This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
Creamy, perfectly seasoned Best Easy Green Bean Casserole! A no-fuss recipe for traditional green bean casserole with French’s fried onions for a flavorful, 5-min quick-prep Thanksgiving and Christmas side dish!
Why We Love This Recipe
- Quick & Easy Prep: 5 minutes to stir together a few ingredients and pour it into a pan.
- Flavorful, Perfectly Seasoned: Creamy, delicious flavor that’s comforting and satisfying.
- Great Holiday Side Dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, just like sweet potato casserole, quick mashed potatoes, and homemade cranberry sauce.
The Best Easy Green Bean Casserole
“Ew!! Green beans?? I guess you have to make them for Thanksgiving…” To be quite frank, Erik wasn’t exactly thrilled with the latest side dish we’d be working on in the BB test kitchen. But then… but then! He tried today’s Best Easy Green Bean Casserole, and he couldn’t stop eating it.
Let me tell you, I was on a mission to change his mind on this classic holiday side dish. And that I did! 😉 Today’s traditional green bean casserole with French’s fried onions is an amazingly easy, low-prep recipe with delicious, mouthwatering flavor from cream of mushroom soup, soy sauce, and a secret ingredient.
Easy Fast Green Bean Casserole Ingredients
- Green Beans: this recipe is made for canned green beans, but I’ve included instructions on using fresh or frozen.
- Cream of Mushroom Soup: make sure you grab a can of condensed, not regular.
- Garlic Salt: the secret ingredient! This flavorful, homemade recipe elevates the mushrooms, green beans, and onions.
- Soy Sauce: always a great ingredient when cooking green beans—makes ’em super tasty.
- Black Pepper: adds a little kick.
- Crispy Fried Onions: I use classic French’s fried onions (they’re tasty enough to snack on!)
How to Make Green Bean Casserole Creamy
- Preheat the oven to 350°F, then stir together green beans, soup, milk, soy sauce, garlic salt, pepper, half the onions and cheese (if using) in a mixing bowl. Pour and smooth in a 2-qt casserole dish.
- Bake for about 25 minutes, until it bubbles.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle remaining fried onions evenly over casserole. Bake for 5 minutes. Let rest and serve the best easy green bean casserole!
Green Bean Casserole – Frozen or Canned or Fresh Green Beans
Can I Use Fresh Green Beans? To make easy green bean casserole with fresh green beans, cook 1.5lbs trimmed green beans in boiling water for about 3 minutes to blanch. Rinse in cold water and use as normal.
Green Bean Casserole with Frozen Green Beans: To use frozen green beans in green bean casserole, simply thaw green beans and drain before using as normal in this recipe.
Tips
- Use more or less crispy fried onions, depending on how much everyone likes them. You can absolutely load these with even twice the amount on top.
- To use sour cream: replace half of the milk with ¼ cup sour cream.
- Add cheese: Stir 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese into filling before transferring into casserole dish.
Can I Make a Green Bean Casserole Ahead of Time?
Make this classic Thanksgiving recipe as normal but leave off the ¾ cup crisp fried onion topping. Cover tightly and refrigerate for 2 days, maximum. Before baking, leave at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Bake as normal, adding on a few minutes if the casserole is still a bit cold when going into the oven.
Can You Freeze Leftover Green Bean Casserole?
Yes, you can! Cool leftovers completely, then store in an airtight, freezer-friendly container in the freezer for 1-2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and heat for about 1 minute in the microwave for an individual serving, or until hot.
What to Serve
- Meat: turkey, pan seared chicken breast, ham, or meatballs
- Potatoes: easy mashed potatoes, roasted carrots and potatoes, air fryer roasted potatoes
- Christmas & Thanksgiving sides: sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce with orange, pear salad, Christmas salad
For more delicious recipe ideas like this traditional side dish with french fried onions, follow us on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. If you’ve tried this recipe, take a pic and tag us on Instagram using #beamingbaker. We can’t wait to see it! Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️
More Christmas & Thanksgiving Recipes
Best Easy Green Bean Casserole (Creamy & Fast)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 (14.5-ounce) cans cut green beans, drained, or 4 cups frozen cut green beans (thawed and drained)*
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt, or salt to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ½ cups crisp fried onions, like French’s, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, stir together green beans, soup, milk, soy sauce, garlic salt, pepper, ¾ cup onions, and cheese (see note if using) until well mixed. Transfer into a 2 qt casserole dish, smoothing into an even layer.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, until lightly bubbling.
- Remove from oven and top with remaining ¾ cup onions. Bake for 5 minutes. Let rest for 3 minutes, then serve.
- ★ Last Step: If you made this recipe, leave a comment and review. It truly helps our small business keep running and it helps readers like you!
Notes
- *For fresh green beans, cook 1.5lbs trimmed green beans in boiling water for about 3 minutes to blanch. Rinse in cold water, trim, and use as normal.
- To use sour cream: replace half of the milk with ¼ cup sour cream.
- Add cheese: Stir 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese into filling before transferring into casserole dish.
- Storing Instructions: Cool, cover and refrigerate green bean casserole for up to 3 days. Topping will get a bit soggy, but flavors will deepen deliciously. Reheat 1-2 servings for about 1 minute in the microwave.
- Freezing Instructions: Cool and cover double-wrapped in foil for 1-2 months in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before heating the next day.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
