Green Bean Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Green Bean Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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Green Bean Casserole is one of those Thanksgiving recipes that you don’t need to reinvent. It’s absolutely perfect just the way it is, with green beans, cream of mushroom, crunchy fried onions, and some other awesome ingredients. It’s exactly what you need for your next holiday meal!

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Table of Contents

Why We Love This Green Bean Casserole Recipe

This delicious and classic side dish graces our holiday table every year. Here are a few reasons we love to make it:

  • Creamy. Cream of mushroom soup, milk, and freshly shredded cheddar cheese makes this casserole incredibly rich and creamy.
  • Crunchy. Crispy fried onions add a wonderful contrast to the creamy beans.
  • Fresh. We’re using fresh green beans in this recipe, and they make all the difference.

Variations on Green Bean Casserole with Fresh Green Beans

I love this classic vegetarian casserole. If you’re not strictly vegetarian, though, you can swap one or both cans of cream of mushroom for cream of chicken soup instead. Or try cream of celery! And if you like your food a little spicy, try using crispy fried jalapeños instead of onions!

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Green Bean Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (4)

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How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover casserole tightly wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes, or until warmed through.

How to Freeze

Freeze this casserole tightly wrapped with 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 layer of aluminum foil for up to 6 months. Reheat directly from frozen for 30-45 minutes, or until warmed through and crisp on top.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this casserole as part of your Thanksgiving feast with turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, and a good roll.

Can you make green bean casserole ahead of time?

Sure! Assemble the casserole, leaving the onions off the top, then cover with foil and refrigerate. When ready to bake, set the baking dish out at room temperature while the oven preheats.

How do you keep green bean casserole from getting mushy?

To keep this casserole from getting mushy, make sure not to overcook your green beans. You want to blanch them for just a few minutes. If you like them more crisp, feel free to undercook them a little bit before adding them to the casserole.

Why is my green bean casserole so watery?

If your casserole is runny, it’s likely that your beans were not properly dried. Be sure to pat them well with towels to dry as much as possible after blanching.

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More Green Bean Casserole Recipes We Love

  • Loaded Green Bean Casserole
  • Green Bean and Corn Casserole
  • Crockpot Green Bean Casserole
  • Instant Pot Green Bean Casserole

Recipe

Green Bean Casserole Recipe

4.57 from 140 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Cook: 45 minutes minutes

Total: 55 minutes minutes

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Serves8

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This classic Green Bean Casserole recipe should always be on your holiday table. If there's one Thanksgiving recipe not to skip, it's this one!

Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.

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Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons table salt
  • 2 pounds fresh green beans ends trimmed; cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 21 ounces cream of mushroom soup store-bought or homemade (2 cans)
  • ¾ cup milk or half and half or heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese
  • 6 ounces crispy fried onions divided (1 container) — French's recommended
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Recommended Equipment

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425°F and adjust the oven rack to the middle position. Spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.

  • In a large Dutch oven, bring 4 quarts of water to boil.

  • Add 2 tablespoons table salt and the prepared beans, stir, and cook the beans until barely crisp or soft (depending on personal preference), 7-10 minutes.

    2 pounds fresh green beans, 2 tablespoons table salt

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  • While the beans cook, fill a large bowl with ice water and set aside.

  • When the beans are ready, drain them in a colander and immediately plunge them into ice water to stop cooking.

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  • Once the beans have cooled, spread them over paper towels and pat them to dry.

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  • In a large bowl, combine the mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce, cheddar cheese, and 1 cup of crushed fried onions.

    21 ounces cream of mushroom soup, ¾ cup milk, 1 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce, 2 cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese, 6 ounces crispy fried onions

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  • Add the beans and stir to coat evenly. Season the bean/soup mixture with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

    Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

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  • Pour the green beans into the prepared dish.

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  • Bake 20 minutes at 425°F.

  • Remove the beans from the oven, and reduce oven temperature to 350°F.

  • Sprinkle the top of the beans, with the remaining 2 cups of fried onions and bake an additional 20-25 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the casserole is bubbly.

    Green Bean Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (14)

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Becky’s tips

  • You can use canned green beans in a pinch, but fresh really make this casserole pop.
  • Take care not to overcook the green beans when blanching. They should still be firm!

Storage:Store green bean casserole tightly wrapped in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 343kcal (17%) Carbohydrates: 22g (7%) Protein: 13g (26%) Fat: 23g (35%) Saturated Fat: 11g (69%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 3g Cholesterol: 35mg (12%) Sodium: 927mg (40%) Potassium: 391mg (11%) Fiber: 3g (13%) Sugar: 5g (6%) Vitamin A: 1103IU (22%) Vitamin C: 14mg (17%) Calcium: 273mg (27%) Iron: 2mg (11%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

Green Bean Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (15)

Green Bean Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (16)

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How to Make Green Bean Casserole Step by Step

Prep and Cook the Beans: Preheat your oven to 425°F and adjust the oven rack to the middle position. Spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with nonstick spray and set aside. Trim 2 pounds of fresh green beans and cut them into 2-inch pieces. In a large Dutch oven, bring 4 quarts of water to boil. Add 2 tablespoons of table salt and the prepared beans, stir, and cook the beans until barely crisp or soft (depending on personal preference), 7-10 minutes.

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Chill the Beans: While the beans cook, fill a large bowl with ice water and set aside. When the beans have finished cooking, drain them in a colander and immediately plunge them into ice water to stop cooking.

