There’s a lot that can be said about the humble Green Bean Casserole. LOTS. And I’ve seen some pretty serious arguments about what can and can’t be in the dish.
To me, Green Bean Casserole must include 3 things… cream of mushroom soup, canned green beans, and fried onions. You’re welcome to throw whatever else in there, but it’s gotta have those 3 things in my opinion.
You are welcome to make your own cream of mushroom soup. You are welcome to use fresh green beans. And you can make your own fried onions – or even use fried shallots. Go on with ya bad self. I just know it’s going to be delicious. Now, call me lazy, call me old school, whatever you’d like… that’s just not the way I want mine.
Now if you want to take that classic version and kick it up a notch – or three – man, do I have a recipe for you. I add fresh mushrooms for even more umami flavor and add… wait for it… BACON! Yes, I love the smoky flavor that bacon adds to this dish and it complements the mushrooms beautifully! I’ve always had a love affair with the bacon and mushrooms combo.
So here it is… My Ultimate Green Bean Casserole. If you want to take a few extra steps and take your GBC to the next level, you’ve just got to try this. It is SERIOUSLY the best GBC I’ve ever, ever had! And that’s staying something, ’cause I’ve eaten a lot of this casserole over the years. Oh, did I mention that I added cheese, too? Yep. Monterey Jack. Y’all, this is seriously amazing. You need to try it. And pin it on Pinterest so others can try it to. Enjoy!
Ultimate Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients
- 6 strips bacon
- 1/2 onion, finely diced
- 1 1/2 cup chopped button mushrooms
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 (10.5-ounce) cans cream of mushroom condensed soup
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- salt and pepper
- 4 (14.5-ounce) cans cut green beans, drained
- 1 1/2 cups French fried onions
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly spray a 9X13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium low heat until crisp. Remove to drain on paper towels, then crumble. Drain away all but about 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease, then return the pan to medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes or until translucent. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until the mushrooms are golden brown. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the undiluted mushroom soup and add the crumbled bacon back. Stir to combine. Stir in the milk and cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted. Add salt and pepper to taste. Fold in the green beans until well combined.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared dish. Top with the fried onions. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until the casserole is hot and bubbly.
Amy says
What brand of green beans do you use or recommend please?
Stacey says
I typically use Del Monte.
Rachel says
Is it okay if my onions got a little dark brown. I stirred them for five minutes and they started turning dark brown on me and kept turning darker when I added the garlic. Will this ruin the dish? Thanks Stacey!
Stacey says
It should be just fine. You could always taste them to see if they have a bitter flavor. Regardless, I think it will be fine. Enjoy!
Susan says
I just read Cream of Asparagus soup instead of mushroom soup brings out something special. Haven’t tried this but sounds interesting. Splash of soy sauce too.
Stacey says
That’s interesting! I’d love to try it that way.
Nicole Manier says
This looks delicious! Do you think I can make this a day in advance?
Stacey says
You can, but it will lose a little of it’s “cheesiness.” Just be sure to only add the onions right before you bake it.
Rachel says
I am making mine a day in advance. How can I add the bacon and onion straws later when the bacon grease is used to mix everything together? What about the cheese for making it early? What should I do with the cheese, bacon, and onion straws when making this Christmas Eve to serve Christmas? Thanks Stacy!
Stacey says
When making it in advance, I prepare everything up until putting on the onions. Then I just cover and refrigerate. When ready to bake, I allow the dish to come to room temp, add the onions, and bake as directed. Hope this helps! Merry Christmas!
caitlin elliott says
Can you list all the nutritional information for this meal?
Stacey says
Hey, Caitlin! That’s not something I track since many of the ingredients in my recipes have nutritional content that can vary by brand. I’d suggest picking your favorite products and plugging them in to something like MyFitnesPal.com to get an accurate measurement.
Lane Edwards says
How about fresh cooked POLE beans???
Stacey says
I think they would work just fine.
Pam says
I agree! Green bean casserole wouldn’t be the same without those 3 ingredients, but that’s not to say it can’t be improved upon. I’m making your version this year!
