Discover the secret to this family favorite, perfect French bean casserole, a classic holiday green bean casserole recipe. Using canned French-style green beans makes this recipe incredibly convenient, saving you loads of time without losing flavor. Learn how to easily create a creamy, comforting casserole with a crispy, golden-brown onion topping that has everyone getting seconds. Also, see related recipes in Holiday, Thanksgiving, or Christmas categories.
French Bean Casserole Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1 can = 10½ ozs.
- ⅔ cup milk 2% or whole
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce or Worcestershire Sauce or ½ amount salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 cans green beans drained, French style cut
- 1 cup French's crispy fried onions for bean mixture (1 cup=⅓ of 6 oz. French's container)
- 1¾ cups French's crispy fried onions for topping (1¾ cups=rest of 6 oz. French's container)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 °F (or, 375 °F).
- Combine and stir together all ingredients (except topping) into a greased 2½-quart casserole dish.1 can cream of mushroom soup, ⅔ cup milk, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, 4 cans green beans, 1 cup French's crispy fried onions
- Cover (lid or foil) and bake, any shelf, at 350 °F for 30 minutes (or, 375 °F for 25 minutes).
- Remove covering & spread rest of fried onions over casserole as a topping.1¾ cups French's crispy fried onions
- Bake, uncovered, for 5 more minutes or until topping is browned.
Notes
Ingredients Sizes & Substitutions
- 1 can green beans, drained = 1½ cups canned green beans
- 1 can green beans, drained alternate = 2 cups fresh green beans, cooked
- 1 can green beans, drained alternate = 2 cups frozen green beans, cooked
- a 6-ounce container of French’s crispy fried onions = 2¾ cups
- substitution for soy sauce = same amount Worcestershire sauce
- substitution for fried onions = same amount of crumbled up Ritz crackers
- substitution for milk = 1/2 amount of half & half plus 1/2 amount of water
- Why 2 baking temperature options? In case you need to match oven temp with another oven recipe dish.
Nutrition
Ingredients for the Casserole
Creating the perfect green bean casserole relies on a few key ingredients, each playing a vital role to make its classic creamy and savory flavors. The focus, of course, is the green bean. Whether you opt for canned, frozen, or fresh, the choice impacts the final texture and cooking time.
Essential Ingredients
Here are the key ingredients you’ll need for a this classic green bean casserole. These include:
- Canned French-style green beans (keep reading for other options)
- Cream of mushroom soup
- Crispy fried onions
- Milk
- Soy sauce (or salt)
- Black pepper
The cream of mushroom soup makes the creamy mushroom sauce that blends with the green beans. The crispy fried onions provide a satisfying crunch, both mixed in and again for its onion topping. A splash of milk ensures this solution is perfectly smooth, while soy sauce (or salt) and pepper enhance all the flavors.
Types of Green Beans for Casserole
1. Canned Green Beans
Canned green beans are a convenient ingredient for your green bean casserole recipe, especially when time is of the essence. They are pre-cooked and readily available, saving you prep time. However, be mindful of the salt content and consider rinsing them before adding them to the rest of the items. Canned work best in recipes where a slightly softer texture is acceptable.
2. Fresh Green Beans
Fresh green beans bring a vibrant color and crispness to your green bean casserole. To use this fresh veggie, trim the ends and boil them in salted water until they are tender but still slightly crisp, about 5 minutes. Also, you can still use the French style fresh green beans.
This ensures they don’t become mushy during baking. This fresh vegetable offer a fresher flavor compared to canned beans, enhancing the overall healthy taste of this classic holiday side dish.
3. Frozen Green Beans
Frozen green beans are a great middle-ground option for your perfect green bean casserole. They retain more of their nutrients compared to canned beans and offer a texture closer to fresh green beans. There’s no need to thaw the frozen green beans before using; simply add them to the bean mixture. Adjust the cooking time accordingly to ensure they are tender yet still have a slight bite.
4. Regular Cut Green Beans
Regular cut green beans, whether fresh, frozen, or canned, offer a traditional texture in your traditional green bean casserole. Their uniform size ensures even cooking and a consistent bite throughout the dish. These beans work well with the creamy mushroom soup and crispy fried onions, creating a pairing blend of flavors and textures that everyone at your holiday table will appreciate.
5. French-Style Green Beans
French-style green beans, also known as frenched green beans, are thinly sliced lengthwise, offering a more delicate texture to your French bean casserole. Canned French-style green beans are particularly convenient, requiring minimal prep. Their slender shape allows them to absorb the flavors of the creamy mushroom soup more effectively, resulting in a richer, more flavorful Frenched green bean casserole recipe.
Ingredient Sizes Equivalents
To ensure your green bean casserole turns out perfectly, it’s important to pay attention to ingredient sizes. A standard can of French-style green beans is typically around 14.5 ounces. You’ll generally need 3 to 4 cans for the recipe, depending on the servings size you need. Similarly, you’ll want 1 can of condensed cream of mushroom soup. A 6-ounce (net weight) container of crispy fried onions is great for both the casserole mixture and the topping. That size is about 2-3/4 cups.
