Green Bean Casserole
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 mins
- Yield: 6-8 1x
Description
From the cream sauce to the fresh green beans and right down to the homemade fried onions, this Thanksgiving staple gets a culinary update.
Ingredients
for the fried onions:
- 1 large yellow onion, sliced (not diced)
- 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
- 2 cups (240 g) flour
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp canola oil
for the green bean casserole:
- 16 oz (450 g) fresh green beans, ends trimmed and cut in half
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsp flour
- 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk
- 1 cup (240 ml) vegetable or chicken broth
Instructions
To make the fried onions:
- Add onions to buttermilk in a large bowl, tossing until onions are drenched.
- In separate bowl, combine flour, garlic powder, and salt.
- In batches, toss the buttermilk-drenched onions in flour mixture, shaking to remove excess.
- Heat oil in skillet, and pan-fry the onions, stirring and flipping so both sides get browned. I did about 5 minutes for each batch, and I had 3 batches.
- Place fried onions on paper towel lined plate, to remove excess grease.
- Store in air-tight container once cooled.
To make the casserole:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spray 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Bring a pot of water to boil.
- Once boiling, add green beans and cook them for 5-6 minutes, until they are bright green.
- Drain green beans, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
- In large skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add diced onion and cook for 5-6 minutes, until they are softened and translucent.
- Add garlic and cook one more minute.
- Add flour, and stir well to combine. Cook for another minute, stirring continuously.
- Slowly add milk, stirring continuously, then slowly add the broth.
- Bring mixture to a simmer, then lower heat and let simmer for 7-10 minutes, until it has thickened.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Add green beans to sauce and stir to combine, then pour into prepared casserole dish.
- At this point, casserole can be covered and refrigerated.
- If refrigerating, top with fried onions right before baking, then bake 30 minutes.
- If not refrigerating, top with fried onions, bake 20-25 minutes.
- Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 50 mins
- Category: Side
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 300
Find it online: https://honestcooking.com/green-bean-casserole/
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make the homemade fried onions crispy?
Soak the sliced onions in buttermilk, then toss them in a flour, garlic powder, and salt mixture. Pan-fry in canola oil in batches for about 5 minutes per batch, flipping to brown both sides. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate, and once cooled store in an airtight container so they stay crisp until you top the casserole.
Can I assemble this casserole ahead of time?
Yes — the instructions say you can cover and refrigerate the assembled casserole (without the fried onion topping) at this point. Add the onions right before baking, then bake for 30 minutes from refrigerated, or 20 to 25 minutes if baking immediately.
Why do you boil the green beans before baking rather than putting them in raw?
The recipe blanches the fresh green beans in boiling water for 5 to 6 minutes until bright green, then rinses them in cold water to stop cooking. This ensures they finish tender in the finished casserole rather than staying tough, since the cream sauce and oven time alone would not fully cook raw beans. 
