The BEST Green Bean Casserole Recipe (for Thanksgiving)
The BEST Green Bean Casserole Recipe for Thanksgiving is the classic recipe with a bit of a twist. Thanksgiving dinner isn’t complete without the classic green bean casserole recipe on the table!
If you love French’s green bean casserole, you will love this recipe! We’ll make a few substitutions, but it’s still the easy recipe that everyone loves.
You will love this recipe if you’re looking for an updated version of one of your favorite recipes that still uses simple ingredients.
The original recipe from recipe developer, Dorcas Reilly, who created Green Bean Bake should be on every holiday table, and it’s estimated that to this day each year, over 20 million people make it!
Some recipes call for cheddar cheese, but this recipe leaves that out. If you think it needs it, it will still go well, I promise!
How to Make the BEST Green Bean Casserole Recipe
First, let’s chat about the original recipe, and what I’m substituting in mine.
Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup is the iconic soup that’s in easy green bean casserole. Campbell’s Soup Company has printed the simple recipe on the back of the cans for decades.
In its stead, I chose to use Cream of Onion soup. This is an easy way to make the creamy green bean casserole with a real onion flavor.
There really isn’t a soup you can go wrong with! If you’ve only got cream of chicken soup on hand, and you’ve got a hankering for some Campbell’s green bean casserole, use it!
Sour Cream — sour cream is not in the original recipe. But, this is an added bonus to the favorite dish on every Thanksgiving table! I added some sour cream to Cathy’s Chicken Recipe, and when I tasted the combination of creamy mushroom sauce with the sour cream, I knew I had to try it in the green bean mixture! So good.
This recipe is really so simple, just a few ingredients:
- Cream of Onion Soup
- Sour Cream
- Canned Green Beans
- French Onions
You could use a little milk to thin out the sauce as the original recipe calls for. And, you could get really fancy and add in some extra seasonings like red pepper, soy sauce, or something to add your personal touch to the recipe!
Mixing This Casserole Dish
In a large mixing bowl, you’ll plop in your onion soup, sour cream, and drained green beans.
Now, before you ask, yes! You can definitely use fresh green beans. I happen to be one of those people who love the taste of canned green beans! I always have! Just make sure you’ve got tender green beans. Using fresh beans during the holiday season is delightful! And everyone will appreciate it.
Mix the soup, sour cream, and green beans together until they’re evenly coated. Here is where I’ll add a few grinds of black pepper.
Then, just plop this into a casserole dish.
Sprinkle with those crunchy, golden-brown fried onions! Yum, y’all!! So so good!
You’ll cover the baking dish and bake at 350˚ for about 25-30 minutes. Then, remove the foil and allow the top of the perfect side dish to get brown and bubbly!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better in green bean casserole canned or frozen? This is a personal preference. There is a major convenience factor when you use canned green beans. They’re fully cooked, soft, and ready to go. If you’re worried about the sodium content, choose the salt-free option! Frozen works well, but you need to cook them first until they are fully tender.
How do you make green bean casserole not soggy? So, the original recipe calls for a cup of milk, and I omit this. While it thins out the sauce, sometimes it makes the casserole too runny. Play around with what you prefer in your recipe. And, if you’re worried about the onions getting soggy, leave them off until the end of the cooking time, then sprinkle them on top.
Can green bean casserole be mixed up ahead of time? Yes! It sure can! Mix up the ingredients (minus the crunchy onions!), and store the green bean mixture in an airtight container in the fridge until you are ready to bake. Then, you’ll press it out into a casserole dish, and bake according to the printable recipe card.
Can you make this recipe in the crock pot? Yes! There are lots of recipes on the internet that you can find!
Serving Campbell’s Green Bean Casserole Recipe
When you’re ready to serve this recipe for your family dinner here are a few ideas for main dish pairings.
Grandma’s Roasted Turkey — this is the iconic menu item you’ve got to have!
Thanksgiving Dinner Menu – if you need a complete menu, give this one a try!
Pork Chops — this recipe makes a great side dish any time of year! And pairing with pork chops is delish!
If you’re having a lot of people and need a bigger recipe, you can double the recipe for a 9×13 option. Or, spoon into muffin-pan cups and enjoy that way!
Finally, the Best Green Bean Casserole recipe is meant to be enjoyed with a table full of people, and a table full of food.
Save this to your favorite Holiday Food Board on Pinterest!
The BEST Green Bean Casserole Recipe (for Thanksgiving)
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: side dish
- Method: oven-baked
- Cuisine: southern
Description
The BEST Green Bean Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 10.5 ounces can of Cream of Onion Soup
- 1 cup Sour Cream
- 28-ounce can of Green Beans, drained
- 6-ounce container of Fried Onions
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350˚.
- In a large mixing bowl add the cream of mushroom soup, 1 cup of sour cream, 28-ounce can of drained green beans, and 1/3 cup of the onions.
- Mix all of these ingredients together until evenly incorporated.
- Pour into an 8×8 baking dish, and top with remaining onions.
- Cover and bake at 350˚ for 30 minutes.
- During the last 5 minutes, remove the foil from the baking dish and brown the top of the casserole.
Notes
You can make this recipe ahead of time! Before you add the remaining onions to the top of the casserole, wrap the dish in plastic wrap. Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Bake accordingly.
