Hot, creamy and out-of-this-world tasty, green bean casserole is a perfect side dish for memorable holiday dinners and weeknight meals alike. It’s one of our favorite Thanksgiving sides, partly because it’s so easy to put together! But what is green bean casserole, anyway? This classic casserole is typically made with green beans, cream of mushroom soup and crispy fried onions. The creamy texture of the soup is offset by the crunchiness of the fried onions for a comforting, flavorful side dish that’s sure to be a hit wherever it’s served.
This recipe is one of those green bean dishes that make you realize just how great this colorful vegetable really is. It calls for just 4 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep time. Easy-peasy! We’d say that makes it the best green bean casserole recipe around. One bite, and you’ll be baking up this iconic dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas and every family potluck from now on.
Here’s a quick overview of how to make green bean casserole. It’s deliciously simple, making this a great recipe to pull together for a big holiday dinner or potluck. Keep the shelf-stable ingredients on hand and you can bake this dish at a moment’s notice! Our detailed green bean casserole recipe and ingredients list are below.
Since this recipe uses canned beans, be sure to drain them after opening the can. We always recommend checking expiration dates and inspecting cans for any dents to ensure quality. Break out the casserole dish and combine your green beans, cream of mushroom soup and milk while heating your oven to 350°F. There’s no need to grease the dish beforehand, as the ingredients will provide enough moisture and fat to prevent sticking.
Place your dish in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, topping your green bean casserole with those tasty fried onions for the last 5 minutes. Add as many or as few as you like—but we recommend just under 3 ounces, which you’ll find in the smaller store-bought containers.
Have a big dinner or get-together coming up? Save some time the day of by assembling your green bean casserole the night before! Combine your green beans, soup and milk in a casserole dish, then cover and refrigerate it until you’re ready to bake it the next day. Pull it out, place it in the oven and proceed with the recipe! Just keep in mind that you may have to add a few minutes of baking time to account for the lower temperature of the chilled casserole. Once you add those crispy fried onions and bake until bubbly, you’ll have a warm, comforting green bean casserole ready to serve. It goes great with rich, hearty meats, so we recommend trying one of our beef recipes for the main course.
Green bean casserole makes excellent leftovers! We especially love reheating it alongside other tasty holiday leftovers from our collection of Thanksgiving recipes. If your guests have gone and you find yourself left with some of this savory side, here’s what to do with it.
Storing Green Bean Casserole: Cover your leftover green bean casserole with plastic wrap and refrigerate immediately.
Reheating Cold Green Bean Casserole: When you’re ready to chow down on some leftovers, spoon your green bean casserole into a microwave-safe dish. Cover it loosely with plastic wrap or a microwave-safe cover and reheat your leftovers on medium-high or 70% until thoroughly heated. Your onions won’t be crispy after being stored in the fridge, so feel free to sprinkle a few additional onions over your warmed green bean casserole before enjoying.
What is it about green bean casserole that makes it special every meal it shows up on the table? It is a Thanksgiving or Easter tradition for many families…one of those memory-making recipes that gets passed down, so the tradition continues! Our green bean casserole is so easy to make, you can have it at every holiday. It’s not likely you will have leftovers of this recipe, but if you do, follow the storage and reheating guidance above. Wondering how to creatively use up your holiday leftovers? These amazing recipes use up those foods in new dishes your family will love.
| Food Component / Nutrient | Amount | % , Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | 7g | 11% |
| Saturated Fat | 2&½g | 14% |
| Trans Fat | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | % Value Not Available |
| Omega-3 | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 520mg | 21% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 10g | 3% |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g | 6% |
| Soluble Fiber | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Insoluble Fiber | 1g | % Value Not Available |
| Sugars | 2g | % Value Not Available |
| Protein | 1g | % Value Not Available |
| Vitamin D | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Calcium | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Iron | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Potassium | 115mg | 3% |
| Vitamin A | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Vitamin C | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Vitamin E | Value Not Available | 2% |
| Thiamin | Value Not Available | 2% |
| Riboflavin | Value Not Available | 6% |
| Niacin | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Vitamin B6 | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Folic Acid | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Vitamin B12 | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Pantothenic Acid | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Phosphorus | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Magnesium | Value Not Available | 2% |
| Zinc | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Manganese | Value Not Available | 6% |
| Selenium | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Copper | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Beta-Carotene | Value Not Available | % Value Not Available |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | ||
