Easy Green Bean Casserole Recipe | A Classic Holiday Side Dish Recipe! (2024)

Easy Green Bean Casserole Recipe | A Classic Holiday Side Dish Recipe! (1) Jessica

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

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This easy green bean casseroleis the retro, holiday side dish you likely remember from childhood! This classic green bean casserole recipe features a creamy mushroom sauce made easy with canned soup, tender green beans and crispy fried onions on top.

Easy Green Bean Casserole Recipe | A Classic Holiday Side Dish Recipe! (2)

Table of Contents

  • Why You’ll Love This Easy Green Bean Casserole Recipe
  • Ingredients Needed for Campbell’s Green Bean Casserole
  • How to Make Green Bean Casserole With Canned Green Beans
  • How to Store and Reheat Leftover Easy Green Bean Casserole
  • More Classic Holiday Side Dish Recipes
  • Get the Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Easy Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Are you a fan of this classic green bean casserole? Even if you never eat condensed soup or canned green beans, many people simply can’t resist during the holidays and here’s why:

  • Quick and Easy:This classic green bean casserole has just 5 ingredients and can grace your dinner table in just 25 minutes from start to finish.
  • Simple and Savory:Made with wholesome green beans, creamy sauce, and crunchy onions, this dish deserves to be served all year long. Make any weeknight dinner festive!
  • Crowd Favorite:Though a single recipe of green bean casserole feeds 6 people generously, you could easily double or triple this recipe for your holiday gathering and watch it disappear.
  • Prep Friendly:Make and refrigerate up to 3 days in advance without the fried onions on top. To prepare, leave on the counter for about 45 minutes, top with fried onions and then bake as directed.

If you prefer from scratch, try my best green bean casserole recipe made with fresh green beans and a homemade cream of mushroom soup. I also have great recipes for crockpot green bean casserole or cheesy green bean casserole!

Easy Green Bean Casserole Recipe | A Classic Holiday Side Dish Recipe! (3)

Ingredients Needed for Campbell’s Green Bean Casserole

This easy green bean casserole recipe comes together with just five simple ingredients! Check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact amounts.

  • Green Beans:Canned, well-drained green beans are the base of the dish.
  • Soup:Canned cream of mushroom soup is the classic choice, but I included non-mushroom options below in the tips section.
  • Milk:Use your favorite milk to thin the sauce slightly.
  • Pepper:Freshly ground black pepper adds depth to the sauce.
  • French Fried Onions:These usually come in a plastic canister and are often stocked near the canned veggies or with the salad toppings.
Easy Green Bean Casserole Recipe | A Classic Holiday Side Dish Recipe! (4)

How to Make Green Bean Casserole With Canned Green Beans

At a time when lots of us are wrangling a whole Thanksgiving turkey, easy sides ready in under 30 minutes are a gift!

Easy Green Bean Casserole Recipe | A Classic Holiday Side Dish Recipe! (5)
Easy Green Bean Casserole Recipe | A Classic Holiday Side Dish Recipe! (6)
Easy Green Bean Casserole Recipe | A Classic Holiday Side Dish Recipe! (7)
Easy Green Bean Casserole Recipe | A Classic Holiday Side Dish Recipe! (8)
  • Prep: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray a 3-quart casserole with nonstick spray, and set it aside.
  • Mix: Whisk to combine the cream of mushroom soup, milk, and pepper. Stir in well-drained green beans, plus half a cup of the crispy fried onions.
  • Top:Pour the green bean mixture into your casserole dish, spread it out evenly and top with the remaining crispy fried onions.
  • Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes. The sauce should be good and bubbly and the onions golden brown.
  • Rest and Serve:Let the green bean casserole rest for 5 minutes, to cool and set up, before serving.
Easy Green Bean Casserole Recipe | A Classic Holiday Side Dish Recipe! (9)
Easy Green Bean Casserole Recipe | A Classic Holiday Side Dish Recipe! (10)

Tips & Variations For Classic Green Bean Casserole

In case you want to put a spin on this classic holiday casserole, here are a few suggestions:

