Description
A nostalgic yet fresh green bean casserole featuring fresh green beans, a creamy mushroom sauce made from scratch, and a crispy fried onion topping. Perfect for holiday tables and ready in under 45 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
- 1 cup chicken broth or vegetable broth
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1.5 cups French fried onions (homemade or store-bought)
- Olive oil or vegetable oil for frying onions (if making your own)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the trimmed green beans and blanch for 4-5 minutes until bright green and just tender. Drain and immediately transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop cooking. Drain again and set aside.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for about 4 minutes until softened and translucent. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute.
- Toss in the sliced cremini mushrooms and cook until they release moisture and become golden brown, about 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Sprinkle the flour over the mushroom mixture and stir constantly for 1-2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste. Slowly whisk in the milk and broth, stirring continuously to avoid lumps.
- Continue stirring as the sauce thickens, about 3-5 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. The sauce should be creamy and coat the back of a spoon.
- Remove from heat and gently fold in the blanched green beans, ensuring everything is evenly coated.
- Transfer the green bean and mushroom mixture into your prepared 9×13 inch baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
- Sprinkle the French fried onions generously over the top.
- Place the casserole in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, until bubbly and the topping is golden brown.
- Let the casserole cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
If topping browns too quickly, tent casserole loosely with foil halfway through baking. Stir sauce continuously to avoid lumps and burning. For homemade crispy onions, keep oil temperature steady around 350°F (175°C). Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days. Reheat covered in oven to maintain crispiness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup per serv
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 5
Keywords: green bean casserole, holiday side dish, crispy fried onions, mushroom sauce, classic casserole, homemade green bean casserole