Stacey says
Thanks, Pam! I sure hope you’ll enjoy it!
Tess says
Could you clarify how much “French Fried Onions” should be used on the top of the casserole? It looks like it says 1 1/s cups French Fried Onion…. This sounds really good–can’t wait to try it. Thanks for sharing the recipe! 🙂
Stacey says
It should be 1 1/2 cups. Hope you’ll enjoy!
Dianne says
I would like to replace the canned beans with fresh, cooked beans. Can you recommend how many ounces I would use? Still 58?
Stacey says
I’d use about 1 1/2 pounds of fresh beans.
Jess says
I made this version for Thanksgiving, with fresh green beans (2 pounds). It was an absolute hit!
I boiled the green beans in chicken broth for 10 minutes to soften them.
Stacey says
Awesome! Glad y’all enjoyed it!!
Benicia Lammon says
Did you boil your fresh green beans prior to 30 mins of oven time?
Donna K. says
All except the french fried onions, could this be prepared the night before, or would it make it soggy?
Lindsay says
I made mine last night and plan on putting the fried onions on and cooking today. My mother has been a professional cook for 35 years and she said I can do it this way. 🙂
Vicki says
Can you use french style green beans?
Stacey says
Sure!
Rick Capin says
Something that I have always done is use all 4 kinds of green beans (whole, cut, French style & Italian) in my recipe. I love the way that makes the finished casserole look & taste.
Stacey says
What a GREAT idea!
Sarah says
Do you think I could make this in a slow cooker?
Stacey says
Hmmm… I don’t see why not.
sara says
Can you make ahead and the cook?
Stacey says
Everything but the onions. Just add them right before cooking.
Jenn Link says
This recipe worked amazing! I used 2 lbs of fresh green beans which subbed well for the casserole. Family loved it. Thank you!
Stacey says
So glad y’all enjoyed it!
Janet Morris says
Green bean casserole, meh. That is what I used to think until I made this recipe for our Christmas dinner this year and just let me say I could not get enough of it! It was the best I have ever had and even better the next day as all of the flavors seemed to just explode! Will definitely be my go to green bean casserole!
Stacey says
SO glad to hear you enjoyed it, Janet! I won’t make it any other way either! 🙂
Kelly says
Could you sub canned mushrooms for the button mushrooms?
Stacey says
You can, though the texture will be very different.
Kimberly Wall says
Well, I kinda followed your recipe… I didn’t have any cream of mushroom soup, didn’t have any plain Monteray Jack cheese… so this is what I did: combined some directions from a recipe I found on daringgourmet.com with some of yours. Yes, I love bacon, so I used it! Yes, I love cheese, and had some Pepper Jack, so used it; I had a variety pack of dried mushrooms from Costco, so reconstituted about 1 cup word, then cut into small pieces. So after frying the bacon, sauteed onions, garlic and mushrooms with the bacon. Removed to the bacon plate. Then added 3 Tbsp butter, added approximately 1/2 cup flour, slowly added half and half then milk to make a nice rue seasoned with salt and pepper to taste. Added approximately 1 1/2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese, and as it thickened, I added the bacon/mushroom mixture into it. Then added my freshly blanched garden green beans. I placed into two (2) 8×8 inch dishes, topped with a thin layer of Mexican cheese blend then tater tots, and baked for 30 minutes at 350* It turned out absolutely delicious, but did take a little (a lot) more time than your simple recipe, Stacey!! Had to prep those green beans and blanch, and that takes time! Boredom, which you mentioned under a lemon dessert recipe cannot be found here! Lol! Thanks for sharing your love of cooking!!
Stacey says
Sounds great, Kimberly!!
Erin says
Trying this out for my family tonight, I will comment back with a verdict! It’s interesting because this technically has all of the things i love, but i wasn’t sure if i liked it when i taste tested then pan mixture. Maybe because I am used to my casserole tasting a certain way I’m not sure, but I’m excited to see! 16 more minutes.
Stacey says
Sure hope it turned out great for you!!
Donna F. says
I have made my green bean casserole this way for years, the only difference is I add more garlic (roasted) and I add a 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce for more flavor.
