Green Bean Casserole Crispy Onions (Print Version)
Creamy green beans in mushroom sauce topped with crispy fried onions for a comforting side.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1.5 lbs fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 8 oz cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
→ Sauce
05 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
06 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
07 - 1 cup vegetable broth
08 - 1 cup whole milk
09 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
10 - 1/2 tsp salt
11 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
12 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
13 - 1 tsp soy sauce
→ Topping
14 - 1.5 cups crispy fried onions
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add green beans and blanch for 4 minutes. Drain and transfer to an ice bath to stop cooking; drain again and set aside.
03 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add chopped onion and cook for 2 minutes until slightly softened. Add garlic and mushrooms; sauté for 5-6 minutes until the mushrooms release their liquid and begin to brown.
04 - Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and stir well; cook for 1 minute. Gradually pour in vegetable broth, stirring constantly. Add milk and heavy cream; bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens, about 4-5 minutes.
05 - Stir in salt, pepper, nutmeg, and soy sauce. Remove from heat.
06 - Add the blanched green beans and half of the crispy onions to the sauce; mix until evenly combined.
07 - Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top evenly with the remaining crispy onions.
08 - Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until the casserole is bubbly and the onions are golden brown.
09 - Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to set slightly.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The homemade sauce tastes infinitely better than anything canned, and it comes together in about 10 minutes
- That first spoonful with the crunch of fried onions against creamy beans is the kind of comfort food that makes people close their eyes and smile
02 -
- Don't skip the ice bath after blanching or your beans will continue cooking and turn grayish green instead of staying bright
- The sauce needs to simmer for at least 4 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste—if it tastes powdery, keep cooking
- Letting the casserole rest for 5 minutes after baking is essential or the sauce will be too runny when you serve it
03 -
- Warm your milk and cream slightly before adding them to the hot flour mixture to prevent lumps from forming
- Use a wide skillet when making the sauce so the liquid evaporates faster and thickens more efficiently