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Best Kid-Approved Christmas Green Bean Casserole Recipe

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This homemade green bean casserole features fresh green beans, a creamy from-scratch sauce, and crispy fried onions. It’s the holiday side dish that converts even the biggest skeptics into believers.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ pounds fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped (or ½ teaspoon dried)
  • For the topping:
  • 2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced into rings
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • Vegetable or canola oil for frying

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  2. Blanch the green beans: Drop trimmed beans into boiling water and cook for exactly 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop cooking. Drain and set aside.
  3. Make the crispy onion topping: In a shallow bowl, whisk buttermilk with a pinch of salt. In another bowl, combine flour, salt, and paprika. Dip onion slices in buttermilk, then coat in flour mixture. Heat 2 inches of oil in a small pot to 350°F (175°C). Fry onions in batches for 2-3 minutes until golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels and season with salt.
  4. Sauté mushrooms: In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and cook without stirring for 2-3 minutes, then stir and cook until liquid evaporates, about 5 minutes total. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Transfer to a plate.
  5. Build the cream sauce: In the same skillet, melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until softened, 4-5 minutes. Sprinkle flour over onions and stir constantly for 1 minute. Slowly pour in milk, heavy cream, and broth, whisking continuously. Bring to a simmer and cook 3-4 minutes until thickened. Season with salt, pepper, and thyme.
  6. Combine: Add blanched green beans and cooked mushrooms to the sauce. Stir gently to coat. Transfer to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
  7. Bake for 20 minutes until bubbly around edges. Let rest for 5 minutes.
  8. Top with crispy fried onions just before serving. Serve immediately.

Notes

Don’t put the fried onions on before baking or they’ll get soggy. Add them right before serving. For make-ahead, assemble casserole without topping up to 2 days in advance and refrigerate; add 10 minutes to baking time. Store leftover topping separately to maintain crunch.

Nutrition

Keywords: green bean casserole, Christmas side dish, holiday recipe, homemade green bean casserole, crispy onion topping, kid-friendly, Thanksgiving side dish

Find it online: https://goldensimmer.com/best-kid-approved-christmas-green-bean-casserole-recipe/