Stacey says
Love adding soy sauce for extra flavor in dishes like this!
Teresa says
This is by far the best green bean casserole iv ever had
Stacey says
Nothing makes me happier than comments like this! Thanks, Teresa!
Diana T says
I don’t eat bacon- do you think I could use Liquid Smoke instead? If so, any idea how much I should use? I don’t want to overpower the dish.
Stacey says
I’m super worried about liquid smoke overpowering. You could start with a drop or two and just work up from there.
Holly says
What size baking dish did you use? (Beginner cooker here in charge of this for thanksgiving!)
Stacey says
You got this! 9×13-inch will work perfectly for this! Good luck!
LolO says
Want to make chicken and rice or noodle soup
Lauren says
If using fresh green beans instead of canned, do I need to blanch them before folding them into the mixture?
Stacey says
Depending on weather you like your green beans completely tender, you might want to cook them all the way through before adding them. Canned beans are usually cooked soft straight from the can. If you like them to have more crunch, blanching them will work.
Jae says
I’m preparing approximately 30 servings. Triple ingredients??
Stacey says
Sounds about right to me! Y’all enjoy!
mackenzie says
Could I omit the mushrooms all together? Would I need to add more beans or something to it if doing a 9×13 still?
Stacey says
You can simply leave them out. No need for a substitution. 🙂
Kerry says
It says to stir in the diluted mushroom soup – how did you dilute it? Thanks!
Kerry says
Oh goodness. Nevermind. My eyes are playing tricks on me! It clearly says UNDILUTED! 🙂
Stacey says
No worries! 🙂
Nicole C. says
I’m having a dinner party for some friends. A couple of them are vegetarian. What can I substitute the bacon for and not feel like the dish is missing something?
Stacey says
Hmm… I’m honestly not sure. You could use a little liquid smoke to get that smoky flavor in and perhaps some butter to get that fat and texture in there.
Carol Williamson says
My son asked me to make a green bean casserole last Thanksgiving for his work pot luck dinner. I chose this recipe because it looked wonderful & had such good reviews. I doubled it & prepared it in a slow cooker because they don’t have a kitchen there. They (all guys) ate every bite & raved how good it was. Guess what his coworkers want him to bring this year!! ???? I haven’t made it for us at home because my youngest grandson HATES green beans, but my son said it’d be nice to have on our Thanksgiving table so I’ll get to have some this year! Thanks for posting this fabulous recipe.
Stacey says
This makes me so happy! I’m just so glad everyone enjoyed it!
Billie says
Sliced Water Chestnuts make it crunchy !!!
Stacey says
Yes they do!
Karen says
Hey Stacey!
I just decided to make this as my side for tomorrow. Can I get started on this now? Would you go ahead and mix in the bacon or should I add the bacon & crispy onions tomorrow? This looks amazing and I can’t wait to eat it!
Thanks again for everything you do! Happy Thanksgiving!
Stacey says
I’m starting today as well and am doing just as you suggested – waiting and adding my bacon and onions tomorrow right before baking. Hope y’all enjoy!! Happy Thanksgiving!
Karen says
Thanks Stacey!
This is the Ultimate Green Bean Casserole!!!!
Stacey says
Glad you think so too!
MikeA says
canned beans are for losers.
Stacey says
Call me a loser, then! 🙂
pc says
When canned green beans are all my spouse will eat, it leaves me no choice! I use WHOLE canned green beans and rinse them to remove salt before using.
Amanda says
Made this today for Thanksgiving 2018 and loved it!!! Thank you!!
Stacey says
Awesome! Glad it turned out great for you!
Meagen says
By far the BEST green bean casserole recipe ever! We made a few adjustments as follows (my husband is allergic to onions so I’m used to getting creative): 1/3 C very finely diced celery instead of onions, 1.5x the amount of minced garlic, splash of Worcestire and sprinkle of paprika when cooking down the mushroom/celery/garlic mixture, and instead of French’s onions we used shoestring potato French fries on top. I also threw the casserole back in the oven on broil for a few minutes with Monterey Jack sprinkled over the top until it was bubbly & brown.
