans: If using fresh green beans, blanch them first as instructed, otherwise if using frozen, thaw them as mentioned above.
3. Sauce: Melt the butter and saute the cremini mushrooms. Season them as instructed then add the flour which will soak up the moisture that mushrooms usually released when cooking. Add the chicken broth and heavy cream and whisk until the sauce thicken.
4. Assemble: Add the green beans to the sauce, the bacon and some of the crispy onions and combine everything together. Top with the rest of the crispy onions then bake for 15 minutes until bubbly.

Can I Make Green Bean Casserole Ahead?

Yes! Prepare everything as directed, except turn off the oven after the onions are done. Once the casserole is finished and assembled allow it to cool completely. Cover tightly with foil or in an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to serve. Before serving bake it in the skillet for about 20 minutes or until bubbly at 400 F degrees.

What Can I Serve This Green Bean Casserole With?

I mean aside from an entire Roast Turkey, this side goes just perfectly with any of the entrees listed below, so feel free to try them out today!

• Beer Can Chicken
• Prime Rib Roast
• Pan Seared Pork Chops with Gravy
• Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb
• Easy Meatloaf
• Firecracker Chicken
• Maple Mustard Glazed Salmon
• Rosemary Garlic Pork Roast

Craving More Thanksgiving Sides? Try These:

• Old Fashioned Green Beans
• Green Beans and Chanterelle Mushrooms
• Roasted Green Beans and Mushrooms
• Sweet Potato Casserole
• Roasted Green Beans

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Green Bean Casserole From Scratch

4.75 from 8 votes

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 1 hr

Total: 1 hr 15 mins

Author: Joanna Cismaru

Serves: 6

Print Pin Rate

This Green Bean Casserole From Scratch is totally made from scratch, super delicious side dish that's a must on your Thanksgiving table. No canned stuff here, only fresh ingredients.

Equipment

• 12-inch Cast Iron Skillet
• Aluminum Baking Sheet (2 pack)
• 3-Quart Saucepan with Lid

Ingredients

Crispy Baked Onions

• 2 medium onions sliced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs I used Panko
• 1 tsp salt

Green Beans

• 1 lb fresh green beans rinsed and trimmed
• 2 tbsp butter unsalted
• 8 oz cremini mushrooms sliced
• 1/4 tsp salt or to taste
• 1/4 tsp pepper or to taste
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg ground
• 1 cup chicken broth low sodium or no sodium added
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3 slices bacon fried and chopped, optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 475 F degrees. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Crispy Onions

• Add the flour, breadcrumbs and salt to a bowl and mix. Add the onions and toss them in the flour mixture. Spread the onions over the baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes or until crispy and golden brown.
• Reduce the oven heat to 400 F degrees.

Green Beans Casserole

• While the onion is in the oven, start by blanching the beans. Add about a gallon of water and a tsp of salt to a large pot and bring it to a boil. Add the green beans to the pot and blanch for 5 minutes. Remove the beans from the boiling water and plunge them into a large bowl of ice water, to stop the cooking. Drain and set aside.
• Melt the 2 tbsp of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the minced garlic and nutmeg to the skillet and cook for another minute or 2 until the garlic becomes fragrant.
• Sprinkle the 2 tbsp of flour over the mushrooms and stir to combine well. Add the chicken broth, stir with a wooden spoon and cook for a minute. Decrease the heat to medium-low and add the heavy cream. Continue cooking for another 6 to 8 minutes until the mixture thickens.
• Turn off the heat and add the green beans, chopped bacon and a quarter of the crispy onion. Stir well then top with remaining crispy onions.
• Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 15 minutes until bubbly.

Recipe Notes

1. Make-ahead instructions: Prepare everything as directed, except turn off the oven after the onions are done. Once the casserole is finished and assembled allow it to cool completely. Cover tightly with foil or in an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to serve. Before serving bake it in the skillet for about 20 minutes or until bubbly at 400 F degrees.
2. Panko Breadcrumbs: Panko is a variety of Japanese flaky bread crumb used as a crunchy coating for fried foods.
3. Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.
4. Recipe adapted from Alton Brown

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 318kcal (16%)Carbohydrates: 22g (7%)Protein: 7g (14%)Fat: 24g (37%)Saturated Fat: 13g (81%)Cholesterol: 72mg (24%)Sodium: 626mg (27%)Potassium: 483mg (14%)Fiber: 3g (13%)Sugar: 5g (6%)Vitamin A: 1223IU (24%)Vitamin C: 13mg (16%)Calcium: 80mg (8%)Iron: 2mg (11%)

Course:Side Dish

Cuisine:American

Keyword:green bean casserole, thanksgiving recipes, thanksgiving sides

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