Green Bean Casserole | The Modern Proper (2024)

December 1, 2023

Fresh green beans and not a can in sight—our homemade green bean casserole recipe gives your favorite creamy veggie side dish a bit of a makeover.

Categories:

  • Vegetarian
Green Bean Casserole | The Modern Proper (1)

More Holiday Dinner Classics

  • Parker House Rolls

  • Scalloped Potatoes

  • Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows and Pecan Streusel

  • Classic Sausage Stuffing

Classic Green Bean Casserole Made From Scratch

You can make a fresh green bean casserole, from scratch! It’s not even harder than the canned version! Starting with fresh green beans—or even frozen ones—will yield a green bean casserole with better texture. Add this to the holiday list, and make some other greats from our 40 Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes. Or if you’re looking for other ways to serve string beans check out Green Beans Almondine and Green Beans with Apples and Sage Butter.

Green Bean Casserole | The Modern Proper (2)
Green Bean Casserole | The Modern Proper (3)

Can You Make Green Bean Casserole Ahead of Time?

A few hours ahead of time? Yes! A day or two ahead of time? Not really. Green bean casserole is just one of those things that’s best enjoyed freshly-baked. Especially if you’re making it from fresh green beans instead of canned, and making this classic casserole from scratch! There are a few shortcuts.

  • Blanch the green beans ahead of time! You can do this step easily a day or two ahead, and just keep the bean in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble the casserole.

  • On Thanksgiving Day, if you’re short on stove top and oven space, prep the casserole up to the point of putting it into the oven. Then pop it into the fridge until 20 minutes before dinner time. Then, pop it in the oven to bake. You’ll be pulling it out right as the turkey is finished carving.

  • If you’re looking for ways to cut down on prep time, the Green Beans Almondine is a real game changer!

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Fresh Green Bean Casserole Ingredients

  • Green beans–fresh or frozen–either is OK!

  • Dairy: Butter and Half & Half

  • Flour

  • Dijon mustard

  • Seasoning: Onion powder, garlic powder, nutmeg

  • Vegetable or chicken stock. FYI, if you use veggie stock, this green bean casserole will be fully vegetarian, in case you’d like to offer a vegetarian side dish at Thanksgiving.

  • French’s fried onions. This is the one classic ingredient that we’re not messing with. There’s just nothing quite like these crispy fried onion bits, and we’re keeping ‘em! Plus, we’ve been known to snack on them as we cook on Thanksgiving Day—it’s a marathon! We need snacks!

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Green Bean Casserole | The Modern Proper (6)

How Do You Make Green Bean Casserole From Scratch?

  1. Blanch the green beans until they’re just bright green—three minutes for frozen, about five for fresh. Drain green beans, pat them dry, and add them to a 9x13-inch baking dish.

  2. Start making the cream sauce by melting butter, then whisking in flour, onion powder, garlic powder, pepper, salt, nutmeg and Dijon mustard in a large saucepan.

  3. Whisk in the stock until it’s thoroughly combined, then stir in the cream.

  4. Bring the cream sauce to a gentle simmer for a few minutes to thicken.

  5. Pour the sauce over the green beans, and mix to combine.

  6. Bake the casserole for 20 minutes.

  7. Pull the casserole out, give the green beans another stir, then top with French’s crispy onions and bake them for another 10 minutes.

  8. Serve piping hot!

Green Bean Casserole | The Modern Proper (7)
Green Bean Casserole | The Modern Proper (8)

How to Store Leftover Green Bean Casserole + Tips

  • Leftovers will last for 3-4 days in the fridge, and are best reheated in the oven.

  • Can you freeze green bean casserole? We don’t love the texture of this green bean casserole after it is frozen. Best to eat those leftovers as soon as possible!

  • More great Thanksgiving recipes to complete your meal: Baked Brie, followed by Perfect Roast Turkey Recipe, Potato Leek au Gratin and Glazed Carrots, finished with our homemade Pumpkin Pie.

