Shake up your Thanksgiving green bean casserole tradition by putting our creamiest green bean casserole ever, inspired by Budget Bytes, on your table! Featuring a homemade mushroom sauce, our contemporary take on this classic comfort food dish will have your holiday guests lining up for seconds — and then asking for the recipe.
Forget that can of cream of mushroom soup that traditional green bean casserole recipes always mention. Instead, impress your guests with a mouthwatering sauce made with fresh mushrooms, butter, and cream cheese. This heavenly homemade sauce transforms plain green beans and crunchy French-fried onions into a surprising gourmet holiday dish.
ALSO TRY: Instant Pot green bean casserole with cheese
Let’s cook!
Saute the mushrooms
Fresh mushrooms deliver a depth of earthy flavor to this holiday side dish. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute mushrooms and garlic for 7 to 10 minutes or until they are tender, browning slightly, and have released their moisture.
Make the mushroom sauce
Butter and flour create a roux that thickens the liquid components of the sauce. Add butter to the skillet with the mushrooms and stir until it’s melted. Sprinkle flour over the mixture and cook, stirring, until the flour becomes golden in color. Whisk in vegetable broth and simmer until it has thickened. Whisk in the milk and bring to a simmer. Add the chunks of cream cheese and whisk slowly until they have melted completely and the sauce is smooth. Season liberally with salt and pepper to taste.
Combine the green beans and mushroom sauce
Place frozen green beans in a large bowl. Pour mushroom sauce over green beans and stir to combine. No need to thaw or boil the green beans before combining with the sauce because the hot mushroom sauce and the oven will do the cooking for you.
Transfer green bean mixture to a casserole dish and top with fried onions
Pour the green bean mixture into a 2- to 3-quart casserole dish. Scatter french-fried onions evenly over the top of the green beans. The onions add a delightful crunch to contrast with the creamy mushroom sauce and the tender green beans.
Bake the green bean casserole
Slide the casserole dish in the oven and bake at 350 F for 20 to 25 minutes or until the fried onions start to brown slightly. Serve your green bean casserole hot out of the oven.
A side dish that is sure to be a hit!
Piping hot out of the oven
A wonderful spin on a classic dish
Crunchy fried onions are the perfect top layer to this creamy dish
Even your non-veggie-lovers will be tempted to dig in!
Absolutely scrumptious!
Creamiest green bean casserole
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 ounces button mushrooms, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1 cup whole milk
- 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 20 ounces frozen green beans
- 3 ounces canned french-fried onions
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and swirl the skillet to coat the surface. Add the mushrooms, garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Saute the mushrooms for 7 to 10 minutes or until they release their moisture and the edges of the mushrooms begin to brown slightly.
- Add the butter to the skillet and cook, stirring, until the butter melts.
- Sprinkle the flour over the mushrooms and continue to cook, stirring often, for 2 to 3 minutes or just until the flour begins to coat the bottom of the skillet and turns golden brown.
- Whisk the vegetable broth into the skillet until all the flour has dissolved off the bottom of the skillet. Simmer until the broth has thickened.
- Whisk in the milk. Allow the mixture to return to a simmer after adding the milk. Add the cream cheese. Continue to whisk and cook slowly until the cream cheese has melted completely.
- Taste the sauce and add another pinch of salt and pepper, if needed. The sauce can be slightly over-seasoned.
- Place green beans into a large bowl. Add the sauce and stir to combine.
- Pour the green bean mixture into a 2- to 3-quart casserole dish and top with the fried onions.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through and the fried onions have browned slightly.
- Serve warm.
Courses Sides
