Green Bean Casserole from Scratch

Making green bean casserole from scratch transforms this beloved comfort food into a gourmet side dish worthy of any special occasion. By preparing each component yourself – fresh green beans, homemade mushroom sauce, and crispy fried onions – you’ll create layers of flavor and texture that far surpass any canned version.

How to Make Green Bean Casserole from Scratch

For the Green Beans

• 2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 tablespoon salt (for blanching water)

For the Mushroom Sauce

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 pound mixed mushrooms (cremini, shiitake, button), sliced
• 3 shallots, minced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme

For the Crispy Onion Topping

• 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• Vegetable oil for frying

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preparing the Green Beans:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil
2. Add green beans and blanch for 4-5 minutes until bright green and crisp-tender
3. Immediately transfer to ice water to stop cooking
4. Drain thoroughly and set aside

Making the Mushroom Sauce:

1. Heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat
2. Add sliced mushrooms and cook 8-10 minutes until golden and moisture evaporates
3. Add shallots and garlic, cook 2 minutes until fragrant
4. Sprinkle flour over mushrooms and stir constantly for 1 minute
5. Gradually whisk in broth, preventing lumps from forming
6. Add cream, salt, pepper, and thyme
7. Simmer 5-7 minutes until sauce thickens to coat the back of a spoon

Preparing Crispy Onions:

1. Heat 2 inches of oil to 350°F in a heavy pot
2. Combine flour, salt, and paprika in a bowl
3. Separate onion slices and toss with seasoned flour
4. Fry in small batches for 2-3 minutes until golden brown
5. Transfer to paper towels and season with additional salt

Final Assembly:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F
2. Combine blanched green beans with mushroom sauce in a 9×13 baking dish
3. Top with half the crispy onions
4. Bake 20-25 minutes until bubbly
5. Top with remaining onions and bake 5 more minutes

Conclusion

Making green bean casserole from scratch requires more effort than opening cans, but the results justify every minute spent. Fresh ingredients create vibrant flavors and appealing textures that transform this humble side dish into something truly special. Whether for holidays, potlucks, or family dinners, this homemade version will become your new standard for comfort food excellence.

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Jennifer Glover

I’m Jennifer, the writer, recipe developer and photographer behind this site. I love food! I dream in food! I started CGC in October of 2011 as a way to catalog the constant thoughts of food that float through my mind. The best part of my day is dancing around my kitchen to music, singing my lungs out, while creating and photographing dishes inspired from years of travel, mixed with good ole southern culture to share with you. Thanks for reading and I hope you keep coming back for more recipes, travel bits and a dash of this and that... Cheers!

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