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Dry The Beans: Once the beans have cooled, spread them over paper towels and pat them to dry.

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Make the Sauce: In a large bowl, combine 21 ounces of cream of mushroom soup, ¾ cup of milk, 1 teaspoon of low-sodium soy sauce, 2 cups of freshly shredded cheddar cheese, and 1 cup of crushed fried onions.

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Add the Beans: Add the beans to the sauce mixture and stir to coat evenly. Season the mixture with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

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Bake the Beans: Pour the green bean mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

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Reduce the Temperature: Remove the casserole from the oven, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F, and sprinkle the top of the beans with the remaining 2 cups of fried onions. Continue to bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the casserole is bubbly.

Green Bean Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (23)

Green Bean Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (24)

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Green Bean Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep green bean casserole from being soupy? ›

Mistake #5: A Runny Casserole

If you don't, the excess water from the beans can leak out into the casserole and make it thin and runny. If you sense it's a little watery, "add a thickener like roux or starch to absorb the additional liquid or cook a little longer," she says.

Why is my green bean casserole so runny? ›

Green bean casserole should have a nice thick sauce that coats the green beans—it should not resemble soup. One common cause of a watery casserole is not adding enough thickener, such as flour or cornstarch, to your sauce.

Is green bean casserole better with canned or fresh? ›

"Canned green beans are very soft and delicate," Malarkey says. "They tend to mush up while mixing, and I like a little crunch to my green bean casserole." The other two pros we spoke with agreed. When presented with the choice of fresh or frozen green beans for green bean casserole, frozen came out on top.

What do you do if you add too much milk to green bean casserole? ›

The Casserole Is Too Soupy

Don't worry, there's a relatively easy and quick fix that will help soak up the excess liquid: Make a slurry of flour or cornstarch in liquid (broth or water) to help thicken it up and then cook it for a bit longer.

Why isn't my green bean casserole thickening? ›

Add a thickener

While your green bean casserole is on the stove, incorporate a thickener into the vegetables, such as cornstarch or flour. According to The Kitchn, you can combine cornstarch and a small amount of water or broth in a cup and stir until the lumps are gone, and it becomes a thick yet drizzly consistency.

How do you make a casserole less liquidy? ›

Or better yet, avoid them altogether.
  1. Add A Starch. Cornstarch in wooden bowl - NIKCOA/Shutterstock. ...
  2. Experiment With Pasta Or Grains. ...
  3. Take The Lid Off. ...
  4. Drain Fat From Meat. ...
  5. Choose A Dry Or Low-Fat Cheese. ...
  6. Sprinkle Seeds Into Your Bake. ...
  7. Remove Excess Liquid. ...
  8. Leave The Casserole In The Oven A Bit Longer.
Oct 29, 2023

How do you make beans less liquidy? ›

Either drain off some of the excess liquid, add a thickener such as a starch slurry, or simply cook the beans longer until the liquid reduces out.

How do you thicken baked bean sauce? ›

How to make baked beans from scratch. It is literally a “mix it all in the pot and simmer” job. The only thing to do at the end is to add cornflour/cornstarch to thicken the sauce.

How many cans of green beans are 4 cups? ›

Notes: ✿ 4 cups of green beans is about 1½ pounds fresh or 16 ounces frozen or 2 cans (15 ounces each) drained.

What is a good substitute for cream of mushroom soup in green bean casserole? ›

Instead of condensed cream of mushroom soup, this recipe utilizes an irresistible sour cream sauce thickened with flour and butter. The creamy, tangy mixture adds tons of richness and flavor — so there's no need for any store-bought soup.

Can dogs eat green beans? ›

Are Green Beans Safe for Dogs? Chopped, steamed, raw, or canned—all types of green beans are safe for dogs to eat, as long as they are plain. Green beans themselves are not only safe for dogs, but veterinarians also recommend them as a healthy treat. Best of all, dogs seem to love them.

How do you keep green bean casserole from being runny? ›

Any liquid from the beans will make your casserole watery. Only add 1/4 cup milk with the condensed soup—do not add the water as directed on the can. Add the crispy fried onions during the last 5 minutes of baking or they will absorb some of the sauce and become soggy.

How long can a green bean casserole sit out after baking? ›

The casserole can sit out at room temperature for about an hour, then it should be reheated or stored in the fridge.

Why is my casserole soupy? ›

You might not realise it, but those perfectly ripe, bursting-with-moisture-veggies that you're tossing into your casserole are most likely the culprits when it comes to a watery bake, which is why it's important to heed the recipe when it comes to prepping your vegetables and cooling your finished product.

How do you keep green beans from getting soggy? ›

Boil the beans for about three minutes in a pot of boiling water, then drain and place them in a bowl of ice water for three minutes. Dry well on a dish towel or paper towels. “Pro tip: quick freeze first!” says Susie who insists the extra step is worth it.

How do you thicken baked beans at home? ›

If you want to make a dish of beans thicker; the most straightforward way; is; once the beans are cooked completely; take 1/3 of the cooked beans; puree them ; and add them back to the main pot. (You can adjust with stock or a tomato product if the mixture is too thick).

How to thicken green beans? ›

To ensure this flavor-packed sauce clings to the green beans, we add corn starch as our thickener. It helps forms a thicker glaze. If you find the sauce too thick for your liking, you can always add a touch of water to reach your desired consistency!

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