This Easy Thanksgiving Green Bean Casserole is the quintessential side dish, a creamy, comforting, and utterly delicious classic that effortlessly elevates any holiday meal. It’s incredibly straightforward to prepare, making it the perfect stress-free addition to your festive spread when you need a crowd-pleasing side without all the fuss.
Key Ingredients for Easy Thanksgiving Green Bean Casserole
Here’s everything you’ll need to create this comforting classic:
- 2 (14.5 ounce) cans cut green beans, drained: Opt for good quality canned green beans for convenience. Fresh or frozen can also be used, blanched until tender-crisp.
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup: The backbone of our creamy sauce, providing a rich, savory base.
- ½ cup milk: Whole milk works best for a richer consistency, but 2% or skim can be used.
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce: A secret weapon for adding a deep umami flavor that perfectly complements the mushrooms.
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper: Freshly ground, if possible, for the best flavor.
- 1 (2.8 ounce) can fried onions, divided: Half for mixing into the casserole, half for that glorious crispy topping.
How to Make Easy Thanksgiving Green Bean Casserole
Get ready to whip up an Easy Thanksgiving Green Bean Casserole that’s incredibly simple, undeniably delicious, and wonderfully satisfying. This recipe boasts a rich, creamy sauce generously coating tender green beans, all crowned with a golden, crispy onion topping. With just 10 minutes of prep time, you’ll have a festive side that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen!
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Preheat and Prepare: Begin by preheating your oven to a warm 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 1½-quart baking dish to prevent sticking. This ensures easy cleanup and a perfect casserole every time.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the condensed cream of mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce, and black pepper. Whisk these ingredients together until they are smooth and thoroughly combined. This creates the foundational creamy sauce for your casserole.
- Add Green Beans and Onions: Gently fold in the drained cut green beans with half of the crispy fried onions into the soup mixture. Make sure the green beans are evenly coated with the creamy sauce. The onions added now will soften and mingle throughout the casserole, adding a subtle onion flavor.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the prepared mixture into your greased 1½-quart baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
- Bake Initial Stage: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly around the edges and heated through. The sauce should be thickened slightly.
- Add Final Topping: Remove the casserole from the oven. Sprinkle the remaining half of the crispy fried onions evenly over the top of the hot casserole.
- Final Bake: Return the casserole to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until the fried onions are golden brown and perfectly crispy. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning.
- Serve and Enjoy: Carefully remove the casserole from the oven. Let it stand for a few minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and the casserole to set slightly. Serve warm and watch it disappear!
Why You’ll Love This Easy Thanksgiving Green Bean Casserole
You’ll absolutely adore this Easy Thanksgiving Green Bean Casserole for its irresistible creamy texture, which is truly its main feature. It’s a nostalgic comfort food that brings back cherished holiday memories, perfectly balancing savory richness with tender green beans. Making it at home is not only incredibly satisfying but also a fantastic cost-saving benefit compared to store-bought alternatives or ordering in.
The crispy fried onions on top are the star of the show, adding a delightful crunch and a burst of savory flavor that takes this dish from simple to spectacular. Unlike a bland boiled green bean side, this casserole offers layers of texture and taste that will have everyone coming back for seconds. Don’t just take our word for it – give this classic a try and make it a staple at your next holiday gathering!
What to Serve Easy Thanksgiving Green Bean Casserole With
This Easy Thanksgiving Green Bean Casserole is a versatile chameleon on your holiday table, pairing wonderfully with almost any festive main course or side. Naturally, it’s a non-negotiable alongside a Roasted Turkey or a succulent Holiday Ham. The creamy, savory notes of the casserole perfectly complement the rich flavors of poultry and pork.
For other side dishes, consider serving it with Creamy Mashed Potatoes for a luscious texture contrast, or Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping for a touch of sweetness. A vibrant Cranberry Sauce offers a bright, tangy counterpoint that cuts through the richness. If you’re looking for something fresh, a simple Garden Salad with a light vinaigrette can provide a welcome balance. And to really complete the meal, a warm slice of Pumpkin Pie or Apple Crumble for dessert makes for a perfect ending!
Top Tips for Perfecting Easy Thanksgiving Green Bean Casserole
- Green Bean Choices: While canned green beans offer ultimate convenience, you can absolutely use fresh or frozen. If using fresh, trim and blanch them for 3-5 minutes until tender-crisp, then shock in ice water. For frozen, thaw and drain thoroughly to prevent a watery casserole.