Substitutions
Here’s how you can modify the classic green bean casserole, with substitutions to suit your taste or dietary requirements. Some common substitutions include:
- Cream of celery or cream of chicken soup if you don’t like cream of mushroom soup.
- Regular cut green beans is another substitution if you don’t like the French-style cut.
- 1 can green beans, drained = 1½ cups canned green beans
- 1 can green beans, drained alternate = 2 cups fresh green beans, cooked
- 1 can green beans, drained alternate = 2 cups frozen green beans, cooked
- a 6-ounce container of French’s crispy fried onions = 2¾ cups
- substitution for soy sauce = same amount Worcestershire sauce or ½ amount of salt
- substitution for fried onions = same amount of crumbled up Ritz crackers
- substitution for milk = ½ amount of half & half plus ½ amount of water
Optional recipe add-ins like cheese
Here are some ways to elevate your green bean casserole. Feel free to experiment and customize the casserole to your liking by trying some optional add-ins; for example:
- A sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese on top adds a tangy, cheesy element.
- Sautéed mushrooms or onions for a deeper, more savory flavor.
Preparation Steps
Prepping the Green Beans
Begin by prepping your canned green beans. Drain them thoroughly; this step prevents a watery casserole. If using fresh green beans or frozen green beans, blanch them briefly to achieve a tender texture. Ensure your ingredients are ready: measure out your milk, cream of mushroom soup, and set aside the crispy fried onions for both the mixture & as a topping.
Making the Mixture
In a large bowl, combine the drained canned beans, condensed cream of mushroom soup, milk, black pepper, Soy sauce (or Worcestershire sauce or 1/2 amount of salt), and 1/3 of the crispy fried onions. Stir all the ingredients well. Set aside the the fried onions measured amount for the topping. This bean mixture forms the heart of your casserole, so ensure the flavors are well-balanced before baking.
Make green bean Casserole
Pour the mixture into a greased baking dish.
Cover it properly with a lid or foil and bake as directed in a preheated oven. The covering helps retain moisture, ensuring the best green bean casserole is creamy and not dried out. Then, after initial baking time, remove the covering & add the onion topping.
Finish by baking a final 5 minutes or until the topping turns golden and crisp.
Cooking Tips for Saving Time
Using Canned Green Beans
Canned green beans are your secret weapon for a quick green bean casserole recipe. They eliminate the need for washing, trimming, and cooking fresh green beans, saving you valuable prep time. Simply drain the canned beans and incorporate them into the other items. Using canned beans keeps a consistent texture and flavor every time you make this frenched bean casserole recipe.
Making Ready to Bake 1 Day Ahead
Assemble your green bean casserole with canned beans a day in advance. Prepare the casserole dish with the green bean mixture but, don’t add the onion topping. Ensure it’s covered well with a lid or foil and refrigerate. This allows the flavors to meld together, resulting in a richer, more flavorful dish. Before baking, let it sit at room temperature while the oven’s preheating to ensure even cooking.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers of Green Bean Casserole
If you have remaining green bean casserole, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, bake in the oven at 350°F until hot and bubbling, about 15-20 minutes. For smaller portions, you can just microwave it. Add a fresh sprinkle of crispy fried onions just minutes before serving to restore some of the crisp texture to enjoy the classic holiday side dish.
Related Side Dishes for Sharing the Oven
Here are some very common side dishes that go well with this Frenched green bean casserole.
- Simple Stuffing Recipe
- Southern Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
- Baked Macaroni & Cheese Casserole
- Oven Baked Potatoes
Why 2 baking temperature options?
The detailed recipe card shows more than 1 temp you can use in the oven for this popular dish. It’s in case you need to match the temperature for another important recipe dish sharing the oven. This is especially helpful during holidays when baking several side dishes together.
Nutritional Information
Calories and Nutrition per Serving
Understanding the nutrition per serving is important when making this perfect green bean casserole. A single serving typically includes a balance of calories, carbs, fats, and protein. Remember that adding cheese or cream will increase fat and calorie counts. Regardless, enjoy your family favorite.
Healthier Alternatives
For a healthier twist on the classic holiday side dish, consider using healthier alternatives in your green bean casserole recipe. You can look for low-sodium canned green beans to reduce salt intake. Also, you can leave out the Soy sauce (or salt or Worcestershire sauce alternatives). Substitute cream of mushroom soup with a homemade mushroom gravy thickened with cornstarch. Use olive oil or avocado oil instead of butter for sautéing, and sprinkle with nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor rather than cheddar, and skip the fry. Also, some will air fry the onions and spray it lightly with oil.
Popular Branded Green Bean Casserole Recipes
Conclusion of French Bean Casserole
Now you’ve seen how to easily make this classic French Bean Casserole, actually using any kind of green bean. You saw it focuses on canned but you also saw where you can use fresh ones if you just blanch them briefly for about 5 minutes first. You also saw lots and lots of substitutions in case you don’t have important items or if you want to enhance its nutritional values.
1 comment
Michelle S.
This was soooo much better than I used to make it. Loved adding soy sauce and using more fried onions than the branded recipes. Family loved it.