Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

Best cheesy green bean casserole with frozen green beans is simple to make and bake in the oven. Easy Thanksgiving side dish with cream of mushroom soup and crispy onions on top. Add bacon bits or layer with sliced mushrooms like our Green Bean Mashed Potato Casserole.

Cheesy Green Bean Casserole with Frozen Green Beans

If you choose to make this into an Easy Green Bean Casserole with Bacon style, just include 1/4 cup of chopped precooked in with the soup. I do like to add a bit of meat depending on what I am serving this with. If I’m serving turkey I may leave it out. Warmed up it is great with some diced leftover ham in it too.

I do not add cheese when making our Instant Pot Green Bean Casserole because it can stick and cause the burn notice to turn on. This one is really better baked in a baking dish instead. That way you can get the top golden brown too so it’s nice and melted all the way across.

Cheesy Frozen Green Bean Casserole

You could transition our Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole into this one, but it wouldn’t brown on the top. In that case you technically can transfer the Crock into the oven under broil just for a few minutes to fix that but to me that is just more work. If I add the cheese it goes in the oven I say, period.

Ingredients

• 2 c frozen green beans
  • if you use fresh green beans I would blanch the green beans first for 1-2 minutes, then into an ice bath
• 1 c mushrooms sliced
• Butter
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup, or cream of chicken soup works fine too
• 1/2 c fried onions divided
• 1/3 tsp salt and pepper
• Worchestershire sauce
• 1 c sharp cheddar cheese

You could choose a different type if you wanted to. Monterey jack can give it just a bit of a kick with a tad of spicy heat. Parmesan has less lactose in it for those with dairy free requirements. If you have someone at home who needs an alternative version, use dairy free cheese and this condensed soup mix.

This one uses a square 8×8 or 9×9 inch dish. If you have more people coming over you could double this and use a 9×13″ dish instead. Spray the inside with non stick spray so you don’t loose any of it to sticking on the sides. It saves well too for the next day, we will talk about that a bit later.

How to Make Green Bean Casserole with Frozen Green Beans and Cream of Mushroom Soup

• Preheat the oven to 360 F.
  • oven to 350 degrees works too if you are cooking other items at that temp at the same time, just add a couple minutes
• Fry the mushrooms in butter for 5-7 minutes on the stove, stirring occasionally.
• Add the frozen green beans to a bowl, as well as the sautéed mushrooms and 1/4 cup of crispy onions.
• Add shredded cheddar cheese (2/3 cup) and mushroom soup.
• Mix thoroughly and transfer the mixture to a sprayed square casserole dish.
• Bake for 20 minutes.
• Sprinkle on top the remaining cheese and remaining French fried onions on top and bake for another 10 minutes.

Tips – Gently fold everything together so that the more delicate items don’t break apart completely. Especially with the canned onions you want those to stay as whole as possible to add texture to the inside and top of the dish. Full instructions in recipe card below which can be printed as well.

A traditional holiday side dish everyone expects to be on the table in our house!! If you are looking for something new to add this year you should try something different! I mean of course have your must haves and family recipes that have been passed down from generations but add 1 new to see if it becomes a new must for y’all. 😉 A few ideas are;

Unique Green Bean Recipes

1. How Long to Cook Fresh Green Beans on Stove is here with some butter and minced garlic until they’re tender but still crisp. Season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
2. Toasted sliced almonds add crunch and flavor to blanched green beans. Toss the beans and almonds together with butter, lemon zest, and a sprinkle of salt.
3. Roast, sauté or bake like sheet pan green beans until they’re slightly caramelized, then drizzle them with a balsamic reduction for a tangy-sweet flavor.
4. Sauté with sesame oil and soy sauce, and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over the top for an Asian-inspired twist.
5. Blanch quickly and toss them with cherry tomatoes, red onion, feta cheese, and a simple vinaigrette dressing for a refreshing salad.
6. Steam or boil them, then toss them with chopped fresh dill, lemon zest, and a drizzle of olive oil.
7. Make fried green beans with a light layer of breadcrumbs and bake until crispy for a healthier alternative to french fries.
8. Sauté in a mixture of heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese for a rich and indulgent dish.
9. Cook in a skillet with garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes, and then toss them with a spicy Szechuan sauce for a flavorful kick.
10. Toss blanched green beans with toasted walnuts and crumbled blue cheese for a nutty and savory side.
11. Cook with curry powder, onion, and a touch of coconut milk for an aromatic and slightly spicy dish.
12. Roast Green Beans with Ham and Potatoes until slightly caramelized, then can drizzle them with a mixture of honey and melted butter for a touch of sweetness.
13. Stir-fry green beans with other colorful vegetables, tofu, or your choice of protein, and season with a savory stir-fry sauce.
14. Toss blanched green beans with pesto sauce and cherry tomatoes for a vibrant and flavorful side dish.

Remember to adjust these recipes according to your taste preferences and dietary needs. Green beans can be cooked to various levels of tenderness, so feel free to experiment with cooking times to achieve the texture you prefer.