Best Green Bean Casserole

Here’s a modern spin that makes the very best green bean casserole! It’s made from scratch with fresh green beans, mushrooms, and crunchy potato chips.

Ready for the best green bean casserole? After moving to Indiana, I feel in love with this holiday classic: canned green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and french fried onions. It has this cozy, comforting quality like all great dishes of the 1950’s (right?). But after transitioning to eating less processed foods, Alex and I wondered: could there be a fresh, whole food take on the green bean casserole? So we set about to making a “from scratch” green bean casserole…and added a few innovations of our own.

Why it’s the best green bean casserole?

What makes this the best green bean casserole, in our opinion? First, let us get this out of the way: if you’re looking for the 100% classic, cream of mushroom soup plus canned green beans recipe, this isn’t the recipe for you! But if you’re up for a gourmet from scratch spin, this is where it’s at. Here are the features that make it the best, in our opinion:

1. Fresh green beans. Steaming the green beans gives them a crisp-tender texture: nothing like those mushy canned ones.
2. Real mushrooms. None of those scary black mushy blobs that used to be in my childhood nightmares. This version uses real mushrooms that are actually delicious.
3. Parmesan & a touch of cream. Instead of the can, let’s replace the creaminess with just enough Parmesan cheese and cream to make a “real” creamy base. It coats the beans just the right amount! (It also makes this a gluten free green bean casserole.)
4. Sour cream & onion potato chips. Yep, since French fried onions aren’t part of our standard fare, we decided to innovate and crunch up some sour cream and onion potato chips for the topping. We’ll never go back! It makes for a unique crunchy topping we’ll hope will catch on.

What people are saying about this green bean casserole.

This green bean casserole is already getting rave reviews! Here’s what one recipe tester had to say:

• “It’s better than I expected! I’m used to the can of soup type of green bean casserole, so I wasn’t sure this would be as flavorful or rich. But it’s even more so! I will be making this for Thanksgiving for years to come!” -Kristi

How to trim green beans…fast.

The only part of this recipe where you might get stuck is trimming the green beans. Two pounds is a hefty chunk. And if you snap off each of the ends with your fingers like the traditional method, you might spend ages. Lucky for you, Alex and I found a time saving trick for how to trim green beans! Head to How to Trim Green Beans…Fast!

Where did green bean casserole come from, anyway?

This is what we were wondering as we made this recipe. Did you know green bean casserole was actually an invention by Campbell’s Soup? (I had no idea.) It was invented to use their cream of mushroom soup, and paired it with canned green beans and crunchy french fried onions. It’s an odd combination, but somehow it works! Americans have been making it ever since, mostly for Thanksgiving and other holidays.

Want a few more Thanksgiving (or Friendsgiving) recipes?

Alex and I made this green bean casserole for a virtual Friendsgiving with two of our dear friends! We teamed up with Erin of Well Plated and Becky of The Cookie Rookie to make a few Thanksgiving recipes that all paired well together. Erin and Becky were so kind as to make vegetarian recipes they knew would please all of you dear readers! Here are their drool-worthy recipes (not kidding, we are drooling over here…).

Becky hit it out of the park with this Cheesy cauliflower au gratin! Don’t you want to jump into this bowl?

On, Erin’s pecan pie cobbler is genius! It’s less effort than pie, and looks even more delicious (to us).

This best green bean casserole recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten free.

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Best Green Bean Casserole

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• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 8

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Description

Here’s a modern spin that makes the very best green bean casserole! It’s made from scratch with fresh green beans, mushrooms, and crunchy potato chips.

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Ingredients

• 2 pounds green beans*
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 large shallot
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon ground dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
• Fresh ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup gourmet potato chips, sour cream and onion flavor**

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Instructions

1. Finely chop the mushrooms. Mince the shallot and garlic. Trim the green beans and cut in half.
2. In large skillet, heat 1/4 cup water over medium high heat. When simmering, add the green beans and cover. Cook the green beans for 7 to 9 minutes until green and tender, stirring once or twice. Remove the beans from the skillet to a bowl. 
3. In the same skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the shallot and mushrooms and cook, stirring, 4 to 5 minutes until lightly browned.
4. Reduce heat to medium low and add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add the heavy cream and spices and stir until combined. Add the green beans back to the skillet and cook 1 minute. Add the kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. 
5. Transfer to a serving dish (9 x 9 or medium casserole dish). Top with grated Parmesan and broken chips. (If making in advance, add the topping immediately before serving so that it stays crunchy.)

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Notes

*This quantity makes enough for a 9 x 9 size baking dish or casserole dish equivalent. If you’d like a larger amount for Thanksgiving or to feed a huge crowd, you can double and fit into a 9 x 13 size baking dish.

**Of course if you must, feel free to substitute the traditional french fried onions! We won’t judge.

• Category: Side Dish
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Thanksgiving

Keywords: Green Bean Casserole, Best Green Bean Casserole

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More Thanksgiving resources

Here are a few more resources for Thanksgiving planning:

• Looking for main dishes? Here are our favorite Vegetarian Thanksgiving Main Dishes.
• Want more sides? We’ve got you covered. Here are our Top Thanksgiving Side Dishes.
• Got an Instant Pot? It’s perfect for the holidays because it frees up valuable oven and stove space. Here are all our Instant Pot Thanksgiving Recipes.
• Eat vegan? Here are lots of delicious Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes.

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