Recipes › Snap Bean › Classic Green Bean Casserole
Classic Green Bean Casserole
The definitive Thanksgiving side dish, this creamy casserole combines tender snap beans with a rich mushroom cream sauce and is crowned with a thick layer of crispy fried onions that everyone fights over. It is the recipe that has appeared on millions of American holiday tables since the 1950s, and for very good reason. Made from scratch, it is far superior to any version using canned soup.
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Ingredients
- 2 lbs fresh snap beans (green beans), trimmed and halved
- 12 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 cups store-bought crispy fried onions
- ¾ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Contains: cereals gluten, milk, soya.
Method
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Blanch snap beans in salted boiling water for 4 minutes until just tender. Drain and transfer to an ice bath. Drain again and set aside.About 8 min
- Melt butter in a large oven-safe skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and sliced mushrooms and cook for 6-7 minutes until mushrooms have released their liquid and are golden.About 12 min
- Sprinkle flour over mushrooms and stir to coat. Cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in broth and cream. Add soy sauce, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 4-5 minutes until the sauce is thick enough to coat a spoon.About 7 min
- Add blanched green beans to the sauce and toss to combine. Transfer to a 9x13-inch baking dish if not using an oven-safe skillet. Scatter crispy fried onions evenly over the top.About 3 min
- Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until the sauce is bubbling around the edges and the onion topping is golden and crispy. Serve hot.About 25 min
Tips
- Do not skip blanching — it ensures the beans stay tender rather than crunchy after baking.
- Soy sauce adds deep savory flavor without making the dish taste Asian; do not omit it.
- Add the fried onions just before baking, not before, to keep them crispy.
Ring the changes
- Add 0.5 cup of grated cheddar cheese to the cream sauce for an even richer version.
- Use fresh green beans cut on the bias instead of standard trimming for a more elegant presentation.
Keeping it
Refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes; add fresh fried onions before reheating to restore crunch.
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More from the same crop
Slender snap beans are blanched until perfectly tender-crisp, then tossed in a skillet with golden browned butter and toasted slivered almonds in the classic French amandine preparation. A squeeze of lemon at the end brightens the rich, nutty butter and makes this one of the most elegant vegetable side dishes in the French repertoire. It takes fifteen minutes and tastes like a restaurant.
15 min · easy · Snap Bean
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