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A close-up of a classic green bean casserole in a ceramic dish, topped with a generous amount of crispy fried onions.

Reda's Ultimate Southern Green Bean Casserole

A creamy, savory green bean casserole with crispy fried onions, packed with authentic Southern flavor, perfect for any holiday or family meal. This recipe guarantees the best Southern Green Bean Casserole every time.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Southern
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Green Bean Casserole
  • 2 lbs Green Beans fresh, trimmed and snapped, or 3 (14.5 oz) cans, drained
  • 4 tbsp Unsalted Butter melted
  • 1 medium Yellow Onion finely diced
  • 3 cloves Garlic minced
  • 8 oz Mushrooms cremini or white button, sliced
  • 1/4 cup All-Purpose Flour
  • 1.5 cups Chicken Broth low sodium
  • 1 cup Heavy Cream
  • 1/2 cup Whole Milk
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 tsp Dijon Mustard
  • 1 tsp Salt or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper freshly ground, or to taste
  • 1 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese shredded
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese freshly grated
For the Topping
  • 2.8 oz Crispy Fried Onions (1 standard can), or homemade

Equipment

  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • Large saucepan or Dutch oven
  • Whisk
  • Cutting board
  • Knife

Method
 

Prepare the Green Beans
  1. If using fresh green beans: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add green beans and blanch for 5-7 minutes until tender-crisp. Drain immediately and plunge into an ice bath to stop cooking. Drain again thoroughly. If using canned, simply drain well.
Make the Cream Sauce
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  2. In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Add diced yellow onion and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
  3. Add minced garlic and sliced mushrooms. Cook for another 5-7 minutes, until mushrooms have released their liquid and browned slightly.
  4. Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and stir well. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, to cook out the raw flour taste.
  5. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth, then heavy cream and milk, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Bring to a gentle simmer, whisking until the sauce thickens, about 3-5 minutes.
  6. Stir in Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper.
  7. Remove from heat and stir in shredded sharp cheddar cheese and grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
Assemble and Bake
  1. Add the prepared green beans to the cream sauce and stir gently to coat evenly.
  2. Pour the green bean mixture into the prepared baking dish.
  3. Bake for 20 minutes, or until bubbly around the edges.
  4. Remove from oven, sprinkle the crispy fried onions evenly over the top.
  5. Return to oven and bake for another 10 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and crispy.
Serve
  1. Let the casserole stand for 5-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy this Best Southern Green Bean Casserole!

Notes

For a richer flavor, you can add a pinch of smoked paprika or a dash of hot sauce to the cream sauce. This casserole can be assembled up to a day in advance (without the crispy onions) and stored in the refrigerator. Add extra baking time if baking from cold.