Description
This Ultimate Green Bean Casserole is a rich and creamy twist on the classic holiday side dish featuring crisp bacon, sautéed mushrooms and onions, melted Monterey Jack cheese, and crunchy French fried onions, all baked to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1/2 yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 1/2 cups chopped button mushrooms
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 (14.5-ounce) cans cut green beans, drained
Dairy and Canned Goods
- 2 (10.5-ounce) cans cream of mushroom soup
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 1/2 cups French fried onions
Meat and Fat
- 6 strips bacon
Seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Oven and Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook and Crumble Bacon: In a large skillet over medium-low heat, cook the bacon strips until crisp. Remove them and place on paper towels to drain excess grease, then crumble into small pieces. Reserve about 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease in the skillet, discarding any extra.
- Sauté Onions: Return the skillet with the reserved bacon grease to medium heat. Add the finely diced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes until they become translucent and soft.
- Cook Mushrooms and Garlic: Add the chopped mushrooms to the skillet and sauté for 5 minutes or until they turn golden brown. Then add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to avoid burning.
- Combine Soup, Bacon, Milk, and Cheese: Stir in the undiluted cream of mushroom soup and crumbled bacon into the skillet with the vegetables. Mix well. Then add the milk and shredded Monterey Jack cheese, stirring until the cheese melts completely. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add Green Beans: Fold in the drained green beans gently until evenly coated with the creamy mixture.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the casserole mixture into the prepared baking dish. Evenly top with the French fried onions. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until the casserole is hot, bubbly, and the topping is golden brown.
Notes
- For extra flavor, consider using fresh green beans lightly steamed instead of canned.
- Using Monterey Jack cheese adds a mild creaminess, but feel free to substitute with cheddar for a sharper taste.
- The reserved bacon grease enhances the depth of flavor in the vegetable sauté.
- To make this dish gluten-free, use gluten-free cream of mushroom soup and gluten-free fried onions.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes after baking before serving to help it set.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
