A super tasty version of a classic thanksgiving dish, made from scratch using fresh ingredients. Perfectly cooked green beans in a creamy sauce, topped with homemade crispy onion topping, this green bean casserole is a family favorite that everyone will love!
Looking for a different green bean recipe? Check out Southern Green Beans, or Green Beans Almondine, sautéed Green Beans and Country Style Green Beans (with bacon!), too!
Green Bean Casserole
I love the holidays and all the classic recipes that come along with them. I’m talking about the kind of recipes you ate as a child, learned to make with your family, and make them for YOUR family every holiday.
Food is such a memory invoker, and tradition is a huge deal to almost everyone on the holidays.
I mean – Thanksgiving is almost upon us. Turkey is.. well, turkey. I’m the girl who looks forward to all the side dishes on my Thanksgiving table. That means stuffing, gravy, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, fresh rolls and…homemade green bean casserole.
Most classic Green Bean Casserole recipes involve cream of mushroom soup, but I prefer to make my creamy mushroom sauce from scratch. While it is a little extra effort, it contains real ingredients, is much better for you, and the taste is far superior!!
Let’s talk about the topping. Now, yes, of course – you could buy the French fried onions from a can and use those (they’re delicious). BUT, what if I was to tell you that you make crispy fried onions, kick it up a notch and make it BETTER?
We combine onions, flour, salt and panko breadcrumbs and cook them in the oven until crispy and delicious. Then use them as the topping for our Green Bean Casserole.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Adaptable – you can use what you have on hand
- Easy – see my step-by-step instructions (with pictures) below.
- This recipe has a really fast bake time (10-15 minutes) which means your oven space can be used for other things!
Kylee’s Notes & FAQs
Double this classic thanksgiving side dish recipe for a large crowd!
To make ahead
Make the fried onions, make the casserole to just before the baking steps, and refrigerate. Remove from refrigerator and allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before topping and baking.
Storing Leftovers
Store in a airtight container for 2-3 days. Reheat in the microwave, or pop in the oven to warm up.
Substitutions/Additions
Thyme. You can use fresh or dried, if you go for fresh, use 2 tsp, dried, just 1 tsp
Beans. You can use fresh green beans instead of frozen. If you use fresh, blanch them in some salted water for a few minutes before adding them to your sauce.
Fresh green beans can be added instead of frozen beans. Avoid canned green beans, they tend to be mushy.
Key Recipe Ingredients
The full list of ingredients and amounts is found in the printable recipe card below.
- Onions. Cut into 1/4-inch thick slices for the topping, diced for the sauce.
- Flour. All-purpose flour. We’ll use it for the onions and in the creamy sauce.
- Breadcrumbs. I use panko breadcrumbs. They are Japanese breadcrumbs, known for their crispy texture when cooked. Find these with the regular breadcrumbs at the store.
- Olive oil. I use an olive oil cooking spray, but drizzling it with olive oil and mixing well works too.
- Butter. I use salted butter.
- Garlic. Use fresh garlic, and measure it with your heart (which means feel free to double the garlic).
- Mushrooms. Fresh mushrooms, sliced. You could use canned mushrooms if you prefer.
- Thyme. I use dried thyme. To use fresh, double the amount.
- Green beans. I use frozen green beans, but fresh can be used. Avoid canned.
- Chicken stock. Make your own or grab a container from the store.
- Half and half. If you don’t have half-and-half, use heavy cream mixed with equal parts milk.
Recommended Equipment/Tools
- Casserole Dish
- Skillet
- Wooden Spoon
How to make Green Bean Casserole from Scratch
Scroll for Recipe
This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. The full list of ingredients, quantities and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.
Homemade French Fried Onions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet with cooking spray. Cut onions into 1/4-inch thick slices.
In a large bowl, add the flour, panko breadcrumbs, and salt.
Add the onion to a large mixing bowl and mix to evenly coat the onions.
Turn out onions (and any excess flour/breadcrumbs mixture) onto the prepared baking sheet and separate as best you can.
Generously spray the onions with olive oil cooking spray, or drizzle with olive oil.
Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown, stirring every 4-5 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand 2 to 3 minutes, or until ready to use.
Make the cream sauce
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook for 4 minutes, or until softened.
Stir in garlic and continue to cook for 1 minute. Add mushrooms and season with thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook until the mushrooms soften.
Sprinkle the flour over the top and stir until combined. Stir in the chicken stock. Bring to a simmer.
Reduce the heat to medium, then add the half-and-half.
Cook, stirring until the mixture has thickened.
Remove from the heat and add the green beans. Mix well to combine.
Assemble and bake
Place skillet (if oven proof) in the oven or pour the green bean mixture into a baking dish and add the fried onions (along with the crumbs) to the top of the casserole.
Bake for 15 minutes at 450 degrees F, or until bubbling.
Remove from oven and allow to cool (about 5 mins).
More delicious sides:
- Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts – Roasted Brussels sprouts, paired with delicate shallots, salty bacon and a bit of parmesan – YES PLEASE
- Easy Scalloped Potatoes – there’s a video on this one, showing how EASY this is to make!
- Roasted Broccoli. The unsung hero of weeknight dinner sides. This easy recipe is hands-off and super delicious! If you want your family to eat broccoli and LOVE it, give this a try!
- Bacon Wrapped Green Beans. The BEST side for holidays! Fresh green bean bundles are easy to grab and soon to be family favorite!
- Glazed Carrots. A simple side dish, using the sweetness of brown sugar combined with fresh rosemary. These Rosemary Glazed Carrots are great for holidays or just a regular Tuesday!
- Sauteed Green Beans. Garlic and shallots gently flavor these sautéed green beans making them a wonderful weeknight or holiday side dish!
- Red Lobster Biscuits. Soft, fluffy biscuits packed with cheddar cheese, and brushed with flavorful garlic butter after baking, these cheddar biscuits are dreamy!
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Update: This recipe was originally published in November of 2020. It was updated and republished in November of 2022.
Green Bean Casserole from Scratch
Video
Ingredients
For the onion topping
- 2 large onions (cut into 1/4-inch thick slices)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Cooking spray
For the casserole
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 8 ounces mushrooms (sliced)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt & pepper
- 4 cups frozen green beans (20oz )
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup half-and-half
Directions
For the onion topping
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
- Grease a baking sheet with cooking spray.
- Cut onions into 1/4-inch thick slices.
- In a large bowl, add the flour, panko breadcrumbs, and salt.
- Add the onion to a large mixing bowl and mix to evenly coat the onions.
- Turn out onions (and any excess flour/breadcrumbs mixture) onto the prepared baking sheet and separate as best you can.
- Generously spray the onions with olive oil cooking spray, or drizzle with olive oil.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown, stirring every 4-5 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let stand 2 to 3 minutes, or until ready to use.
For the casserole:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add onions and cook for 4 minutes, or until softened.
- Stir in garlic and continue to cook for 1 minute.
- Add mushrooms and season with thyme, salt and pepper.
- Cook until the mushrooms soften.
- Sprinkle the flour over the top and stir until combined.
- Stir in the chicken stock and bring to a simmer.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the half-and-half.
- Cook, stirring until the mixture has thickened.
- Remove from the heat and add the green beans. Mix well to combine.
- Place skillet (if oven proof) in the oven or pour the mixture into a baking dish and top with the fried onions (along with the crumbs) and bake for 15 minutes, or until bubbling.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool (about 5 mins).
Nutrition Facts
Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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