Fresh Green Bean Casserole Recipe

4.67 from 3 votes

Fresh Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Fresh Green Bean Casserole combines fresh green beans with a creamy roux made with crispy bacon and a crunchy topping! This dish is perfect for Thanksgiving using the freshest ingredients and is one the whole family will love!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword fresh green bean casserole, Thanksgiving side dish

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 30

Total Time 1

Servings servings

Calories 324kcal

Author Sue Ringsdorf

Ingredients

2 ½ pounds fresh green beans - trimmed and rinsed
6 slices bacon - diced
1/2 medium yellow onion - diced
3 cloves garlic - minced
kosher salt - to taste
3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup lower-sodium chicken broth
1 ½ cup half and half
6 oz. french fried onions
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper - to taste

Instructions

Blanch the green beans. Add green beans to a large pot filled with water. Bring beans to a boil and then add a good amount of salt. Boil for 5-7 minutes and then strain in a colander.
Immediately transfer beans to a large bowl filled with ice water. Let them soak in the ice bath for a few minutes and then strain. Add beans back to the bowl.
2 ½ pounds fresh green beans, kosher salt
Cook bacon. Use the same pot (or a large skillet) to saute the chopped bacon over medium-high heat. Cook until well-browned, about 5-6 minutes, stirring frequently.
Use a slotted spoon to transfer cooked bacon to a plate lined with paper towel. You can use the bacon grease to sauté the onions or discard the grease and use butter instead.
6 slices bacon
Saute the onions and garlic. In either the bacon grease or butter, add the diced onions, salt, and pepper over medium heat. Stir until slightly softened, about 4-5 minutes. Then add garlic and stir for 30 seconds or so.
1/2 medium yellow onion, 3 cloves garlic, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Add flour. Then sprinkle the flour over the diced onions and garlic, and let it thicken, stirring frequently.
3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
Add liquids and cook. Add the chicken broth and half & half, and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to a simmer and let the mixture cook until thickened about 5 more minutes.
1 cup lower-sodium chicken broth, 1 ½ cup half and half
Combine ingredients. Pour the creamy sauce into the large bowl with the green beans. Add crumbled bacon and stir well to coat.
Add to dish. Add ingredients to a large casserole dish and stir well. Top with crispy fried onions.
Bake. Bake casserole at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until hot, bubbly, and golden brown on top. If the crispy onions are getting too dark, cover the dish with foil for a portion of the baking time.
6 oz. french fried onions

Notes

Prep-Ahead: Prep the casserole a day or two ahead of time (but wait to add the fried onions). Cover with foil and store in the refrigerator. When it's time to cook, bake the casserole without the onions for 20 minutes to get it hot. Then add the crispy onions and continue baking for another 20-25 minutes or so.

Store the leftover casserole in an airtight container in your refrigerator. You can eat leftovers for up to four days.

Nutrition