- Flavor Boosts: For an extra layer of flavor, sauté some diced onions or minced garlic in a tablespoon of butter before adding them to the soup mixture. A pinch of dried thyme or onion powder can also enhance the savory notes.
- Mushroom Soup Alternatives: Not a fan of cream of mushroom? Cream of chicken or cream of celery soup can be substituted, though the classic mushroom flavor is part of its charm.
- Crispy Onion Control: If you want a truly crispy topping throughout, consider adding a little extra cooking time for the final bake, or even broiling for 1-2 minutes until golden, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Preventing Dryness: Ensure your green beans are well-drained. Excess water can dilute the sauce, making it less creamy. If you find your casserole is a bit too thick, a splash more milk can thin it out.
- Holiday Prep Ahead: This casserole is a fantastic make-ahead option! Assemble the entire casserole (without the final fried onion topping) and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, add 10-15 minutes to the initial baking time, then proceed with the fried onion topping as directed.
Storing and Reheating Tips
To store leftover Easy Thanksgiving Green Bean Casserole, allow it to cool completely to room temperature. Transfer any remaining casserole to an airtight container. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
For optimal taste and texture when reheating, cover the casserole with foil and warm it in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 20-25 minutes, or until heated through. Alternatively, individual portions can be gently reheated in the microwave, stirring occasionally, until warm. Avoid overheating, as this can make the green beans mushy. Freezing is generally not recommended for this casserole, as the creamy sauce and fried onions can lose their appealing texture upon thawing and reheating.
Final Thoughts
This Easy Thanksgiving Green Bean Casserole is an absolute winner, delivering unbeatable comfort and flavor with minimal effort. It’s a holiday essential that consistently earns rave reviews, proving that classics are often the best. Don’t hesitate to make this simple yet utterly delicious side dish a part of your next festive gathering – you and your guests will be so glad you did!
Easy Thanksgiving Green Bean Casserole FAQs
Q: Can I use fresh or frozen green beans instead of canned?
A: Yes! If using fresh, trim and blanch them in boiling water for 3-5 minutes until tender-crisp, then drain well. If using frozen, thaw them completely and drain any excess water before adding to the mixture.
try also :
- Lentil and Sweet Potato Salad
- Cranberry Brie Bites
- Crispy Sweet Potato Bites
- Matcha Cake Recipe
- find more in Pinterest
Q: Can I prepare this casserole ahead of time?
A: Absolutely! You can assemble the casserole (without the final crispy fried onion topping) and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, add about 10-15 minutes to the initial baking time, then proceed with adding the fried onions and finishing the bake.
Q: What if I don’t have cream of mushroom soup?
A: While cream of mushroom soup is traditional, you can substitute it with cream of chicken or cream of celery soup for a slightly different flavor profile.
Q: How do I prevent the fried onions from burning?
A: Keep a close eye on the casserole during the final 5 minutes of baking. If your oven tends to run hot, you might even reduce the temperature slightly or place the casserole on a lower rack during this stage.
Q: Can I make this casserole gluten-free?
A: To make this casserole gluten-free, ensure your condensed cream of mushroom soup is gluten-free (some brands are) and use gluten-free crispy fried onions. The rest of the ingredients are naturally gluten-free.
Easy Thanksgiving Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to a warm 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 1½-quart baking dish to prevent sticking.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the condensed cream of mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce, and black pepper. Whisk these ingredients together until they are smooth and thoroughly combined.1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup, ½ cup milk, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Gently fold in the drained cut green beans with half of the crispy fried onions into the soup mixture. Make sure the green beans are evenly coated with the creamy sauce. The onions added now will soften and mingle throughout the casserole, adding a subtle onion flavor.2 (14.5 ounce) cans cut green beans, 1 (2.8 ounce) can fried onions
- Pour the prepared mixture into your greased 1½-quart baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
- Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly around the edges and heated through. The sauce should be thickened slightly.
- Remove the casserole from the oven. Sprinkle the remaining half of the crispy fried onions evenly over the top of the hot casserole.1 (2.8 ounce) can fried onions
- Return the casserole to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until the fried onions are golden brown and perfectly crispy. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning.
- Carefully remove the casserole from the oven. Let it stand for a few minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and the casserole to set slightly. Serve warm and watch it disappear!