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A Few New Classics Holiday Dishes You Will Love

  • Endive and Roquefort Salad with Pear Vinaigrette

  • Creamed Brussels Sprouts

  • Crispy Shallot Mashed Potatoes

  • Cornbread Stuffing

  • Endive and Roquefort Salad with Pear VinaigretteAn easy and delicious salad for the holiday table, this endive and roquefort salad with pear vinaigrette is easy to pull together and looks stunning on a serving platter.
  • Creamed Brussels SproutsBrussels sprouts need very little work to make them delicious, but we’ve added cream, seasonings, parmesan, and toasty hazelnuts to take them to the next level.
  • Crispy Shallot Mashed PotatoesMashed potatoes are transported to the next level with crispy shallots and the oil they are cooked in, with butter and milk, of course!
  • Cornbread StuffingDelight your family and friends with this delicious and easy cornbread stuffing recipe filled with big pieces of crumbly seasoned cornbread and crunchy buttery veggies.

We’ve Got The Full Thanksgiving Menu + More

For more recipe inspiration, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest or order our cookbook. We love when you share your meals. Tag us on Instagram using #themodernproper. Happy cooking!

Green Bean Casserole | The Modern Proper (2024)

FAQs

How do you make green bean casserole not soggy? ›

If you are finding that your green bean casserole is soupy, be sure to drain the green beans really well after blanching so you aren't getting extra water in the casserole that way. Then make sure to thicken the sauce properly by letting the chicken broth and half-and-half simmer long enough to thicken.

Do people still eat green bean casserole? ›

Of course, some people do eat Green Bean Casserole year-round, but if Campbells stats about the recipe are anything to go by, most people eat it on Thanksgiving.

Why do Americans eat green bean casserole? ›

How It Became a Holiday Staple. Green bean casserole was considered a perfect dish for holiday entertaining because it was simple, inexpensive, and could easily be made ahead of time. It became known as a "jiffy casserole" because it went from one bowl to one pan.

Which is better frozen or canned green beans for green bean casserole? ›

When I make green bean casserole, I skip canned beans all together. Frozen green beans are the best green beans to use for green bean casserole.

Why is my green bean casserole so soupy? ›

The Casserole Is Too Soupy

If you used frozen green beans, but didn't fully defrost and drain them prior to adding them to the casserole, that mistake will surely account for the excess water you're now experiencing.

Why green bean casserole is the best? ›

Fans love the dish in part because of how simple it is to throw together. It calls for ingredients that could be found in a typical home kitchen pantry: canned or fresh green beans, mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce and black pepper.

Can you overcook green bean casserole? ›

Overcooking the beans won't just drain them of their appealing color, but it will also make them too soft and mushy, resulting in a less appetizing casserole.

How to make Paula Deen green beans? ›

Add green beans to pan and sauté over medium heat for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add boiling water to pan and cover. Cook for about 15 minutes, just until beans are tender. Add vinegar, butter and salt and pepper and stir.

Why is green bean casserole served on Thanksgiving? ›

It was originally marketed as an everyday side dish but became popular for Thanksgiving dinners in the 1960s after Campbell's placed the recipe on the can's label. The recipe popularized the combination of the soup with green beans.

Who invented green bean casserole? ›

Who and where was Green Bean Casserole created? The recipe was created in 1955 by Campbell's Test kitchen. It is credited to Dorcas Reilly who was one of the first full-time home economists for Campbell's.

Did Native Americans eat green beans? ›

Beans were an excellent protein source and added additional nutrients to the diet. In addition to green beans, consumed in their tender husks, speckled, kidney, and white beans were the most common varieties.

How do you fix a soggy casserole? ›

Just because your casserole is starting to look a bit soupy doesn't mean it's beyond saving. In fact, all you need to do is add some pasta noodles or grains to your base. This trick works for the simple reason that both types of ingredients soak up water as they cook.

How do you keep green beans crisp? ›

While the beans are cooking, fill a large bowl with cold water and ice. As soon as the beans are done cooking, transfer them immediately to the ice bath to stop the cooking process and preserve their bright green color. Leave the beans in the bowl of ice water for a few minutes before removing them with tongs.

Why are my home canned green beans mushy? ›

To keep home-canned green beans firm, it's important to follow proper canning procedures to ensure that they are processed at the correct temperature and for the correct amount of time. Overcooking or undercooking can cause the beans to become mushy or tough.

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