Description
This Ultimate Green Bean Casserole is a classic comfort food dish elevated with crispy bacon, sautéed mushrooms, and creamy cheese. Perfect for holiday gatherings or weeknight dinners, it combines tender green beans with a rich mushroom sauce and a crunchy fried onion topping for a satisfying and flavorful side.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat & Vegetables
- 6 strips bacon
- 1/2 yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 1/2 cups chopped button mushrooms
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 (14.5-ounce) cans cut green beans, drained
Dairy & Soup
- 2 (10.5-ounce) cans cream of mushroom soup
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Others
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 1/2 cups French fried onions
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare dish. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook bacon and sauté onions. In a large skillet over medium-low heat, cook the bacon strips until they are crisp. Remove from the skillet and drain on paper towels, then crumble. Discard all but about 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease and return the pan to medium heat. Add the diced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes or until they become translucent.
- Sauté mushrooms and garlic; combine sauce. Add the chopped mushrooms to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until golden brown. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the undiluted cream of mushroom soup, then add the crumbled bacon back to the pan. Mix well, then stir in the milk and shredded Monterey Jack cheese until the cheese melts completely. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine green beans and transfer to dish. Fold the drained green beans into the creamy mushroom and bacon mixture until well combined. Pour this mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- Top and bake. Sprinkle the French fried onions over the top of the casserole. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes until the casserole is hot, bubbly, and the topping is crispy and golden.
Notes
- Drain the green beans well to avoid a watery casserole.
- For a richer flavor, use whole milk or cream instead of 1/4 cup milk.
- French fried onions can be found in the produce or snack aisle in most supermarkets.
- Prepare the casserole a day ahead and refrigerate; bake just before serving.
- To make it gluten-free, substitute cream of mushroom soup and fried onions with gluten-free alternatives.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
