Elevate Your Holiday Feast: The Best From-Scratch Green Bean Casserole (No Canned Soup!)
The holiday season is a truly magical time of year, filled with warmth, family, friends, and, of course, an abundance of delicious food. Beyond the cherished traditions and memory-making moments, it’s a time when culinary classics take center stage. For many, this includes a beloved Chex Party Mix that lasts throughout the festivities, or the glorious, crispy-skinned, moist, and delicious Roasted Turkey that serves as the magnificent centerpiece.
Yet, amidst all these wonderful dishes, there’s one side that consistently steals my heart and defines the holiday meal: the humble, yet utterly irresistible, green bean casserole. But not just any green bean casserole – we’re talking about a homemade masterpiece, crafted from scratch, and completely free from canned soup. It’s a game-changer that promises to transform your holiday table and become your new favorite holiday side dish!
Growing up, green bean casserole wasn’t a staple in my household. My mom might have attempted it once, but it never quite won anyone over. It wasn’t until I met my husband and started joining his family for holiday dinners that I truly discovered the magic of this dish. His mom’s version was unlike anything I’d ever tasted – a green bean casserole made without mushroom soup, crafted with a rich, creamy white sauce from scratch. I absolutely fell in love with it, and ever since, it has become an indispensable tradition at our holiday table each year.
Learning to make green bean casserole from scratch might sound intimidating, but it’s surprisingly simple and takes only a few minutes longer than opening a can of condensed soup. The difference in taste and texture is profound, elevating a good side dish to an extraordinary one. The homemade sauce, infused with fresh flavors, delivers a creamy richness that store-bought alternatives simply cannot match, making it a thousand times better in my opinion!
Why Choose Homemade Green Bean Casserole?
Many classic green bean casserole recipes rely on canned cream of mushroom soup for convenience. While quick, this shortcut often results in a dish that can taste overly salty, processed, and lacks the depth of flavor a truly homemade version offers. By making your green bean casserole from scratch, you gain complete control over the ingredients, ensuring a fresher, more vibrant taste and a much more appealing texture. This is especially true for holiday meals like Thanksgiving and Christmas, where quality truly matters.
The secret lies in the simple béchamel-style white sauce. This creamy foundation allows the natural sweetness of the green beans to shine through, complemented by a subtle hint of nutmeg and perfectly seasoned with salt and pepper. This approach not only tastes superior but also allows you to avoid artificial flavors and excessive sodium found in many condensed soups. Furthermore, the satisfaction of creating such a delicious and comforting dish from wholesome ingredients is immense, earning you rave reviews from family and friends.
Essential Green Bean Casserole Ingredients
Creating this delicious homemade green bean casserole requires a handful of basic ingredients, but it’s the rich, creamy white sauce that truly transforms them into something special. Here’s what you’ll need for this incredible holiday side dish:
- Flour: All-purpose flour is the key thickener for our creamy white sauce, forming the classic roux base.
- Butter: Unsalted or salted butter (adjust added salt accordingly) adds rich flavor and is the fat component of the roux.
- Milk: The liquid base for the sauce, providing its signature creaminess. Any milk works well; I often use skim milk for a slightly lighter touch.
- Green Beans: This recipe is incredibly versatile! You can use fresh, frozen, or canned green beans. If using canned, be sure to drain and rinse them thoroughly to reduce sodium. If using fresh, blanch them until tender-crisp. Frozen beans should be thawed and drained.
- Crispy Onions: The iconic crunchy topping that adds a delightful textural contrast and savory flavor that everyone loves.
- Nutmeg: This might be your secret ingredient! Freshly ground nutmeg adds a warm, subtle, and incredibly comforting depth to the white sauce, truly making it special and sophisticated.
- Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance all the flavors in the casserole and bring everything into perfect balance.
How to Make the Best Homemade Green Bean Casserole from Scratch
Follow these simple, step-by-step instructions to create a truly unforgettable homemade green bean casserole for your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner:
- Prepare the Roux: Begin by melting your butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the butter is completely melted and lightly bubbling, gradually whisk in the all-purpose flour. Continue to whisk constantly for 1-2 minutes until no white bits of flour remain and the mixture forms a smooth, golden paste (this is your roux). This initial cooking ensures that any raw flour taste is eliminated, leading to a perfectly smooth sauce.
- Cook the Roux Further: Continue cooking the flour mixture for another couple of minutes, stirring often. This allows the flour to toast slightly, deepening its flavor and ensuring a rich, silky, lump-free sauce. Be vigilant to prevent it from burning.
- Create the Velvety White Sauce: Slowly pour in the milk, a little at a time, whisking vigorously and continuously to incorporate it smoothly into the roux. Keep stirring over medium heat. As the mixture heats and thickens, it will transform into a rich, creamy, and wonderfully smooth white sauce.
- Season the Sauce to Perfection: Remove the skillet from the heat. Season the luscious sauce generously with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and that essential touch of freshly ground nutmeg. The nutmeg adds an incredible warmth and subtle complexity that truly sets this homemade sauce apart from traditional versions. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed to ensure perfect balance.
- Combine with Green Beans: Add your drained and rinsed green beans (fresh, frozen, or canned, prepared as suggested above) to the skillet with the prepared sauce. Gently mix everything until the green beans are thoroughly coated in the creamy, flavorful sauce.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: Transfer the green bean mixture into a prepared casserole dish (a 9-inch pie plate or a similar-sized baking dish works perfectly). Bake in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until the sauce is visibly bubbly around the edges and the casserole is heated through.
