Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

This simple and easy green bean casserole uses cream soup, cheddar cheese, and french fried onions to make the ultimate comfort food for holiday meals or any time of year! It is so quick to put together and can be made ahead to simplify the holiday preparation.

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Green bean casserole is my favorite holiday food. It's creamy and rich and our recipe includes garlic for a little zip.

Green bean casserole is one of those recipes that is synonymous with holiday meals for me. We used to have it only for Thanksgiving dinner, and then when we started hosting Christmas, we naturally added it to that menu, too, and it's great for Easter and Sunday family dinners, too.

If we have green bean casserole for dinner at another time of year, I instantly think about all of the wonderful sights and smells of the holiday season. It's comfort and happiness with a gooey, cheesy crust on top.

Why this is the best cheesy green bean casserole recipe

It's a simple and easy holiday side dish recipe. This great make ahead green bean casserole is as easy as dumping a few things together; it doesn't get any easier than that! The longest part of this easy casserole is baking, and even that only takes about a half hour. The recipe is simple with only a few ingredients, so prep is very quick and easy too.

The ingredients for this easy recipe are very common and very inexpensive. You probably have most of the simple ingredients already in your pantry, and the remaining couple are available in every grocery I've ever visited.

Green bean casserole is versatile. You can use canned green beans (my favorite - so easy and already seasoned), thawed frozen green beans, or freshly steamed green beans. (If you use frozen or fresh beans, you'll probably want to season them with salt and pepper.)

This quick and easy green bean casserole is the best comfort food. The simple ingredients pack a big punch in terms of flavor. The cream of mushroom soup adds flavor and seasoning, the beans adds flavor, and the French's fried onions add crunch - all of it combines to make the best green bean casserole you've ever eaten!

This recipe is easy to serve. It doesn't get easier than a dump-and-go casserole that you can make ahead, which makes this a perfect holiday side dish for a busy mom or dad.

This recipe is a family favorite. Kids especially love the taste of the creamy, cheesy sauce and tender beans.

What you'll need to make cheesy green bean casserole

Equipment

You will need standard kitchen equipment for this recipe, including a casserole dish, mixing bowl, and garlic press.

Ingredients

See the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page for all measurements and nutrition facts.

• Green beans, drained and cut into bite-sized pieces - You can use thawed frozen beans, canned beans, or steamed fresh beans. I prefer to use two 14-oz commercial cans because the beans are already cut into bite-sized pieces, and there is no additional work required. I normally won't touch canned vegetables with a ten foot pole, but they work in this recipe. I like the texture of the softer canned beans in my casserole, but if you want a little crunch, go with fresh green beans and lightly steam them yourself.
• Condensed cream of mushroom soup - I buy low sodium fat free soup, but you buy whatever you want. If you are gluten-free, you can make your own cream of mushroom soup from scratch using this recipe from Once a Month Mom. I've used it for years. (But be aware that French's fried onions contain wheat flour and are NOT gluten-free. For a gluten-free green bean casserole, top with corn flakes.)
• Lots of shredded cheddar cheese - It's not green bean casserole without loads of cheddar cheese
• Fresh garlic - There is no flavor on earth like fresh garlic. Jarred garlic and garlic powder can't touch it. Go for the fresh cloves if there's any possible way. It makes a difference.
• Onion powder - If you don't mind the extra work, you could sauté a diced onion in butter until the onion bits are starting to brown. That would make this casserole even better than it already is.
• Cheddar-flavor French Fried onions - Please don't skip these as they make the whole casserole. You can't have green bean casserole without a crunchy fried onion crust on top.

How to make classic green bean casserole

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Drain the green beans (and rinse, if desired).
2. In a large bowl, combine green beans, soup, 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese, pressed garlic, and onion powder. You probably won't need salt or black pepper as the soup and beans are already seasoned. Stir to mix well. I usually do this the night before so that I don't have to bother on the morning of Thanksgiving.
3. Transfer the green bean mixture to a 9x13 baking dish. Top with remaining shredded cheese.
4. Bake at 350ºF, until bubbling and heated through, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle with the French's fried onions and bake until onions are browned, usually 5 to 10 minutes.

Can you make easy green bean casserole ahead?

Absolutely. Make the green bean mixture in a mixing bowl or right in the casserole dish. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge until you're ready to bake it. You can make it up to two days in advance.

You will need to cook it a little longer because you're cooking it from chilled rather than from room temperature.

Storing leftovers

If you have a lot leftover, cover the casserole dish tightly with plastic wrap and store leftovers in the fridge for up to five days. If you just have a little left, put it in an airtight container before putting in the refrigerator.

The Rest of our Thanksgiving Menu

We don't get creative with our Thanksgiving menu. We like routines. We like the comfort of the same old food.

• Roast Turkey
• Creamy Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
• Candied Sweet Potatoes
• Roasted Vegetable & Cornbread Stuffing
• Old-Fashioned Chestnut Stuffing Recipe
• Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
• Traditional Green Bean Casserole
• Fluffy Cranberry Fruit Salad with Pineapple
• Homemade Orange Cranberry Sauce
• Praline Pumpkin Pecan Pie
• The Worlds' Best Pecan Pie
• Couldn't Be Easier Cherry Pie
• No Church Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream

And for the leftovers, try one of these delights:

• Turkey & Stuffing Muffins
• Turkey Enchilada Casserole
• Turkey Salad
• Turkey Quesadillas

You can read more about my easy and traditional Thanksgiving menu.

Recipe

Cheesy Green Bean Casserole Recipe

This simple and easy green bean casserole uses cream soup, cheddar cheese, and french fried onions to make the ultimate comfort food for holiday meals or any time of year!

4.53 from 48 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 8 servings

Calories 380 kcal

Equipment

• Garlic press

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 4 cups green beans drained and cut into bite-sized pieces, thawed frozen beans, canned beans, or steamed fresh beans. Two 14-oz cans will work perfectly.
• 10.75 ounces condensed cream of mushroom soup I buy low sodium fat-free soup, but you buy whatever you want.
• 2-3 cups cheddar cheese divided
• 2 cloves garlic pressed or minced
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 10 ounces cheddar-flavor French Fried onions

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
• In a large bowl, combine green beans, soup, 1 cup of cheese, garlic, and onion powder. Mix well. I usually do this the night before so that I don't have to bother on the morning of Thanksgiving.
• Transfer green bean mixture to a casserole dish. Top with remaining shredded cheese.
• Bake at 350ºF, until bubbly and heated through, about 30 minutes. Add the French Fried onions and bake until onions are browned, usually 5 to 10 minutes.
• Serve hot.

Nutrition

Calories: 380kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 754mg | Potassium: 194mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 663IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 225mg | Iron: 1mg

Keyword casserole, cheddar cheese, green beans, holiday

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