Old-School Green Bean Casserole (Print)

Nostalgic creamy green beans with mushrooms and crispy fried onions in a comforting dish.

# Components:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces (or 2 pounds frozen cut green beans, thawed and drained)

→ Sauce Base

02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 9 ounces cremini or button mushrooms, sliced
04 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
07 - 1 cup whole milk
08 - ½ cup heavy cream
09 - ½ cup low-sodium vegetable broth
10 - 1 teaspoon salt
11 - ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
12 - ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)

→ Topping

13 - 1½ cups crispy fried onions (store-bought or homemade)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add green beans and cook for 5 minutes until just tender but still bright green. Drain and rinse under cold water to halt cooking. Set aside.
03 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add mushrooms and cook 5-6 minutes until tender and browned. Add onion and garlic and cook 2-3 minutes until softened.
04 - Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually whisk in milk, cream, and vegetable broth. Simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg, if using.
05 - Add drained green beans to the skillet and toss to coat evenly.
06 - Transfer mixture to a 2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle half of the crispy fried onions over the top.
07 - Bake for 25 minutes until bubbling.
08 - Remove from oven, add remaining fried onions on top, then bake for 5 to 7 minutes more until golden and crisp.
09 - Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Creamy comforting classic dish for gatherings
  • Easy to prepare with make-ahead option
02 -
  • This recipe contains milk gluten and possible soy from fried onions
  • You can assemble in advance and bake just before serving to save time
03 -
  • For extra flavor add grated sharp cheddar or Gruy`re cheese to the sauce
  • To make ahead assemble and refrigerate before baking then add fried onions and bake until hot
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