French’s Green Bean Casserole from Scratch

This French’s Green Bean Casserole recipe is packed with delicious ingredients, can be easily made vegan and gluten-free, and is a great side dish for any meal, not just for Thanksgiving. It’s one of my favorite casserole recipes for a reason!

Did you know Americans have been making green bean casserole since 1955? Or that it was invented by the Campbell Soup Company? Yeah, that Campbell’s Soup!

While my green bean casserole recipe doesn’t stray too far from the classic recipe, the beauty of it is you can add and take away ingredients and seasonings however you like. Green beans are super versatile – and super good for you – so you can tailor them precisely to your tastes.

With four simple ingredients, you can create a winning side dish that goes with basically everything – from chicken to tofu to stir fry and back again. I’ve even got recipes on how to make all the ingredients, like my how to guide on making the best crispy fried onions.

Grab your casserole dish – and let’s get cooking. Plus, you can easily double the recipe so all your guests can enjoy this classic holiday side dish during Thanksgiving dinner.

What’s in French’s Green Bean Casserole

• Fresh green beans: Use French-style tender green beans for this casserole recipe – they’re long, thin, and jam-packed with flavor. You can use fresh, frozen, or canned. If you can’t find French beans, any style of green bean will do – just be aware the texture of the green bean casserole will change.
• Cream of mushroom soup: I love using leftovers of my homemade soup which is so easy to make and easily made GF or vegan. If you’re in a hurry, canned soup works just as well.
• Crispy french fried onions: White onions work best for this classic green bean casserole recipe, but red will also work if you prefer. Smaller onions like shallots are a great alternative to traditional onions – though I wouldn’t recommend spring onions, as they tend to dissolve quickly.

Chef’s tip: Using a sharper knife will help you cry less when chopping onions (or so the Cordon Bleu says!). 

• Milk: I like to use oat milk, but whatever your favorite type – dairy or not – will work just fine.

How to Make Green Bean Casserole from Scratch

If you wonder how long to cook green bean casserole, the cooking time depends if you are making everything from scratch. When meal prepped, this takes just 20-30 minutes of bake time.

Step 1: Blanch the Green Beans

First, clean your green beans, then cut the tips off. 

Fill a saucepan with a generous amount of water and sprinkle with salt, then bring it to a boil. The water should be gently “rolling”.

“Blanching” is a technique that helps cook veggies without losing their beautiful colors. To blanch, place the beans in the boiling water and cook for precisely two minutes.

Then, immediately remove them from the hot water and put them in a bowl of ice water. Leave to cool for a few minutes. For more tips, check my post on How to Boil Green Beans.

Step 2: Fry the Onions

Thinly slice your onions so they resemble strips. 

Turn the heat on beneath a large skillet and add oil. Oils have different smoking points, so for frying, you want one with a high smoking point like avocado oil, peanut oil, or sunflower oil.

Fry the onions for 2-4 minutes until crispy and golden brown. Divide in two. 

For a more detailed recipe, use my easy method for perfect fried onions, every time.

Step 3: Make the Cream of Mushroom Soup

If you’ve got leftovers or are using canned soup, you can simply crack open your can or container.

My quick Fifteen-minute Cream of Mushroom Soup recipe is on-hand if you’re making this from scratch and is just as delicious as Campbell’s. Maybe even more!

Step 4: Assemble and Bake

Pour the cream of mushrooms soup into a large, oven-proof baking dish or casserole dish. Add in the green beans, then half of the fried onions and the milk.

Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit/180ºC for about 20- 30 minutes (or until hot) until bubbling and golden. Once it’s ready, top the dish with the remaining crispy onion topping. Taste test and season with salt and black pepper if wanted. Serve and enjoy.

Chef’s Tip: If wanted, once you add the remaining onions, place the dish back in the oven for extra 5 minutes.

If you’ve got leftovers, transfer them from the casserole dish into any container you like. Don’t put it into the refrigerator or freezer until it’s cooled down – you’ll trap water in there and get soggy beans! Once cooled, cover with a lid or foil/plastic wrap and freeze. When you’re ready to eat, allow to thaw, then transfer into an oven-proof dish and cook for 8-10 minutes to crisp up the onions and beans.

In the fridge, French’s Green Bean Casserole will last up to four days.

FAQs

More Comforting Side Dish Recipes

• Pineapple Casserole
• Fabulous Cheesy Potatoes
• The Easiest Corn Casserole

If you try this easy green bean casserole recipe, I’d love to hear your thoughts and questions below. Also, I’d appreciate a recipe card rating below, and feel free to tag me in your recipe recreations on Instagram @Alphafoodie!