Creamy Homestyle Easy Green Bean Casserole (Print Version)

Craving a classic? This easy green bean casserole recipe brings back all the comfort with a creamy sauce and crispy onions. Simple to make!

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 20 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 40 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 60 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Contains dairy, gluten. Can be made vegetarian with vegetable broth.

# Ingredients:

→ Base Ingredients

01 - 1.5 lbs fresh green beans, trimmed
02 - 8 oz cremini or button mushrooms, sliced
03 - 1 small yellow onion, chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Creamy Sauce Staples

05 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
06 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
07 - 1.5 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
08 - 1 cup heavy cream
09 - 1 tsp soy sauce

→ Flavor & Seasoning

10 - Salt, to taste
11 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Crispy Topping

12 - 1 (6 oz) can crispy fried onions, divided

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, get those green beans ready. I snap off the ends, give them a good rinse, and then boil them in salted water for about 5-7 minutes. You want them tender-crisp, not mushy! This is where I always forget to salt the water, oops, but it makes a difference in flavor. Drain them well and set aside. While that's happening, slice your mushrooms and chop your onion and garlic. It smells so good already, getting all those fresh aromatics prepped!
02 - Now, grab a large oven-safe skillet or a Dutch oven. Melt a couple of tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add your chopped onion and sliced mushrooms. Sauté them until the onions are softened and the mushrooms have released their liquid and are nicely browned, about 8-10 minutes. Honestly, this step makes such a difference in flavor for your easy green bean casserole, don't rush it! Stir in the minced garlic for the last minute until fragrant—don't let it burn, that's a mistake I've made too many times.
03 - Sprinkle the flour over the sautéed veggies, stirring constantly for about a minute. This creates your roux. Slowly, and I mean *slowly*, whisk in the chicken broth, making sure there are no lumps. Then, pour in the heavy cream and a splash of soy sauce. Bring it to a gentle simmer, whisking occasionally, until the sauce thickens to a consistency you like. It should be coating the back of a spoon. Taste it now and season with salt and pepper. This is where you can adjust to your liking!
04 - Once your sauce is perfect, gently fold in your blanched green beans. Make sure they're completely coated in that glorious creamy mixture. If you're using an oven-safe skillet, you can just leave it there. Otherwise, transfer everything to a 9x13 inch baking dish. This is where my kitchen usually gets a little messy, with sauce drips everywhere, but it's all part of the fun, right? Pop it into a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 15-20 minutes.
05 - After the initial bake, pull the casserole out. It should be bubbly and warm. Now for the best part! Sprinkle about two-thirds of the crispy fried onions evenly over the top. I sometimes go a little overboard here, but who's judging? Return it to the oven for another 5-10 minutes, or until those onions are golden brown and perfectly crunchy. Keep an eye on them; they can burn quickly, which I've learned the hard way more than once!
06 - Once those onions are gloriously golden, pull your easy green bean casserole out of the oven. Let it sit for a few minutes to cool down slightly and allow the sauce to set up a bit. Garnish with the remaining fried onions, because honestly, you can never have too many. The smell is absolutely divine—creamy, savory, with that hint of crispy onion. It just looks so inviting, a truly comforting dish ready to be devoured.

# Notes:

01 - Don't overcook the green beans in the first step; they'll get mushy in the oven, I've done it.
02 - Best to reheat leftovers in the oven to prevent the sauce from separating, avoiding the microwave if possible.
03 - Fresh mushrooms make a huge difference in flavor, but canned green beans are fine if that's what you have.
04 - Serve this comforting dish alongside roasted chicken or a simple steak for a truly satisfying meal.

# Equipment Needed:

01 - Large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven
02 - 9x13 inch baking dish
03 - whisk
04 - cutting board
05 - knife

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 280
Total Fat: 20g
Total Carbohydrate: 18g
Protein: 6g

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