  • Soup Substitutions:If you aren’t a fan of mushrooms, you can use another condensed cream soup such as cream of celery or cream of onion.
  • Onion Topping:I like to mix some of the crispy fried onions into the casserole to help add flavor. This is optional, but definitely recommended. If you aren’t a fan of crispy fried onions, you can use lightly crushed ritz crackers instead.
  • Fresh Green Beans:You can use fresh, cooked green beans if you prefer. You will need about 5 heaping cups.
  • Add Cheese:Like a cheesy casserole? Add 1 to 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese to the green bean mixture, or layer it on top of the green beans before you add the fried onions.
  • Oven Temp:This classic recipe is flexible, and can also be baked at 350°F for a slightly longer time. When the sauce is thick and bubbly around the edges, the casserole is done.
Easy Green Bean Casserole Recipe | A Classic Holiday Side Dish Recipe! (11)

How to Store and Reheat Leftover Easy Green Bean Casserole

If you happen to have leftovers of this easy green bean casserole, they will store great for another time:

  • Fridge: Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container, or in the casserole dish wrapped tightly, for up to 4 days.
  • Reheat: Place the desired portion in a microwave-safe bowl and lightly cover with a paper towel. Reheat until it’s hot all the way through, stirring occasionally. You can also reheat in the oven, at 350°F, until heated through.
  • Freeze: Store it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months, and thaw in the fridge before reheating. Keep in mind, if you freeze the leftover baked casserole with the topping, the fried onions will lose their crunch. For best results, freeze the unbaked, un-topped casserole instead. Then you can add the onions and bake it the day you want to serve it, for a fresh, crispy finish!
Easy Green Bean Casserole Recipe | A Classic Holiday Side Dish Recipe! (12)

More Classic Holiday Side Dish Recipes

Creamy Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

Candied Carrots Recipe

Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

Easy Jiffy Corn Casserole Recipe

  • Cranberry Relish
  • Crockpot Spiral Ham
  • Cracker Barrel Fried Apples
  • Baked Mac and Cheese

Yield: 6 Servings

Easy Green Bean Casserole

This easy green bean casserole is the retro recipe you likely remember from childhood. Classic green bean casserole features a creamy mushroom sauce, tender green beans and crispy fried onions on top.

Prep Time5 minutes minutes

Cook Time20 minutes minutes

Total Time25 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 (14.5 oz) cans green beans, drained
  • 2 (10.5 oz) cans cream of mushroom soup
  • ½ cup whole milk
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 cups French fried onions, divided

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray a 3-quart casserole dish with nonstick spray, and set aside.

  • In a large bowl, mix together the cream of mushroom soup, milk, and pepper. Then stir in the drained green beans and ½ cup of the crispy fried onions.

  • Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish, and spread it out to an even layer. Top the casserole with the remaining fried onions.

  • Bake the casserole for 20 minutes, or until bubbly and the onions are a dark golden color.

  • Let casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Video

Notes

Storage:Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container, or in the casserole dish wrapped tightly, for up to 4 days.

Reheat:Place the desired portion in a microwave-safe bowl and lightly cover with a paper towel. Reheat until it’s hot all the way through, stirring occasionally. You can also reheat in the oven, at 350°F, until heated through.

Prep Ahead: Make and refrigerate up to 3 days in advance without the fried onions on top. To prepare, leave on the counter for about 45 minutes, top with fried onions and then bake as directed.

Soup Substitutions:If you aren’t a fan of mushrooms, you can use another condensed cream soup such as cream of celery or cream of onion.

Onion Topping:I like to mix some of the crispy fried onions into the casserole to help add flavor. This is optional, but definitely recommended. If you aren’t a fan of crispy fried onions, you can use lightly crushed ritz crackers instead.

Fresh Green Beans:You can use fresh, cooked green beans if you prefer. You will need about 5 heaping cups.

Add Cheese:Like a cheesy casserole? Add 1 to 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese to the green bean mixture, or layer it on top of the green beans before you add the fried onions.

