Description
Green bean casserole elevates traditional holiday sides with crispy bacon, caramelized onions, and a creamy mushroom sauce. Home cooks can savor this comforting classic that brings warmth and nostalgia to family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) fresh green beans, trimmed and cut
- 1.5 cups (340 grams) cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1.5 cups (135 grams) crispy fried onions
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
Sauce and Binding Ingredients:
- 2 cans (21 ounces or 595 grams) cream of mushroom soup
- 0.75 cup (180 milliliters) milk
- 0.5 cup (120 grams) sour cream
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) mushrooms, sliced and sauteed
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter (for sauteing)
Instructions
- Prepare green beans by immersing in rapidly boiling water for 5 minutes, then immediately transfer to ice water to halt cooking process. Drain thoroughly.
- Render bacon in a skillet until crisp and golden, then crumble into small fragments. Set aside.
- Using the same skillet, melt butter and sauté minced garlic with sliced mushrooms until they release moisture and become tender, approximately 6-7 minutes.
- Combine cream of mushroom soup, milk, sour cream, cheddar cheese, soy sauce, and ground black pepper in a spacious mixing bowl, whisking until completely integrated.
- Fold blanched green beans into the creamy mixture, ensuring even coating. Gently incorporate crumbled bacon and sautéed mushrooms.
- Grease a casserole dish and carefully transfer the verdant mixture, spreading evenly across the surface.
- Sprinkle crispy fried onions generously across the top for a crunchy textural element.
- Position in a preheated 350°F oven and bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until edges bubble and surface transforms to a rich golden-brown hue.
Notes
- Blanch green beans precisely for 5 minutes to maintain crisp texture and bright green color, avoiding overcooking which makes them mushy.
- Use thick-cut bacon for maximum flavor and crunch, cooking until extra crispy before crumbling into the casserole.
- Experiment with different cheese varieties like gruyere or pepper jack to add unique depth and complexity to the traditional recipe.
- For gluten-free adaptation, replace cream of mushroom soup with homemade version using gluten-free flour and substitute fried onions with gluten-free breadcrumb topping.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 271 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 481 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 42 mg