The BEST Green Bean Casserole Recipe (for Thanksgiving) (2024)

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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!

The BEST Green Bean Casserole Recipe (for Thanksgiving) (1)

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.

The BEST Green Bean Casserole Recipe (for Thanksgiving) (2)

​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!

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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!

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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!

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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) (6)

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The BEST Green Bean Casserole Recipe (for Thanksgiving) (7)

The BEST Green Bean Casserole Recipe (for Thanksgiving)

  • Author: Sweetpea
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: side dish
  • Method: oven-baked
  • Cuisine: southern
Print Recipe

Description

The BEST Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

  • 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

  1. Preheat your oven to 350˚.
  2. 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.
  3. Mix all of these ingredients together until evenly incorporated.
  4. Pour into an 8×8 baking dish, and top with remaining onions.
  5. Cover and bake at 350˚ for 30 minutes.
  6. 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.

Keywords: The BEST Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Recipe Card powered byThe BEST Green Bean Casserole Recipe (for Thanksgiving) (8)

The BEST Green Bean Casserole Recipe (for Thanksgiving) (2024)

FAQs

Is green bean casserole better with canned or fresh? ›

"Canned green beans are very soft and delicate," Malarkey says. "They tend to mush up while mixing, and I like a little crunch to my green bean casserole." The other two pros we spoke with agreed. When presented with the choice of fresh or frozen green beans for green bean casserole, frozen came out on top.

How do you make green bean casserole not soggy? ›

If you sense it's a little watery, "add a thickener like roux or starch to absorb the additional liquid or cook a little longer," she says. That'll give it that rich, dense consistency you're looking for.

Why is green bean casserole the best Thanksgiving dish? ›

How It Became a Holiday Staple. Green bean casserole was considered a perfect dish for holiday entertaining because it was simple, inexpensive, and could easily be made ahead of time. It became known as a "jiffy casserole" because it went from one bowl to one pan.

Should green bean casserole be soupy before cooking? ›

Mistake No.

Green bean casserole should have a nice thick sauce that coats the green beans—it should not resemble soup.

Should you rinse canned green beans before cooking? ›

Draining and rinsing canned beans can reduce their sodium content by more than 40%. But taking just a few extra minutes is key to getting the most benefit. First, drain beans in a colander for two minutes. Then rinse the beans under cool running water for 10 seconds.

How many cans of green beans are 4 cups? ›

Notes: ✿ 4 cups of green beans is about 1½ pounds fresh or 16 ounces frozen or 2 cans (15 ounces each) drained.

Can you overcook green bean casserole? ›

It's important to note that frozen green beans—usually the best choice for green bean casseroles—are blanched before the freezing process begins, so they're already partially cooked, too. That means they'll also cook pretty fast, which could easily morph into overcooking if you aren't careful.

How much green beans per person for Thanksgiving dinner? ›

You can safely estimate that one handful of green beans will serve one person, or two people if you have other green sides, Hartigan says. While these calculations seem straightforward, the full breadth of your menu could reduce the IRL size of each serving—after all, there's only so much room on one plate.

How long can green bean casserole sit out? ›

The casserole can sit out at room temperature for about an hour, then it should be reheated or stored in the fridge.

How do you transport green bean casserole? ›

"The best way to transport a hot casserole is to keep it in the casserole dish and wrap it up with tin foil, then wrap it again with cling film," he says. "Keep the casserole wrapped up in tea towels and make sure that the casserole is in a sturdy location of your vehicle and kept upright."

How do you make canned green beans not soggy? ›

Drain half of the liquid out of the green beans. Pour the green beans and the reserved half of the canning liquid into a skillet. Add butter, onion powder, salt and pepper. Simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until almost all of the cooking liquid has evaporated.

Are fresh or canned green beans better? ›

Raw green beans have a Nutrivore Score of 605. Canned green beans including the liquid have a Nutrivore Score of 661. So eat whichever one you prefer!

Can I substitute canned green beans for fresh? ›

Absolutely! Canned green beans can be a convenient substitute for fresh or frozen green beans in various recipes. Just make sure to drain them right before using and adjust the cooking time accordingly as they are already pre-cooked.

Do green beans lose nutrients when canned? ›

The Biggest Takeaway. While some initial vitamin C is lost through the canning process, canning also helps to preserve remaining vitamin C and makes vitamin A more available. Additionally, by choosing “no salt added” and “BPA free” varieties, you can reduce excess consumption of these added substances.

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