This Classic Green Bean Casserole Recipe is made with fresh green beans and a surprise ingredient that sends it over the top!
Green bean casserole is the perfect side dish to a Roasted Turkey, Prime Rib or Juicy Chicken Breasts.
Green Bean Casserole is a classic American side dish to any holiday meal. This cheesy version includes fresh green beans, cheddar cheese for a surprise kick of flavor, and crispy fried onions in a creamy sauce. It’s a side dish that nobody can resist.
Classic Green Bean Casserole Recipe
This Classic Green Bean Casserole is always on my holiday dinner table.
Ingredients Needed
Here’s the basic list of ingredients that you’ll need in order to make this easy green bean casserole with fresh green beans. As always, you can find the full list of ingredients located in the printable recipe card below.
- Fresh Green Beans – frozen will work too!
- Cream of Mushroom Soup – feel free to swap with cream of chicken or cream of celery if desired.
- Milk – this gives the green beans the moisture needed to get soft while baking.
- Worcestershire Sauce – found in the condiment aisle
- Fried Onions – a classic ingredient in any green bean casserole!
- Cheddar Cheese – shredded, adds that extra element of flavor and creaminess!
How To Make Green Bean Casserole
Making homemade green bean casserole is actually super easy to do. Whether you’re using canned green beans, fresh or frozen, you’ll have great success with this recipe.
Trim Green Beans
Start by trimming your fresh green beans (remove the stems and cut them into bite-size pieces).
You’ll want about 4 cups of cut green beans, which is approximately 1 1/2 lbs.
FROZEN GREEN BEANS: You can swap the fresh green beans for frozen, no need to defrost them, just add them to the recipe as directed. You’ll want to bake the casserole longer so the beans are nice and tender.
Parboil Beans
Boil or steam your green beans just until they’re fork tender. Don’t overcook them or you’ll end up with a mushy casserole in the end.
Make Sauce
While your green beans are cooking, mix up the cream of mushroom soup, milk, Worcestershire sauce, some (not all) of the fried onions and pepper DIRECTLY IN YOUR CASSEROLE DISH!
Once your green beans are ready to go, simply toss them along with the crispy fried onions and cheddar cheese in the casserole dish and stir to coat.
Bake Green Beans
Next, just pop the green bean casserole in a preheated 350 degree F oven, uncovered for about 25 to 30 minutes (or until the center of the dish is bubbly).
Pull the Green Bean Casserole out of the oven and stir it up.
Top with a little more crispy fried onions and pop it back in the oven for just a few more minutes.
Prepare Ahead and Storage
Prepping a side dish ahead of time for Thanksgiving or any meal can be a blessing. Here’s how to prepare green bean casserole ahead of time.
Parboil the green beans and prepare the creamy sauce as described in the recipe. Before baking, cover tightly in casserole dish and store in fridge for up to 48 hours.
Uncover and bake in preheated oven (may need to be baked slightly longer if chilled through). Stir and then top with crispy onions as directed.
Store any leftover green bean casserole in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Can You Freeze Green Bean Casserole?
I personally don’t think this would be the best recipe to freeze and reheat. This green bean casserole recipe is best when served right away after baking.
Try this easy Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole for another method of cooking.
FAQ and Tips
I’ve gotten a few questions over the years about making alterations with this recipe, so here are some tips and questions answered to help you out!
What Can I Use instead of Worcestershire Sauce?
I like to use Worcestershire sauce for the extra savory flavor it adds, but you can also use soy sauce in it’s place.
If we don’t like Mushrooms can we use something else besides Cream of Mushroom?
Yes! Swap cream of mushroom soup with cream of chicken, celery or other soup flavor desired.
The addition of cheese in this Classic Green Bean Casserole really takes it to the next level. You’re going to be blown away at this delicious holiday side dish!
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Green Bean Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into bite-size pieces
- 10.5 oz. can cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 2/3 cups crispy fried onion strings, divided
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat a 3 quart casserole dish with non stick spray and set aside.
- Place the green beans in a pot of lightly salted boiling water and cook until fork tender (about 10 minutes). Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, milk, Worcestershire sauce and pepper directly in the casserole dish, until smooth.
- Add the green beans, 2/3 cups of the onion strings and all of the cheddar cheese. Stir to coat the green beans.
- Place in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until the center is bubbly. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the remaining fried onion strings. Place back in the oven for an additional 5 minutes. Enjoy right away.
Nutrition
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Great to add cheese! But with or without the cheese, adding a pint of fresh mushrooms mixed with the green beans and soup adds a great texture and flavor plus a little garlic powder!
Adding fresh mushrooms sounds like a winning combo!
This has become a favorite version for my family and me, and I make it every year now. This year I made it without even measuring and I know it will be great! Thanks!
Apparently, we agree! I’ve been doing the same
So glad I finally found a good recipe – I think the trick is the onions crushed up inside the sauce – perfect! I’m looking forward to trying more of your recipes.
Thank you
Thank you Becca! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe. 🙂
I did fresh green beans and didn’t add the cheddar cheese. It is veryyyyy good. Will cook this throughout the year!!
My husband doesn’t like mushrooms. Any substitutes for the cream of mushroom soup?
You could try cream of chicken soup. It will change the flavor, but should still be nice and creamy!
Instead of Cream of Mushroom Soup, I have used Cream of Celery Soup, not because I dislike mushrooms, the Cream of Celery gives it great taste in whatever I am cooking. I personally do not celery and often cook with celery seed, especially in scrambled egg breakfast tacos. I love being an experimental cook and baker. Creative cooking to you!
My daughter has always HATED mushrooms, but ABSOLUTELY LOVES green bean casserole, my Swiss chicken stuffing bake, basically everything that uses cream of mushroom soup. I tried substituting cream of chicken & she looked disgusted after the 1st bite… I’ve just never told her! Your hubby won’t notice either, just tell him they’re caramelized shallots
I made this and my family loved it – especially with the addition of cheese!
I’m so glad to hear that Deborah! Thanks for the comment!
Should I Blanch raw green beans before mixing this recipe together?
The recipe calls for them to be slightly cooked prior to adding to the casserole dish. Just follow the directions and you’ll be golden!
Would frozen green beans work?
Can you make this recipe in a slow cooker(crock pot)?
Yes! You should try my Crock Pot Green Bean Casserole recipe!
Yes! You should try my Crock Pot Green Bean Casserole recipe!
Yes! You should try my Crock Pot Green Bean Casserole recipe!
What size dish would you say this recipe fits?
Anywhere between 7×11 and 9×13.
Hi!!
I have tried many of your recipes. Thank you. I am going to try this for this Thanksgiving. My question: is the amount of fried onions required 1 and 2/3 cups? That means I have to add 2/3 cups while mixing in the casserole and another ¹ cup in the middle of the bake. Is my understanding orrect
The remaining 1 cup of onions will be sprinkled on top of the casserole dish towards the very end of baking. Enjoy!
I just assembled this recipe for tomorrow. It will sit in the fridge overnight and get popped in the oven Thanksgiving day. My taste test was great so you know it will be outstanding when baked! I love a dish I can make ahead of time. Thanks!
Enjoy it! Happy Thanksgiving!
I made this traditional green bean casserole recipe for my grown kids and grandkids who had never had a green bean casserole of any kind. What a hit! I won’t wait for Thanksgiving to make this again. Thank you for making the “traditional” all new again!
This has always been a family favorite, but I’ve always just used canned beans. Can’t wait to try it with the fresh ones. Thanks for the recipe!
The fresh beans make all the difference!
They were fabulous! Everyone raved over them! Added to my favorite dishes! Thank you.
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it!