Old-School Green Bean Casserole (Print)

Tender green beans baked in creamy mushroom sauce with a crispy fried onion topping.

# Ingredients:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 lb fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces (or 2 lb frozen cut green beans, thawed and drained)

→ Sauce Base

02 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 9 oz cremini or button mushrooms, sliced
04 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
07 - 1 cup whole milk
08 - ½ cup heavy cream
09 - ½ cup low-sodium vegetable broth
10 - 1 tsp salt
11 - ½ tsp black pepper
12 - ½ tsp ground nutmeg (optional)

→ Topping

13 - 1½ cups crispy fried onions (store-bought or homemade)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add green beans and cook for 5 minutes until just tender but still bright green. Drain and rinse under cold water to halt cooking. Set aside.
03 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add mushrooms and cook 5 to 6 minutes until tender and browned. Add onion and garlic; cook 2 to 3 minutes until softened.
04 - Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually whisk in milk, heavy cream, and vegetable broth. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg if desired.
05 - Add drained green beans to skillet and toss to coat evenly with sauce.
06 - Transfer mixture to a 2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle half of the fried onions on top.
07 - Bake for 25 minutes until bubbling. Remove from oven, top with remaining fried onions, and bake 5 to 7 minutes more until golden and crisp.
08 - Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Easy to prepare and feeds a crowd
  • Perfect comfort food for festive gatherings
02 -
  • For extra flavor, add grated cheddar or Gruyère cheese to the sauce
  • This casserole can be assembled ahead and baked just before serving
03 -
  • Use fresh green beans for best texture but frozen are a great time-saver
  • Let your casserole cool for a few minutes before serving for easy slicing
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