Description
Green bean casserole with crispy bacon and caramelized onions delivers comfort food perfection. Creamy, savory layers combine classic ingredients into a mouthwatering side dish that brings warmth to family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) green beans, fresh or frozen, trimmed
- 1 can (10.5 oz / 298 g) cream of mushroom soup
- 0.75 cup (180 ml) milk
- 1.5 cups (170 g) cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
- 6–8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 0.5 cup (120 g) sour cream
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 0.5 tsp garlic powder
- 0.5 tsp black pepper, or to taste
- 1 can (6 oz / 170 g) crispy fried onions, divided
- Fresh herbs (parsley or chives), optional
- Additional cheese, optional
- Extra bacon crumbles, optional
Instructions
- Prepare oven to 350F (175C), ensuring rack is in the center position for even heating.
- Process green beans by blanching fresh ones in boiling water for 5 minutes or thoroughly draining frozen/canned varieties.
- Create creamy sauce by whisking cream of mushroom soup with milk, sour cream, garlic powder, black pepper, and soy sauce until completely smooth and well integrated.
- Fold green beans into sauce mixture, incorporating half the cheddar cheese, bacon crumbles, and crispy fried onions, ensuring all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Gently transfer seasoned mixture to a greased casserole dish, spreading contents uniformly to promote consistent cooking.
- Sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese across the top, creating a uniform cheese layer.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until casserole becomes bubbling hot and cheese melts completely.
- Carefully remove from oven, immediately garnish with remaining crispy fried onions and bacon crumbles, then return to oven for additional 5 minutes to achieve golden, crisp topping.
- Finish by decorating with fresh chopped herbs like parsley or chives for enhanced visual appeal and subtle flavor complexity.
Notes
- Blanch green beans for a crisp-tender texture that maintains their vibrant green color and prevents mushiness during baking.
- Replace dairy ingredients with dairy-free alternatives like almond milk, vegan sour cream, and dairy-free cheese for a lactose-free version.
- Reduce sodium by using low-sodium cream of mushroom soup and cutting back on added salt, making the dish heart-friendly.
- Add extra crunch by mixing in toasted sliced almonds or crushed crackers alongside the fried onions for a more textured topping.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 335 kcal
- Sugar: 5.0 g
- Sodium: 1 009 mg
- Fat: 23.9 g
- Saturated Fat: 8.9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14.9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17.9 g
- Fiber: 3.3 g
- Protein: 12.2 g
- Cholesterol: 43 mg