(the REAL kind!) Is there anything more necessary and better than a fresh green bean casserole during the holidays? The answer is no. You actually shouldn’t be alive and living without this. Let me help you out by telling you how much you need this.
Creamy and savory, with soft but tender green beans wrapped in a cream sauce and topped with fried onions and bacon, this dish will impress your mother-in-law. It is so good, you can taste the freshness. You can also make this ahead of time or cook in the moment. Regardless, this fresh green bean casserole will be Granny’s new favorite!
Fresh Green Bean Casserole is Necessary for life.
Life means sustainability, like staying alive during the holidays. This green bean casserole is made from scratch. You will make the killer creamy and savory cream of mushroom sauce and then mix in the green beans, onions, and bacon. Okay, the crispy fried onions and bacon on top are optional. But by optional, I mean have excuses why you don’t have them. They really add that final touch…the one that seals the deal.
Don’t be concerned if you feel this process takes too long. Plan ahead, take your time, and enjoy the process!
How to make Video
You are going to LOVE this dish!! (and may never go back to Granny’s Cream of Condensed Soup Can)
How to make Fresh Green Bean Casserole Directions
Step One: Gather supplies; prep vegetables.
Get all the ingredients on your workbench. Slice the onion, beans, and mushrooms if they didn’t come already cut. Dice the garlic. Get an ungreased 9×13 casserole pan.
Step two: cook green beans down and add veggies.
Add oil to a large cast iron pan and saute the green beans, turning frequently until they have softened. They will turn bright green, then darken, and they may char a bit on the outside. Add onions, mushrooms, and garlic, then cover the top to trap the heat so the beans will cook faster. This will take about 20 minutes.
Step Three: saute the rest of the veggies.
When the green beans are dark and tasty, with translucent onions and creamy mushrooms, remove all of them and put them in the 9×13 pan to the side. Leave the straggling mushrooms in the pan. Next, we will make cream of mushroom to go on top.
Step Four: Patience makes cream of mushroom gold.
Keep the heat on the pan and add butter. Let it melt a bit, then add flour. Whisk them together and start adding milk a splash at a time. Whisk more and more until it becomes a thick paste. Add milk every time it thickens to a mush or paste until 4 cups are added. Add salt and pepper. This takes about 20 minutes.
Step Five: put into casserole dish; cook now or cook later.
Once the cream of mushroom is made, add it to the green bean mix in the dish. Fold it in until it covers all of the pan. At this point, you can cover with a lid or plastic and cook until it’s time to eat, or you can cook immediately. Add bacon or crispy fried onions to the top, then bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Yum!! Enjoy! There is nothing like real cream of mushroom to make a meal more savory!
Storing and other details on this casserole
To store beforehand, cover with a lid or plastic wrap, leaving off all the toppings (unless it is completely cooled) and adding them later when ready to cook. When ready to cook, take it out, remove the plastic top, and cook at 375 for 25 minutes.
To freeze: Yes, you can! But if you plan on making this within a couple of days (even three days!), you DON’T have to freeze it. This is only if you have extras or want it for another event in a few weeks. Ensure a lid is on or wrapped in foil and plastic to protect from freezer burn and that it is cool enough to go into the freezer.
Casserole details:
- Make the green beans as stiff or as soft as you like them. Play by your rules!
- If the cream of mushroom sauce is too thick, add up to 1 more cup of milk.
- Toppings are completely optional, but they are such a great addition.
- Leftovers are good for a week if kept in the refrigerator and with a lid on.
Enjoy your new Green Bean Casserole masterpiece!
I will forever be grateful to never buy cream of condensed chicken, mushroom, or shrimp again! Trust me, you don’t need that stuff. It could kill you.
Let me know what you think…and what the family thought!
Love you guys!
Lisa
Don’t forget to check out more fall favorite recipes!
Fresh Green Bean Casserole Recipe Card
Fresh Green Bean Casserole
(makes one large 9×13 casserole) Creamy and savory, with soft but tender green beans wrapped in a cream sauce and topped with fried onions and bacon.
8
servings30
minutes25
minutesIngredients
2 Tbsp 2 vegetable oil
2 Lbs 2 Fresh-cut French green beans
16 Oz 16 sliced Bella mushrooms
1 Large 1 sweet yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 Clove 1 garlic, diced
- mushroom roux
1/4th Cup 1/4th butter
1/4th Cup 1/4th flour
5 Cups 5 whole milk
1 1/2 Tsp 1 1/2 salt (add more to taste)
1 1/2 Tsp 1 1/2 pepper
crispy fried onions (sub fried jalapeños)
cooked, crunchy bacon, torn
Directions
- Get all the ingredients on your workbench. Slice the onion, beans, and mushrooms if they didn’t come already cut. Dice the garlic. Get an ungreased 9×13 casserole pan.
- Add oil to a large cast iron pan and saute the green beans, turning frequently, until they have softened. They will turn bright green then darken, and they may char a bit on the outside. Add onions, mushrooms, and garlic, then cover the top to trap the heat so the beans will cook faster. I use a cookie sheet, but a lid of some sort will help. This will take about 20 minutes.
- When the green beans are dark and tasty, with translucent onions and creamy mushrooms, remove all of them and put them in the 9×13 pan to the side. Leave the straggling mushrooms in the pan. Next, we will make cream of mushroom to go on top.
- Keep the heat on the pan and add butter. Let it melt a bit, then add flour. Whisk them together and start adding milk a splash at a time. Whisk more and more until it becomes a thick paste. Add milk every time it thickens to a mush or paste until 4 cups are added. Add salt and pepper. This takes about 20 minutes.
- Once the cream of mushroom is made, add it to the green bean mix in the dish. Fold it in until it covers all of the pan. At this point, you can cover it with a lid or plastic and cook it until it’s time to eat, or you can cook it immediately. Add bacon or crispy fried onions to the top, then bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Yum!! Enjoy! There is nothing like real cream of mushroom to make a meal more savory!