Tessa’s Recipe Rundown
Taste: The addition of cheese and bacon PLUS homemade extra-creamy sauce (instead of that canned condensed stuff) all takes this casserole to a whole new level of deliciousness.
Texture: Creamy, crisp, crunchy, cheesy, satisfying.
Ease: Very simple to make. You can refrigerate the unbaked, untopped casserole for a couple days if you want to make ahead for Thanksgiving.
Pros: So much more fun and tasty than regular green bean casserole.
Cons: None!
Would I make this again? I make this casserole every holiday season.
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Cheesy Green Bean Casserole with Bacon is about to be the most crowd-pleasing side dish on your Thanksgiving table.
It’s officially one of the most delicious months of the year! Between November and December, I really can’t choose which has the best food.
Not just holiday food, but hearty, soul-warming soups like Pot Pie Soup, rich, decadent pies like Caramel Apple Streusel Pie, and cozy, flavorful cookies like Brown Butter Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies. I love every minute of it.
Of course, November in the U.S. means Thanksgiving. This homemade Cheesy Green Bean Casserole with Bacon has become a staple Thanksgiving side dish for me.
This is a homemade casserole recipe using fresh ingredients. Skipping the canned ingredients really brightens and intensifies all the natural flavors and elevates the entire dish.
This green bean casserole is scrumptious, savory, creamy, crunchy, and magnificent. This classic holiday side dish is Thanksgiving perfection. Just check out Mary’s kind review below:
Reader Love
I made this last year for Thanksgiving. I will be making it again this year with one major change. I will be doubling the recipe. It is so good!
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Your family and friends will look forward to this casserole for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, and Christmas for years to come!
Sprinkle of Science
How to Make the BEST Green Bean Casserole Recipe
The Fried Onions
While the rest of this Green Bean Casserole is homemade, I could not find any easy alternatives to the fried onion topping. But what would green bean casserole at Thanksgiving be without those crispy fried onions?! You should be able to find French’s brand crispy fried onions at your local supermarket, but you can otherwise grab them online here.
How to Make Tender Green Beans
- Blanch the fresh green beans in boiling water for about 4 to 6 minutes.
- Strain into a large bowl filled with ice water to stop the cooking.
- Drain, dry, and proceed with the recipe.
Can You Use Frozen Green Beans For Green Bean Casserole?
Yes! Just thaw before using.
Can You Add Mushrooms to This Green Bean Casserole?
Yes! You can add in 3/4 pound of cleaned, sliced bella or button mushrooms. Add in with the onions and proceed with the recipe as written.
Can I Skip the Bacon?
If you need to make this recipe vegetarian, feel free to experiment with skipping the bacon and using a couple tablespoons of butter or a splash of oil to sauté the onions and garlic. You may need to melt an additional tablespoon of butter to make the roux.
Can I Use Heavy Cream Instead of Milk?
Sure, just note that you’ll get a richer, thicker, and creamier texture.
Can You Use Almond Milk in this Green Bean Casserole?
While I haven’t tried this myself, readers have reported success using unsweetened almond milk in this recipe. Just note that the final texture won’t be as rich and creamy.
Can You Double This Recipe?
Yes! Simply double all the ingredients and bake in two 9×13-inch baking pans.
Can You Make Green Bean Casserole Ahead of Time?
Absolutely! Here’s how:
- Once the casserole is assembled but just before baking, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
- Top with shredded cheese and fried onions before baking.
- If baking straight from the fridge, add a few minutes to the baking time.
If you need to make this casserole further ahead, I’ve included tips for freezing and baking from frozen just below.
Can You Freeze Green Bean Casserole?
Yes! Assemble the casserole in a heat-safe and freezer-safe pan, but don’t top with the shredded cheese or fried onions yet. Wrap the pan in plastic wrap. Cover with tin foil, label, and date. Freeze for up to 4 months.
To bake, remove plastic and foil. If using a glass or ceramic pan, allow to defrost overnight in the fridge. Top with shredded cheese and fried onions before baking. Bake for about 45 minutes from frozen.
More Thanksgiving Recipes:
See my Thanksgiving Headquarters here for all my recipes!
Cheesy Green Bean Casserole with Bacon
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Ingredients
- 4 strips bacon, diced
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole milk*
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 pound green beans, ends trimmed and cut in half
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup French’s French Fried onions
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a medium skillet set over medium heat, add the bacon. Cook, stirring often, until most of the fat has rendered and the bacon is beginning to crisp. Add the onions and cook until soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring. Using a slotted spoon, remove the mixture to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the bacon drippings behind.
- Sprinkle the flour over the bacon drippings and whisk to combine. Cook for 1 minute, whisking constantly. Gradually whisk in the milk, then add the sour cream and bacon mixture. Stir until the mixture has thickened to gravy consistency. Remove from heat and season with black pepper to taste.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt generously. Add the green beans and cook until tender but still crisp and green, about 5 minutes. Drain immediately then shock in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Drain again and pat dry.
- In a large bowl, combine the bacon mixture with the green beans, tossing to coat. Spread evenly in a greased 9 by 13-inch baking pan.
- Make ahead: At this point, you can cover the pan and refrigerate the unbaked, untopped casserole for up to 2 days.
- When ready to bake, top with shredded cheese and fried onions. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
Recipe Notes
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This post was originally published in 2014 and has been updated with new photos, recipe improvements, and additional baking tips. Photos by Patty Kraikittikun-Phuong.
Holy Smokes!
This is the verry best casserole EVER!
Delicious! I made this recipe for Thanksgiving and will make it again for Christmas. My family LOVES bacon so I will double the bacon for Christmas!
Hi there, If using frozen green beans do I need to defrost them first or just mix them in straight out from the freezer? Thanks!
This is the best green bean casserole I have ever eaten….I did have to use canned green beans…..they were all out of fresh in Wal-mart and I had a crowd so added two more cans of green beans so added some( oh no) cream of mushroom soup but honestly it did not make it worse…..was kind of dry looking so that is why I added it…..it turned out wonderful!!!!! Everyone loved it including me……lol
My family loves this recipe and requests it every Thanksgiving! Thanks so much!
1st time trying this recipe. I’m not baking this today, so I followed the “make ahead directions” a few hrs ago.
I just reread the recipe…OH NO!!! I didn’t see the note below the recipe that states “fresh green beans should be boiled 3 min”. I can’t believe I missed this!
Are the green beans going to be too crunchy now? Is there anything I can do to salvage my err? I supposed I can pick them all out, but that seems tedious.
Hi Lara – I just updated the recipe to make that part more clear. So sorry you missed the note! I would suggest simply baking the casserole for longer until the green beans are tender 🙂
Hello Tessa,
Can I make this recipe a few days before, freeze it and bake it on Thanksgiving? (hoping for 1 less thing to do on the day)
When I take it out of the refrigerator and put the onions and cheese on top, do I cook it covered or uncovered? Thanks
Do I have to u freeze green beans?
Has anyone used canned green beans for this recipe? If so, just follow the ounces recommendations?
Can I make this a day or 2 in advance?
Hi Andi, please read the recipe: “At this point you can cover and refrigerate the unbaked, untopped casserole for up to 2 days.”
Can you use packaged bacon bits instead of fresh bacon?
Recipe sounds so good. Will try for Thanksgiving.