Thank you so much for the recipe!
Stacey says
Sounds amazing! So glad y’all enjoyed it, Meagan!
Erin says
I must admit I’m not a fan of green bean casserole usually, but I needed some easy make ahead sides for a large family gathering. This really is the best recipe out there. The addition of the bacon really elevates this dish and a bit of cheese makes it thick and creamy!
Stacey says
So glad that y’all enjoyed it, Erin!!
Rebekah Thompson says
Can I do unsweetened almond milk instead of regular milk?
Stacey says
I don’t see why not. Hope it turns out great!
Ted F. says
This will forever be the recipe that will bring to table. I omitted the mushrooms. And used Cream Celery Soup instead. Bacon just makes everything better.
Stacey says
So glad you’ve enjoyed it, Ted!!!
Shawn Slater says
I have a green bean casserole that doesn’t have cream of mushroom soup in it. It beats any cream of mushrooms soup recipe, hands down everytime.
Send me a email and I’ll give it to you.
Thank You,
Shawn Slater
Stacey says
I’ll admit it. I’m seriously partial to the mushroom soup, but I’m willing to give anything a try. 🙂
pc says
Hi Shawn, I’d love that recipe as well if you don’t mind sharing? 🙂
Rhianna says
If I double this recipe should I use a larger pan or cook longer? If so, by how much? Thanks!
Stacey says
I would reccomend just making two casseroles as it’s going to be hard to find a larger dish without going to a large aluminum pan. That way everything should stay about the same.
Stephanie says
I love your recipes! Can’t wait to try it this way this year! 🙂
Stacey says
Thank you! Hope it turns out great for you!!
Gina Chavez says
I already bought frozen green beans, can I use them and what should I do to prepare them for this recipe! This recipe sounds amazing and if I have to I will go out and buy canned beans! Thanks, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!
Stacey says
No worries! Just blanch them in boiling salted water for about 10 minutes and they should work just fine. Hope you enjoy!!
Kara Castellano says
Hi, can you use this recipe for a crock pot? If so, how long would you cook it for and I understand you would have to toast the onions to top. Thanks
Kim says
Can you prepare this the night before and cook the following day?
Stacey says
Sure! You’ll just leave the onions off until you bake it.
Stacey says
I’ve not tried that with this particular version, so I can’t say for sure. I would imagine about 4 hours on low, though.
Donna says
Hey Stacey. One tried I did what a friend’s Mom did, added a can of store bought La Choy Chow Mein to it. It was ok. Not so sure about the cheese you sugg., or mushrooms.
Stacey says
This isn’t a “cheesy” casserole. It just gives the sauce some flavor and heft. For me, mushrooms are must. But I totally understand if that’s not your thing.
Jules says
Hi, I could not find Monterey jack in my grocery store anywhere I’m hoping provolone will be a good substitute. Do you think this will effect the taste or consistency?
Stacey says
I think provolone will work perfectly! Hope it turns out great for you!!
Donna says
Could I leave this in a warm oven for couple hours after cooked?
Stacey says
I can’t say for sure, but I don’t see why an hour or so, super low, would hurt.
Shirley says
I have always mixed the French Fried onion rings into the casserole as well as some on top….your recipe calls for none in the casserole, correct?
Stacey says
That’s correct, because we have regular onion in the casserole.
Carla says
I made this for Christmas dinner and everyone loved it. My son and daughter fought over the leftovers to see who got to take them home. I will definitely make this again, but will half the recipe.
Stacey says
Wonderful!! I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it!
Ben Blackburn says
Great recipe. I have never liked green bean casserole until I made this. However, I made it with 50% more bacon and more garlic. Plus I used fresh green beans, which made it a bit crunchy. Next time I’m going to add some spices — which would you recommend
Stacey says
So glad to hear you enjoyed it! When it comes to spices, I suppose you could go just about anywhere. Cayenne or red pepper for heat, some Greek seasoning might be nice as well.
