Old-School Green Bean Classic (Printable View)

Creamy green beans with mushrooms and crispy onions for a comforting holiday side.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces (or 2 pounds frozen cut green beans, thawed and drained)

→ Sauce Base

02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 9 ounces cremini or button mushrooms, sliced
04 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
07 - 1 cup whole milk
08 - ½ cup heavy cream
09 - ½ cup low-sodium vegetable broth
10 - 1 teaspoon salt
11 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
12 - ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)

→ Topping

13 - 1½ cups crispy fried onions (store-bought or homemade)

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add green beans and cook for 5 minutes until tender but still bright green. Drain and rinse under cold water to halt cooking. Set aside.
03 - Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and cook for 5-6 minutes until tender and browned. Stir in onion and garlic, cooking an additional 2-3 minutes until softened.
04 - Sprinkle flour over vegetables in the skillet and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually whisk in milk, heavy cream, and vegetable broth. Simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg if using.
05 - Add drained green beans to the skillet and toss to coat evenly with the sauce.
06 - Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle half of the crispy fried onions evenly on top.
07 - Bake uncovered for 25 minutes until bubbling. Remove from the oven, sprinkle remaining fried onions on top, and bake for an additional 5 to 7 minutes until golden and crisp.
08 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Classic comfort food for holidays and family gatherings
  • Easy to prepare and can be made ahead for convenience
02 -
  • You can make this casserole ahead and add onions just before baking
  • Check store-bought fried onions for allergens like soy or wheat
03 -
  • For richer flavor, add some grated cheddar or Gruyère cheese to the sauce
  • Use fresh green beans for optimal texture, but frozen beans work for added convenience
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