Description
This Ultimate Green Bean Casserole is a classic comfort food dish, featuring crisp-tender green beans coated in a creamy mushroom sauce, topped with crispy French fried onions and optional cheese. Perfect as a hearty side or main dish, it combines savory flavors and a satisfying crunchy topping for a timeless favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
Green Beans
- 4 cups fresh green beans, trimmed and blanched (or 4 cups frozen green beans, thawed)
Sauce
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 tablespoon oil or butter (for sautéing onions)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Topping
- 1 1/2 cups French fried onions
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Prepare Green Beans: If using fresh green beans, blanch them in boiling water for about 4 minutes until bright green and crisp-tender, then drain and set aside. For frozen green beans, just thaw and set aside.
- Sauté Onions: Heat a tablespoon of oil or butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onions and sauté for 5-7 minutes until they become translucent and slightly caramelized, enhancing their natural sweetness.
- Mix Sauce: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sautéed onions with cream of mushroom soup, milk, and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir well until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Combine Green Beans and Sauce: Gently fold the prepared green beans into the creamy mushroom mixture until evenly coated without breaking the beans.
- Assemble Casserole: Pour the green bean mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish and spread it out evenly for uniform cooking.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle a generous layer of French fried onions on top of the casserole. Optionally, add shredded cheddar or Parmesan cheese for an extra cheesy crust.
- Bake: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the dish is bubbly and the topping is golden brown and crispy.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from oven and allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes before serving to let it set slightly.
Notes
- Blanching fresh green beans helps maintain their bright color and crisp texture in the casserole.
- Using French fried onions as a topping adds a delicious crunch contrast to the creamy casserole.
- Cheese is optional but adds a rich flavor and golden brown crust when baked.
- You can prepare this casserole ahead of time and refrigerate before baking; just increase baking time slightly if baking from cold.
- Season with salt and pepper carefully, as cream of mushroom soup may already contain salt.