Sue says
This sounds wonderful, and can’t wait to try it…
One question,,,had a request for “Homemade Chocolate Pudding”….Do you have a recipe for that ?
Thank you so much, and always enjoy your recipes !
Sue
Stacey says
Hope you’ll enjoy it!! I don’t have a chocolate pudding recipe, but I’ve used this one before. https://www.aspicyperspective.com/the-best-homemade-chocolate-pudding-recipe/
Leandra says
Hi, any substitute for mushrooms?
Stacey says
You could leave simply them out, but you’d still have the cream of mushroom – which I suppose you could use cream of chicken, but the flavor won’t quite be the same.
Itene Kolb says
I don’t like mushrooms so I use 1 can cream of chicken and 1 can cream of celery. In addition to mixing in fried onions, I also top my casserole with frozen onion rings.
Stacey says
Yum! Thanks for sharing!
Ellie says
Hands down the best green bean casserole I’ve ever had. I loved how the cheese made it just a bit thick, and the bacon was an awesome addition. LOVE! I printed it out and added it to “THE” binder where all my faves go. Will definitely be using this every year from here on out. Great recipe!
Stacey says
Awesome!! I’m so, so glad to hear y’all enjoyed it!!
Dawn says
Hi Stacey. I’m looking forward to making this recipe this year. My hubby couldn’t find Monterey Jack cheese so he got a Colby Jack blend. Do you think that will work? I wasn’t sure about cheddar cheese with green beans. Thank you.
Stacey says
Colby Jack is a bit milder, so I think it will work.
Stephen says
The only cheese left at the store was a Monterey and cheddar blend. Will that work?
Stacey says
It will. Enjoy!
Adriana Thomas says
I just made it but with bacon and onions and it’s for the next day, Is it ruined now?? I’m just going to put it in the fridge once it’s cooled and hopefully I add the French onions on top and bake it it’s not too bad ????
Stacey says
Not, not at all. It will lose some of its cheesiness, but will still taste delicious! Just add the fried onions right before it goes in the oven and it’ll be just fine. Enjoy! Happy Thanksgiving!
Heidi Hofacker says
I have made green bean casseroles for 30 years. Started using fresh beans several years ago. Saw this recipe and decided to take a chance because it sounded awesome! I couldn’t find plain Monterey Jack cheese, so I used a cheddar jack blend. I also added 1 tsp of soy sauce. I came home with a small portion from the 13×9 pan! It was a huge hit! Thank you ???? this is my new go to recipe!!!
Stacey says
Thanks so much, Heidi! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Judi says
I am 69 years old and recently remarried. I have never made or tasted a green bean casserole. The idea of it sounded disgusting to me.
So my new husband requested one for aThanksgiving. I immediately went online and found your recipe. It had BACON in it so I knew it would be better than the rest.
I followed it mostly but used just beyond blanched fresh string beans and subbed Shiitake mushrooms.
I made it ahead of time just in case I messed up.
Well, my husband tasted it and ate the whole dang thing before Thanksgiving! He said he had never tasted a GBC that good. I thought it was fantastic but I only got a couple of forkfuls.
Thank you. Thank you! You have made a GBC believer out of me.
Kevin says
Why in the world did you remarry at 69? Wow
Stacey says
Maybe her experience with marriage was different than yours. We all don’t walk the same path.
Lizzle says
The perfect recipe to take your green bean casserole to the next level. Everyone loved this, adding it to my recipe binder!
Stacey says
Thanks, Lizzle! Glad you enjoyed it!
Diane K says
Wow! This certainly was the ultimate green bean casserole. It was a big hit with my family, and even the leftovers heat up nicely. This is definitely going on next year’s menu. Thanks for this welcome addition! Diane
Stacey says
Awesome!! I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed it!!
Michelle says
I made this for Thanksgiving this year and was such a hit it was requested again for Christmas!!! Getting my list of ingredients ready now for my grocery shopping! Can’t wait to have it again in a few days…yum!!!
Stacey says
So glad to hear everyone enjoyed it! Merry Christmas!!
