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Ditch the canned stuff for this delicious, green bean casserole from scratch recipe. Your classic southern green bean casserole recipe gets a makeover using fresh, real ingredients for an authentic homemade taste.
Homemade Southern Green Bean Casserole is one recipe that is sure to please a crowd. Making green bean casserole from scratch couldn’t get any easier than this!
I know that the thought of making something from scratch can be a bit intimidating but it really doesn’t have to be. You will be surprised how easy it is to make cream of mushroom soup from scratch or how simple it is to make your own French-fried onions instead of buying them in a can from the store.
Thanksgiving is a week away which means now is the time to start gathering those recipes and figuring out what dishes you’ll be cooking in the kitchen on the big day. You could be making a full blown Thanksgiving spread or just a few dishes to take over to a friends.
There is a reason why green bean casserole is such a classic Thanksgiving recipe. There is no argument that it is simply, delicious! Homemade Green Bean Casserole is one recipe that will always please a crowd.
Green Bean Casserole from Scratch is Easier than you think!
Nowadays it is all about the quick and easy for convenience sake. But, did you know that making southern green bean casserole from scratch is just as easy as using pre-packaged products.
Let’s ditch the canned stuff this holiday season for real ingredients. Let’s get back to our roots of creating homemade recipes in the kitchen.
Making green bean casserole from scratch starts by creating your own cream of mushroom soup and french fried onions at home.
Sure, opening the seal on a can is going to be an easier and time saving method when you need to make a meal fast. But, there is a specific taste that only comes from something homemade.
The sense of pride one has when you make it yourself simply can not be purchased from a store.
Why Make Green Bean Casserole from Scratch?
In a word…Health.
By ditching the canned stuff you are automatically making this classic Thanksgiving recipe a heck of a lot healthier than it would be if you used canned cream of mushroom condensed soup, green beans, or French fried onions.
By using fresh, real ingredients you are eliminating all of the harmful ingredients that is often found in canned processed food.
When you cook green bean casserole from scratch you know exactly what every ingredient is in this recipe.
Don’t like an ingredient. Don’t use it! You control what goes in this green bean casserole recipe.
Have you ever made southern green bean casserole from scratch?
Store bought ingredients do have their time and place when looking for a quick cooking solution. However, a little extra effort can yield incredible homemade dishes your family will love. You will be amazed at how easy making your favorite dishes from scratch can be.
Make Holiday Cleanup and Storage Easier
When it comes to cooking and baking, I always like to use oven safe, glass baking dishes, especially for casseroles.
For this recipe I recommend using a glass baking dish with a storage lid. I have used these glass baking dishes for years. Not only have they held up well but when it comes to storing leftovers in the fridge, nothing is easier than just snapping the lid on the container.
When your baking dishes have storage lids you don’t have to mess with aluminum foil and plastic wrap which reduces waste and helps out the planet.
Homemade Southern Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter salted
- 8 oz white mushrooms sliced
- 1/2 small yellow or Vidalia onion sliced into thin strips
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 tbsp corn starch
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 4 tbsp soy sauce low sodium
- 8 cups cut green beans (fresh or frozen)
Homemade French Fried Onions Recipe Ingredients
- 1/2 small yellow or Vidalia onion sliced into thin strips
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- In a sauce pan. Add green beans and cover with water.
- Place sauce pan with green beans on the stove and turn on high.
- Once boiling, reduce heat to low-medium and cook until fork tender. About 15 minutes.
- Drain cooked green beans and place in a greased 13" x 9" baking dish, set aside.
- Slice the mushrooms and small onion.
- In a large skillet, melt butter on medium heat. Then add sliced mushrooms and half of your sliced onions to the pan. Cook until mushrooms are soft and onions are translucent about 5 minutes.
- Next, in a measuring cup combine the milk, cornstarch, low-sodium soy sauce, salt, and pepper together using a whisk to prevent lumps.
- Once combined, pour mixture into skillet with the cooked mushrooms and onions.
- Stir well and regularly until the mixture begins to thicken like a soup. About 5-10 minutes on low-medium heat.
- Once thickened, turn off the heat. Pour mixture onto the green beans in the baking dish. Carefully stir to coat.
- Bake in preheated 350° F oven for 20 minutes.
- Remove casserole from oven and sprinkle the top with homemade french fried onions.
- Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Homemade French Fried Onions Recipe
- Fill the bottom of a skillet with 1/2 inch of oil (vegetable, canola, or peanut) for frying your onions.
- In a bowl toss the reserved half of the sliced onions with flour until coated.
- Heat on medium-high. Once the oil is hot, add the floured, sliced onions. Cook until brown in color.
- Remove fried onions from skillet and allow to drain on paper towels. Set aside until ready to top your green bean casserole.
Notes
- If you don’t want to make your own French fried onions, then subsititute 2 1/2 cups of store-bought crispy french fried onions instead of the homemade ones in this recipe.
- If using store bought French fried onions, sprinkle on top of baked green beans, return back to the oven to bake for an additional 15 minutes or until onions have crisped up and browned a bit.
