Everyone has a favorite holiday side dish they wait year-round for. You may have asked for the recipe and got told it was a family secret. While that partially might be true because of the added ingredients, green bean casserole is a beloved holiday dish that doesn’t take much time or effort to make. You can even prep the mixture up to two days beforehand! Each family has its own twist of ingredients they use for the casserole. For this purpose, we’ll just show you the basics but feel free to add spices or different types of cheeses (or none!) to suit your tastes. Now, you’ll get to have your favorite side whenever you want!
Green Bean Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cans of french cut green beans, drained (14½ ounce)
- 1 can can condensed cream of mushroom soup (10½ ounce)
- 1 can can of french fried onions (6 ounce)
- 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Mix the soup and green beans into a large microwaveable safe bowl. Mix well and heat on HIGH until warm (three to five minutes).
- Stir in ½ cup of cheese and heat on HIGH for another two to three minutes. You can skip this step if you’re not using cheese.
- Transfer the heated mixture to a casserole dish and top with the French-fried onions and remaining cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven (350 degrees F or 175 degrees C) for around 20 to 30 minutes. The cheese should be melted, and the onions brown.
- Cool and serve!
Green Bean Casserole History
Green bean casserole was created in 1955. Dorcas Reilly of the Campbell Soup Company drew inspiration from what Americans had on hand at the time: cream of mushroom soup and green beans. It’s a quick, easy meal.
Since its debut, green bean casserole became a staple side dish. It’s one of the most popular side dishes served at Thanksgiving in the United States. Normally, you enjoy with some turkey and stuffing. However, you can pair it with almost any dish. It compliments cooked salmon, turkey, chicken, or even steak. Some people love it so much they eat it as a standalone dish!
Green Bean Casserole FAQ
Do I have to use cheddar cheese or any cheese? Can I use non-dairy cheese?
You can add whatever cheese you prefer or skip it entirely. This part of the recipe is optional but will add more flavor and texture to your dish. You can even skip the traditional cream of mushroom soup and go for a dairy-free version.
Do I have to use canned green beans?
Not at all! You can use fresh, frozen, or canned. If you use canned green beans, the casserole will have a softer texture. Fresh or fresh will add more crispiness. Your prep time changes when you use fresh or frozen too. If you want to use fresh or frozen, cook your green beans until tender with a slight crisp. You’ll cook frozen for around five minutes and eight minutes for fresh. You can skip the boiling process for frozen beans, but your casserole could become soft or soupy in texture.
I don’t like cream of mushroom soup. Do I have to use it or can I substitute?
Yes! While the recipe calls for cream of mushroom soup, you can substitute or replace it with cream of chicken or any type of “cream of” soups.
What can I do to add more flavor or make it more like my own?
Some people like to add a quarter cup of milk with the mixture. Others add different sauces and spices like pepper, garlic powder, hot sauce, soy, or Worcestershire. Many like to add extra mushrooms or raw onions. You can change the kind of cheese you use and try pepper jack or a mixture of different kinds. What you add is entirely your choice and up to you.
I don’t have much time, how can I meal prep this recipe?
Prepare your beans whether you are using canned, fresh, or frozen. Combine the mixture as directed but leave out the French-fried onions. If you add them and don’t plan to cook that day, they’ll become soggy. Before you bake, you’ll want to add them. You can store the mixture in your baking dish covered in the refrigerator for up to two days. When you’re ready to cook, remove the dish and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then, follow the recipe as you normally would for bake times and preheating. However, you may need to increase your cook time by about ten minutes. Don’t forget to sprinkle the onions before you place it into the oven!
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