Kailey says
Ok ya’ll this is a damn good recipe. And I don’t say bad words. The cheese really adds something a little extra to push it over the edge – and not in a “fat kid add cheese to everything” kind of way. I don’t eat pork so I used turkey bacon instead. Turned out amazing. Seriously look no further.
Stacey says
Ha! Love that description! Thanks, Kailey!
Tracy Fite says
This is my go to recipe for green bean casserole. So cheesy and the flavor is amazing. I have cooked this the last two thanksgivings for my entire family. My kids are almost teenagers and still a bit picky but they go back for seconds every time. Thank you so much for posting this awesome recipe!
Stacey says
Nothing makes me happier than reading comments like this! Thanks, Tracy!
Rachael says
I love love love this recipe. I substitute cream of chicken because my family doesn’t like mushrooms. And I always use French green beans because they really pick up the sauce so well. I also don’t add cheese though I imagine it would be delicious with it. I also use a whole pound of bacon. Half goes in to the casserole a tiny bit under cooked and the other half goes on top with the onions – AMAZING!! I have been using this recipe for YEARS now. My family loves it so much we try to have it about once a month – not just at holiday time!! I think I’ll try adding some chopped/pulled chicken and cheese next time and make it a meal!!!
Rachael says
I should also add that my father and my husband both HATE green beans but they both LOVE them like this. In fact, it’s the only way either of them will eat them!!$
Stacey says
So happy to hear that, Rachael!
noble shockley says
yummy
Stacey says
Thanks!
Joan in VA says
Sigh. With a nasty mushroom allergy, this is ever so out of range. After reading the comments, I will try the Cream of Asparagus soup instead of the cream of mushroom. Is there a good substitute for the mushrooms themselves?
Stacey says
Cream of chicken will work, too! You can simply leave the mushrooms out altogether.
BliTzer says
The only thing I changed was the bacon.. I added MORE? 9 strips & 2 cups crumbled.. I used a microwave bacon cooker that drains the grease into a holder to use later &bit makes it very crispy!
Stacey says
More bacon is NEVER a bad idea!
Jason French says
First time making this dish this Thanksgiving. It smells amazing and I’m sure the coworkers are going to love this! Thanks for the recipe.
Stacey says
Awesome! Sure hope everyone enjoys it!
Maryanne McQuarrie says
I wouldn’t add salt next time.
Everything else was good, no leftovers with this dish. Excellent.
Stacey says
Glad to hear it turned out great for you!
Gayle says
What cheese would be best to substitute for the Monterey Jack?
Stacey says
I’ve used mozzarella before. Enjoy!
Gerome buhrman says
Best green bean casserole I’ve ever had. The family requests this side for every family get together!
Stacey says
Fantastic! Great to hear!
Sabrina Coffman says
I have to say out of all the recipes I’ve tried over the years for green bean casserole this one blew them all out of the water!! It was so delicious. I used 2 lbs of fresh green beans, snipped both ends, cut them in half and boiled them in chicken broth for 10 mins to soften. I omitted the mushrooms and subbed cream of chicken for cream of mushroom. Keeping this around for a long time!
Stacey says
Awesome! Love hearing that, Sabrina!
Ronell says
I love this recipe
I’m trying it for Christmas this year.
I’m trying the golden mushroom soup instead of regular.
Do u think it will ruin the bacon flavor?
Stacey says
I love the golden mushroom soup. It will certainly taste different, but I don’t think it will ruin it by any means. Enjoy! Let me know how it turns out!
Scarlett says
Well I made this delicious green bean casserole, the amazing potato casserole, and the scrumptious corn pudding for today – Christmas Day menu, 2021. I love, love, love Southern Bite and Stacey. He’s my “go to” chef and I wouldn’t take anything for his cookbook!!! My husband has a serious drooling problem this evening. He said that just watching me cook these beauties and finally eating them has changed his world. He’s going to want Christmas every day. 🤣 Thank you so much Stacey. I’m so glad you’re on Pinterest and Instagram. Keep on cooking!! ❤️
Stacey says
Thanks so much, Scarlett! It’s such an honor to know your menu included so many of my recipes! Happy New Year!