Like any great recipe, start with amazing ingredients such as these fresh green beans found at a local farmer’s market. Image by lifeinlightspeed from Pixabay

Green bean casserole is one of my all-time favorite side dishes to serve at Thanksgiving dinner. This classic recipe can be made with fresh, frozen, or canned green beans. I prefer the convenience of frozen and don’t think I’d ever use canned as they are mushy, overcooked, too salty and usually a horrid olive green color. Just say NO to canned green beans!

If are using fresh or frozen green beans, you will need to cook them first before adding them to the casserole. I like to use frozen green beans and cook them as directed on the package. You’ll need to blanch fresh green beans until tender if that’s what you’re using for this Thanksgiving side dish recipe.

Coconut aminos is a salty, savory seasoning sauce made from the fermented sap of coconut palm and sea salt. The sugary liquid is used to produce a variety of food products. Coconut aminos is similar in color and consistency to light soy sauce, making it an easy substitute in recipes.
healthline.com

To make a vegetarian version of green bean casserole, use your favorite unsweetened non-dairy milk such as almond, soy, or oat milk. The classic version calls for soy sauce but I like to substitute gluten-free coconut aminos. Also, you can use commercially available fried onions, such as French’s Fried Onions, but if you are gluten-sensitive like me, you might want to make homemade onions rings using gluten-free flour for the batter.

Classic Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Lynn Smythe

Recipe on how to make a traditional green bean casserole Thanksgiving side dish.

Print Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Resting Time 5

Total Time 45

Course Side Dish, Vegetarian

Servings 6 people

Equipment

Glass mixing bowl
Measuring cups
Whisk
Mixing spoon
Ceramic baking dish

Ingredients

1 10.5 ounce can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup non-dairy milk – you can use regular milk if you aren't lactose intolerant
1 tsp coconut aminos – the traditional recipe uses soy sauce
1/2 tsp black peper
4 cups green beans – I used a 16 oz. package of frozen green beans
1 1/3 cups fried onions – I used an off-brand I found at Aldi's

Instructions

Prepare your frozen green beans according to the package directions and drain off any excess liquid
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Farenheit
In a large bowl, whisk together the soup, milk and black pepper
Stir in the cooked green beans and 2/3 cups of the fried onions
Pour the mixture into a 1 1/2-quart casserole
Place in the oven and bake for 25 minutes or until the mixture is hot and bubbly
Remove the casserole from the oven and top with the remaining 2/3 cups fried onions
Return the casserole to the oven and bake for another 5 minutes or until the onions turn golden brown
Remove the casserole from the oven and place on a heatproof surface until ready to serve

Notes

Green Bean Casserole Tips and Tricks

For an extra kick, you can stir in 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese into the green bean casserole before baking in the oven.
I am lactose intolerant and use non-dairy milk in this recipe, but the classic version calls for regular milk.
I am also gluten-sensitive and most soy sauces are made from wheat, which contains gluten. For a gluten-free substitute, I use coconut aminos which can be found in the same section as soy sauce and teriyaki sauce, or you can find gluten-free soy sauce at most grocery stores.
If you aren’t a fan of cream of mushroom soup, you can use cream of celery, cream of broccoli, or cream of asparagus soup.

Keyword green bean casserole

brussels sprouts with parsnips in frying pan — Sauteed Brussels sprouts with parsnips.

More Thanksgiving Recipes

Here are links to few of my other favorite Thanksgiving recipes:

Let’s Keep in Touch

Do you have any tips or tricks you’d like to share? Leave a comment on this post or shoot me an email: info@thecreativecottage.net and I just might feature your story in a future blog post.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe

Founder and Chief Blogger
The Creative Cottage

© 2020, The Creative Cottage. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.