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This easy green bean casserole is a holiday classic, featuring sauce-covered green beans and crispy onions baked to golden perfection.
best green bean casserole Recipe
Our holidays are all about the sides and this dish is a Thanksgiving classic that we have made for as long as we can remember!
Not going to lie – this may not have been a favorite when we were younger (we were all about the Mashed Potatoes and Rolls), but now green bean casserole is a Thanksgiving side dish we have to have on the menu.
It’s probably our favorite way to serve green beans and is a favorite simple side dish.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
- Beyond easy. There are just a few ingredients and it’s beyond simple to put together.
- Quick. This recipe is prepped in 5 minutes. Oh yes!
- Make Ahead. This is a great make ahead dish, which is something we look for busy days like holidays.
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 5 minutes
COOK TIME: 25 minutes
- 3 (14.5-ounce) cans green beans – we use canned French Style green beans.
- For fresh green beans, use 3-4 cups of fresh, cut green beans. Trim the ends first, and if they are large, cut them in half to ensure tender green beans. For more info, check out our Fresh Green Bean Casserole.
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- ¼ cup milk – Use at least 2% milk or half and half for a creamier texture.
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 (2.8-ounce) can French-fried onions – If your family does not like fried onions, use crushed Ritz crackers or even Panko breadcrumbs toasted in butter.
How to Make Green Bean Casserole
- COMBINE. Mix green beans (be sure to drain them thoroughly), 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 can cream of chicken soup, ¼ cup milk, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl (you can use garlic salt for added flavor).
- Pour the green bean and mushroom cream sauce mixture into a 9×13 casserole dish.
- BAKE. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Top with 1 can crispy fried onions and bake for an additional 5 minutes. Serve warm.
To make it in the slow cooker, check out our Crockpot Green Bean Casserole.
Complete the Meal
Main Dishes
Roast Turkey
3 hrs 20 mins
Crock Pot Pot Roast
7 hrs 5 mins
Roast Chicken Recipe
1 hr 30 mins
Honey Glazed Ham
4 hrs 10 mins
Desserts
Homemade Pumpkin Pie
1 hr 5 mins
Libby’s Pumpkin Roll
2 hrs 35 mins
Apple Pie Recipe
3 hrs 45 mins
Easy Pecan Pie Recipe
1 hr 15 mins
More Green Bean Sides
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Easy Green Bean Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 (14.5-ounce) cans French-style green beans, drained
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- ¼ cup milk
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 (2.8-ounce) can crispy fried onions
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix green beans, soups, milk, salt, and pepper and pour into a lightly greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Bake for 18–20 minutes. Top with onions and bake for 5 minutes more.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Most of the ingredients are already gluten-free. Be sure to choose gluten-free soups and a gluten-free fried onions. Always double-check the ingredients list for hidden gluten.
A casserole can become runny by not draining the green beans well enough or by adding vegetables that shed excess liquid into the casserole. It helps to saute any vegetables in a skillet before adding them to the casserole.
– Bacon. Add cooked, chopped bacon to the recipe to make it a green bean casserole with bacon.
– Cheese. Stir in 1-1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, or other favorite cheese to add more flavor.
– More flavor. Add in sliced mushrooms, chopped onions, or any other spices for added flavor.
To save more time, assemble your casserole 24-48 hours in advance, and keep it covered in the fridge. Don’t add the French onions until the end of the baking time, otherwise, they will get soggy.
Transfer the leftovers to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
– For longer storage, cool completely before transferring it to an airtight freezer-safe baking dish or container. Label and freeze for up to 2 months.
– Reheat. Thaw if needed, reheat gently on the stovetop or in the oven until heated through. Avoid using the microwave as it can lead to uneven heating and a rubbery texture.
This is perfect…such an easy side that everyone loves!
I made this for my family Thanksgiving, and no one like it.!!
It tastes like soup and green beans. I would use maybe two cans green beans and one can Chicken soup if i ever made it again. and half of the Frenchs onions. Better yet, will probably sick to Frenches recipe.
Thanks for the feedback and for giving the recipe a try!
I made this for my family Thanksgiving, and no one like it.!!
It tastes like soup and green beans. I would use maybe two cans green beans and one can Chicken soup if i ever made it again. and half of the Frenchs onions. Better yet, will probably sick to Frenches recipe.
So easy and delicious. I first made this for Friendsgiving and everyone loved it- so, it’ll be on my Thanksgiving Day dinner table too.
Added only some bacon to it- but it’s not needed because the recipe is perfect as it is.
I can’t believe this recipe is just made of few recipes! Made it ahead of time and this casserole recipe is a crowd favorite. Worth keeping!
I made this Casserole, and it’s a holiday game-changer! Simple, delicious, and just 4 ingredients—perfect for the upcoming holidays.
We enjoy this recipe every Thanksgiving. It’s simple and perfect but also easy to make. Can’t beat a classic!
We made the Green Bean Casserole recipe with a few additives and substitutions (since I forgot to buy milk lol). I used sour cream, bacon and cream of chicken soup and stirred it all together than added the green beans and crunchy onions. I got lots of compliments on this dish. I will definitely will be using this recipe again.
So easy and so good. Love that it can be made ahead of time!
Thank you!! Yes, it definitely helps to be able to prep it beforehand. 🙂
This recipe is really great! I like to add the French onion topping out until the end. So, if there are leftovers it won’t be soggy to eat the next day.
Great dish even on a regular dinner night. My kids loved it and even added some cheese on top, thank you!
Made this for Thanksgiving. This will be on my table every year!
Is it ONE can of the combination chicken & mushroom soup, or two cans (one can of mushroom and one can of chicken)? Thank you 🙂
I was just wondering the same thing.
So, sorry..it’s one can of the mixed 🙂
One can of mixed 🙂
Sorry to confirm. One can of each?
These recipes are many of my favorites that I make for my family. Nice to add new ones. Thank you.
I love to hear that! Thank you so much for trying them & sharing that!
Absolutely love this green bean casserole recipe, to me this is the only way to eat green beans! This isn’t only awesome for holidays and get togethers but we make smaller batches for weeknight meals as well!
This is one of my favorite sides to make. I love the fried onions you added!
This is my favorite dish out of all the plates on the table for thanksgiving! I can’t wait to try your recipe; looks amazing!
First time i ever ate GREEN bean casserole, ANd it was delicious! I had to replace the cream of chicken because they don’t sell it in FRAnce (i replaced it with a bechamel and two broth cubes), but i LOVED it anyway! Thank yoi for this easy yet yummy recipe!
You are so welcome!! I am glad you tried it! Glad you found a way to improvise!
Green beans are a favorite veggie. This dish is so easy to make and takes no time to put together. A great side for a nice meal!
Green beans have never been my favorite, but eating them in this casserole makes them taste so much better!! I love the crunch & taste. It was also so easy to make, which I love!
This is the best way to eat green beans. I am not the hugest fan of them, but I love the crunch from the French-fried onions & taste, that I didn’t mind them. I can’t wait to take it to Thanksgiving this year!
I made this for a large family gathering and was happy to see that almost the whole dish was eaten. This is my new favorite recipe, and apparently my families too.
This is great! I love simple and easy to follow recipes. Would love to try this. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
You are so welcome!! I love those kinds of recipes, as well! Hope you like them!