- If using regular soy sauce, eliminate the salt.
- Check out my favorite kitchen gadgets for stay-at-home chefs on Amazon.
Need more easy, southern recipes for your holiday table?
50 Comments
I LOVE a good green bean casserole and this one looks and sounds delish! I’m from the Midwest and ours were very similar to yours growing up – yum!
Bean casserole – yes please this is a perfect winter warmer and along with some crispy bread is the ideal comfort food x
Yum! I’ve never had a bean casserole before this looks delicious and easy enough for me to make! I will have to give it a try!
I just was retested for my allergies and so happy to hear I can eat green beans again. This looks yum.
This is an interesting twist on a classic green bean recipe. I am going to have to try it
OMG yes! This must taste so incredibly good! I love green beans ( or any bean at all to be honest!) , I love mushrooms and this just sounds like the most amazing combination! Can I switch the milk for soy milk or almond milk? Maybe rice milk would be a better idea…
Yes, I think you could use a plant based milk in this recipe instead.
Looks delicious! Seems the very thing to eat on a cold Christmas day!
We grew up on this! My family is from North Carolina originally and I think this was the state dish! ;)
I’ve never made any kind of green been casserole before. It’s not something I grew up eating, but this does sound yummy.
OMG! This looks amazing and really tempting. I would definitely try this Southern Green Bean Casserole for my family, they will love this for sure.
I just pinned this! It incredible!! Green bean casserole is definitely a staple food around Thanksgiving!
I am not typically a fan of green bean casserole, but your recipe almost makes me want to change my mind! I’m going to check out some of your other recipes while I’m here.
I have never made a casserole let alone a green bean casserole but this recipe is making me so hungry. I really want to try this out!
This recipe is one of my absolute favorites both for the holidays and for an everyday meal! I love the flavors, and the textures! I love the idea of making my own French fried onions, I have never done that before, I usually just buy a can of them, I must try this, looks so good!
Oh yum!!! Green been casserole is a must have for holidays! I’m gonna have to try out this recipe!
I have never had green bean casserole before but i imagine it must taste amazing. Can’t wait to try it .
We lived in Georgia and north carolina for a few years, so I think it’s our obligation to make this!
I’m not sure if I’ve actually had 100% homemade green bean casserole, but it looks really good!
We have this every year. I have not made it myself yet though, and I really should give it a whirl.
I have not made green bean casserole myself but have had some at some thanksgiving dinners and it was good. It is always a crowd pleasure for sure.
Green bean casserole is such a staple for the holidays! I need to start making it for my family.
I love green beans never tried making it into a casserole will definitely try to make this
I have not made green bean casserole before, it looks and sounds so delicious. I am going to try it out in the Christmas holidays.
This looks and sounds amazing. I love a good casserole in the winter, it makes up for the cold weather.
I don’t do dairy, so I’ll swap butter and milk for non-dairy. I love that you are frying your own crispy onions! Yum!
I’ll tell you what, it isn’t Thanksgiving without THIS casserole! One of my favorites, for sure! I really should make it more than just at Thanksgiving…
This sounds so delicious! If this was served at our Thanksgiving table, I would definitely put heaps on my plate!
I love Green Bean Casserole and I’m from the South. I approve of this recipe! :D
This is one of my favorite dishes to both make and enjoy. This looks like it is so good.
Looks like an easy yet delicious southern green bean casserole! Perfect for this week!
This looks tasty! I just got an idea what to make for lunch, thank you!
Yummy!!! this looks very tasty! thank you for sharing the recipe!
This recipe sounds amazing! Yum.
this looks so yummy! will be trying this one!
This is one of my favorite casseroles. I make it every Thanksgiving and it’s always a hit.
The recipe looks so good I printed it it to try out this Thanksgiving! It looks so delicious!
It was perfect. My entire family loved it. I plan to make it again for Thanksgiving. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
I’ve always seen this at other people’s holiday dinners but I’ve never made it! Thanks for the recipe!
I haven’t had green bean casserole in several years. I’ll have to make some for Thanksgiving. I haven’t finalized my meal plan yet but I picked the meat already. We aren’t having a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
It’s so funny to come across this today because I’ve been craving it for the last couple of weeks! Must be that time of the year, lol! This looks so good!
I have never made cream of mushroom from scratch. This is something I really need to start doing though.
Green bean casserole is the best. It wouldn’t be a holiday meal without it.
This is one of my favorite dishes. I love the crispy onion on the top! Must make it for holidays!
I have never had a bean casserole for thanksgiving but this year I think I give it a try. Thanks for the great recipe!
This is a classic in our home and the fresh fried onion are not considered optional for us ?!!!
This looks amazing, But I twist that I have a little bit. so, my family would love it too.
This sounds so tasty! I haven’t had a green bean casserole in ages and it is nice to have an easy recipe for the holidays.
Haven’t had a dish of green beans as mains, just always as a side. Looks yummy, thanks for sharing!
This is a real southern dish, it looks delicious. Will try it.