- Add Crispy Topping and Broil: Remove the casserole from the oven. Evenly sprinkle the crispy fried onions over the entire top surface. Return the dish to the oven for another 5 minutes, or for an extra golden crunch, place it under the broiler for 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning. The onions should be golden brown and perfectly crisp. This step adds the essential textural contrast.
- Serve Immediately: Allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes after broiling before serving warm. Enjoy your homemade, comforting, and utterly delicious green bean casserole!
One of the many benefits of this homemade green bean casserole recipe is its flexibility as a make-ahead dish, which is a huge convenience during busy holiday preparations. You can prepare the entire green bean mixture, pour it into your casserole dish, cover it tightly, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to serve, just pop it into the preheated oven and continue with the baking and crispy onion topping steps as outlined in the recipe. This allows you to streamline your holiday cooking, assembling it in the morning and baking it fresh for dinner!
Tips for the Best Green Bean Casserole
To ensure your homemade green bean casserole is absolutely perfect every time, consider these helpful tips:
- Green Bean Choice & Prep: While canned green beans are convenient (and what I often use), fresh or frozen green beans can also be used. If using fresh, blanch them first until they are tender-crisp, then shock them in ice water to retain their vibrant color. If using frozen, thaw and drain them well to avoid excess moisture that could thin your sauce.
- Freshly Ground Nutmeg is Key: Do not skip the nutmeg! Freshly ground nutmeg offers a significantly more aromatic and potent flavor than pre-ground, enhancing the sauce’s warmth, complexity, and overall holiday appeal.
- Don’t Rush the Roux: Cooking the flour and butter for a full few minutes ensures that the raw flour taste is completely cooked out. This crucial step leads to a much smoother, richer, and better-tasting sauce that forms the heart of your casserole.
- Adjust Seasoning to Taste: Always taste the white sauce before adding the green beans. Adjust salt and pepper to your preference. Remember, if you’re using canned green beans, they are often already salty, so account for that in your seasoning.
- Crispy Onion Alternatives: While classic store-bought crispy fried onions are a must for convenience, you can also make your own by thinly slicing fresh onions, tossing them in seasoned flour, and frying until golden. For an extra layer of crunch, consider mixing in some panko breadcrumbs with the fried onions before the final bake.
Variations and Customizations for Your Green Bean Casserole
While this homemade green bean casserole recipe is perfect as is, you can easily customize it to suit your specific taste preferences or to add an extra layer of flavor:
- Add Sautéed Mushrooms: If you love mushrooms but want to avoid canned soup, simply sauté fresh sliced mushrooms (cremini or button varieties work wonderfully) in a bit of butter until tender before you start preparing the roux. Then, add them back to the sauce along with the green beans.
- Cheesy Indulgence: For an extra layer of comfort, stir in a handful of shredded cheese into the white sauce just before adding the green beans. Cheddar, Gruyère, Parmesan, or even a blend of Italian cheeses would be delicious additions.
- Herb & Spice Exploration: Experiment with a pinch of garlic powder, onion powder, or a dash of dried herbs like thyme, sage, or a mixed Italian seasoning blend for different flavor profiles that complement the green beans.
- Bacon Bits Delight: For a savory and smoky upgrade, sprinkle some crispy, cooked bacon bits into the casserole mixture before baking. You can also add them on top with the fried onions for extra crunch and flavor.
- Spicy Kick: If you enjoy a bit of heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce when you add the salt and pepper.
More Essential Holiday Favorites
No holiday meal is complete without a spread of delightful sides and desserts that complement the main course. Here are some more of our tried-and-true recipes that always receive rave reviews and make our holiday table extra special:
- Scalloped Potatoes – Rich, creamy, and undeniably comforting, these thinly sliced potatoes baked to perfection are truly a perfect addition to any festive spread.
- Corn Casserole – A wonderfully sweet and savory dish that’s always a guaranteed hit at every get-together, from casual potlucks to formal holiday dinners.
- Loaded Twice Baked Potato Casserole – Indulgent layers of fluffy potatoes, sharp cheese, savory bacon, and a creamy base make this a decadent crowd-pleaser that everyone will love.
- Grasshopper Pie – A refreshing, minty, and chocolatey dessert that has become a cherished Christmas tradition in our family every single year.
- Slow Cooker Cream Corn – Ditch the canned version; this slow-cooked recipe delivers incredible depth of flavor and creaminess with minimal effort, making it infinitely better.
- Thanksgiving Stuffing – The holidays simply aren’t the same without this aromatic and flavorful classic, bursting with herbs and savory goodness. It’s a must-have!
- Red Wine Spritzer – A light and effervescent cocktail, perfect for any party or celebration, adding a festive touch without being too heavy or overwhelming.
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes – Creamy, smooth, and incredibly delicious, these mashed potatoes are practically hands-off thanks to the Instant Pot, freeing up stovetop space.
- Reese’s Fudge – A decadent, peanut butter and chocolate treat that is an absolute must-make for anyone with a sweet tooth during the holidays.
Green Bean Casserole
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Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk, (I use skim)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
- 2 14.5 oz can green beans, drained and rinsed
- 3/4 cup fried onions
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or spray a 9 inch pie plate.
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In a skillet melt the butter over medium high heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for a couple minutes, stirring constantly.
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Slowly whisk in the milk and bring to a boil. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Once it starts to thicken, add green beans and stir to coat.
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Pour into prepared pie plate. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
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Sprinkle with fried onions, and return to oven for 5 minutes; or until golden brown.
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Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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This post was sponsored by Del Monte through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Del Monte, all opinions are my own.