Green Bean Casserole (No Cream of Mushroom Soup)

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it is time to share one of my favorite, homemade side dish recipes that I make every year for our holiday meal: Green Bean Casserole.

Tender green beans coated in a thick and creamy mushroom based sauce and cooked until hot and bubbly. Then the dish is topped with fried onions and baked until golden brown and crispy.

However, instead of following the instructions on how to make this recipe from the back of the Fried Onions container, I make my own version that doesn’t include condensed cream of mushroom soup.

And I have been told by everyone who tries it that the taste is way better than the standard recipe on the back of the package.

Why This Is The BEST Green Bean Casserole Recipe?

So when I began to question what makes my casserole so delicious, I decided the answer is two-fold.

1. Use Fresh Green Beans

First of all, I use fresh green beans for this recipe. Fresh picked green beans retain their shape and don’t fall apart or turn to mush when baked.

However, if you are wondering if you can use the cans of whole green beans that have been sitting in your cupboard for months, of course you can.

However canned green beans already are soft. So when you bake them in a casserole, they will become even softer.

You certainly can make this classic green bean casserole with them. But once you use fresh green beans, you will never go back!

2. Homemade Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup

The second reason that this classic green bean casserole is so good is that I make my own condensed cream of mushroom soup. See: Homemade Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup recipe.

Ideally, I will make the homemade condensed cream of mushroom soup a couple of weeks ahead of the holiday. I then store it in the freezer and thaw it out when I need it for this recipe.

However, as life happens, there are sometimes when I don’t have any in the freezer and have to start from scratch. Although it is a little time consuming, it gives me an opportunity to add in a few special ingredients to make it even better.

Not only does it taste better than canned cream soup, it is much healthier for you as well!

Making Green Bean Casserole Using Fresh Mushrooms

It is easy to incorporate fresh mushrooms in a cream sauce directly into your recipe. It adds so much flavor and a step that shouldn’t be skipped!

But be sure to use gourmet mushrooms whenever possible. White button mushrooms have little flavor and will result in a bland sauce.

I prefer to use baby Bella or Cremini mushrooms. Of course, if Shiitake mushrooms are available and on sale, then I would definitely add those in as well!

Start by sauteing the mushrooms with a little onions and garlic. Then add in a little flour to the pan to thicken everything. Next add some sour cream and heavy cream to make the sauce.

Once everything gets nice and thick, add in the crispy fried onions and blanched green beans. Mix everything together and put it in a casserole dish.

Once the green bean casserole has heated through, add a layer of crispy fried onions to the top and brown.

A few minutes later – the classic green bean casserole is ready!

Just be prepared for everyone to ask you to make this dish again at the next get together!

Homemade Green Bean Casserole Recipe

*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 pounds green beans, trimmed 
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 pound baby bella mushrooms
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup chicken broth, low-sodium
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 1/3 cups crispy fried onions, divided

INSTRUCTIONS

The first step in making this homemade green bean casserole is to preheat the oven and bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. While the pot is boiling, prepare the fresh green beans by trimming off each end and removing any bad spots.

Once the pot begins to boil, add the green beans to the water and cook for 2-3 minutes. Drain the beans and immediately place them in an ice water bath. When cool, drain and set on dry paper towels to dry.

While the green beans are drying, make the mushroom cream sauce. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the butter. Once the butter is melted and the pan is hot, add the sliced mushrooms.

Saute for 1 minute, then add the thyme and garlic and continue cooking the mushrooms until they have lost most of their moisture. This process will take approximately 5-7 minutes.

Then season mushrooms with salt, pepper, cayenne and nutmeg. Continue to cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.

Next, sprinkle the mushrooms with flour and gradually add in the chicken stock. Whisk the mixture together and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and stir in the sour cream and heavy cream.

Continue to cook over low heat until the creamed mixture thickens, approximately 5 minutes.

Assemble The Green Bean Casserole

When the sauce is almost finished, add the blanched green beans and 2/3 cup fried onions into a 2 quart casserole dish. Pour the gravy mixture over the green beans and mix to coat.

Spread the mixture out evenly in the pan. Then sprinkle the top of the green bean casserole with the Parmesan cheese.

Place the baking dish in the oven (uncovered) and bake for 20 minutes. Then sprinkle the remaining fried onions on top and bake for an additional 5 minutes.

Take the homemade green bean casserole out of the oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Other Popular Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

If you are looking for other popular side dish recipes to serve around the holidays, you may enjoy a few of my personal favorites. Who knows, maybe they will become a new favorite around your table for years to come.

• Slow Cooker Dressing
• Wild Rice Salad
• Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
• Easy Sweet Potato Casserole
• Corn Casserole
• Twice Baked Potato Casserole
• Baked Scalloped Potato Casserole
• Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole

Instant Pot Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

And if you don’t have room in your oven to make another side dish, you can use your pressure cooker to get the job done. Here are some of my favorite Thanksgiving side dish recipes that I make in my Instant Pot.

• Instant Pot Corn Casserole
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Instant Pot Thanksgiving Dressing
• 5 lbs. Mashed Potatoes Recipe
• Instant Pot Sweet Potato Casserole

Enjoy! Mary

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