Oven Temp:This classic recipe is flexible, and can also be baked at 350°F for a slightly longer time. When the sauce is thick and bubbly around the edges, the casserole is done.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 268kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g, Cholesterol: 6mg, Sodium: 733mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 7g

© Jessica – The Novice Chef

Cuisine: American

Category: Vegetable Sides

Categories:

  • 30 Min or Less
  • Christmas
  • Diet
  • Fall
  • Holidays
  • Recipes
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Post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

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Easy Green Bean Casserole Recipe | A Classic Holiday Side Dish Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

Why is green bean casserole traditional at Thanksgiving? ›

It was originally marketed as an everyday side dish but became popular for Thanksgiving dinners in the 1960s after Campbell's placed the recipe on the can's label. The recipe popularized the combination of the soup with green beans.

What to serve with green bean casserole? ›

The best side dishes to serve with a green bean casserole are collard greens, corn on the cob, kielbasa, fried shrimp, spaghetti and meatballs, London broil, broccoli, caramelized onions, zucchini carrot bread, lentil loaf, Cajun turkey, roasted chicken, grilled steak, baked salmon, pork chops, Apple slaw and Christmas ...

How do you make green bean casserole not soggy? ›

If you sense it's a little watery, "add a thickener like roux or starch to absorb the additional liquid or cook a little longer," she says. That'll give it that rich, dense consistency you're looking for.

Which is better in green bean casserole canned or frozen? ›

Green beans from a can have already been cooked to death right in the can and harbor plenty of sodium that could make your casserole too salty. Frozen French-cut green beans are a better option. They hold their texture better than canned, and you can cook them straight from their frozen state.

Are canned or fresh green beans better for casserole? ›

"Canned green beans are very soft and delicate," Malarkey says. "They tend to mush up while mixing, and I like a little crunch to my green bean casserole." The other two pros we spoke with agreed. When presented with the choice of fresh or frozen green beans for green bean casserole, frozen came out on top.

Where did the original green bean casserole come from? ›

Why is my green bean casserole soggy? ›

Your Crispy Onion Topping Is Soggy

Yet it's one of the most common green bean casserole mistakes a home chef can make. If this happens to you, it may be due to adding that topping too early; toppings should be added at the very end of the cooking process, shortly before you pull it out of the oven.

How do I thicken my green bean casserole? ›

Start making a slurry, a tool for thickening sauces, by whisking a small amount of cornstarch or flour with water or broth. Whisk until there aren't visible lumps. It should be thick but drizzly in consistency. As you constantly stir, add small amounts of the slurry to the filling.

How much is 4 cups of green beans? ›

✿ 4 cups of green beans is about 1½ pounds fresh or 16 ounces frozen or 2 cans (15 ounces each) drained.

Why add baking soda to boiling green beans? ›

Some people (especially food service establishments relying upon your satisfaction) add an alkaline ingredient, such as baking soda, to the cooking water to help retain the color of green vegetables.

Were green beans served at the first Thanksgiving? ›

So, to the question “What did the Pilgrims eat for Thanksgiving,” the answer is both surprising and expected. Turkey (probably), venison, seafood, and all of the vegetables that they had planted and harvested that year—onions, carrots, beans, spinach, lettuce, and other greens.

Which dish was not eaten at the first Thanksgiving? ›

What Wasn't Served at the First Thanksgiving. It is also worth noting what was not present at the first Thanksgiving feast. There were no cloudlike heaps of mashed potatoes, since white potatoes had not yet crossed over from South America.

What vegetables were possibly eaten at the first Thanksgiving? ›

Local vegetables that likely appeared on the table include onions, beans, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, carrots and perhaps peas. Corn, which records show was plentiful at the first harvest, might also have been served, but not in the way most people enjoy it now.

What Thanksgiving dish was created by Louisiana Cajuns? ›

Spinach Madeleine. Spinach madeleine is a bit like a spinach dip but served in hot casserole form. It's a traditional Louisiana recipe and a favorite at the Thanksgiving table.

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