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Easiest Ever 3-Ingredient Green Bean Casserole Recipe

This easy green bean casserole recipe is my family’s version of the classic recipe and uses only 3 ingredients, including canned green beans… Because who needs another complicated Thanksgiving recipe? NOT this mama!

easy green bean casserole with a wooden spatula

Easy Green Bean Casserole

Growing up, our Thanksgiving dinner was never complete without a heaping helping of this easy green bean casserole. Well, this along with my beloved cream corn casserole and layered cranberry salad.

So after moving out on my own, I found it both surprising and puzzling that so many of my friends turned their noses up at it. What the heck?!

As I was making it to share with you all yesterday, I thought it might be fun to do a quick, informal survey about it on Facebook. It turns out green bean casserole is a highly polarizing topic.

But the consensus is pretty much this: love it or hate it, green bean casserole is a holiday dinner staple!

After thinking about it some more, I realized something… My mom’s green bean casserole recipe is not your average Campbell’s green bean casserole or French’s green bean casserole. No, it’s not a completely from scratch, homemade green bean casserole, either. What it is, is a stripped down version that’s still super flavorful but can be prepped in just three minutes.

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easy green bean casserole ingredients in a clear glass bowl

3-Ingredient Green Bean Casserole Recipe

I’m not sure how or where it originated, but with just THREE ingredients, it’s FAR easier to throw together than most other recipes. Plus, I personally think it tastes great without the fussy extras that many recipes incorporate.

Worcestershire sauce — who needs it? Salt and pepper? Nah, there’s plenty of flavor without it (thanks to the salt used in canning the green beans). And for sure, I don’t add milk. Runny green bean casserole is the WORST!

Yep, this easy green bean casserole recipe calls for just canned green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and French fried onions. That’s it! These three simple ingredients combine to make a thick and creamy casserole (with a bit of crunch) that’s pure comfort food.

A quick note on finding the French fried onions — this time of year it’s pretty simple. Around Thanksgiving, most grocery stores have them on the aisle end caps, along with the cream of mushroom soup and green beans (on sale!).

But if you’re hunting for them outside of the holidays, it’s not so intuitive. Look for them near the canned green beans throughout the rest of the year, usually on a shelf just above or beside them.

how to make green bean casserole with just three ingredients

How To Make Green Bean Casserole

Making this simple green bean casserole is incredibly easy. Just mix everything together, reserving about 1/3 of the French fried onions to garnish the casserole at the end.

Bake for about 45 minutes or until it’s bubbly and warmed through, and then sprinkle the remaining fried onions over the top. Pop it back in the oven for about 5 minutes to give them a little color, and it’s ready to serve.

See?! In fact, the hardest part is making sure the reserved French fried onions aren’t devoured by hungry children… Okay, okay — I’ll admit I’ve been known to sneak a few too. Love them!

easy green bean casserole recipe in a white staub baking dish

When you have a ton of other holiday recipes to make, you really can’t beat a good mix, heat, and serve dish like this. And who knows? You might even convince a few green bean casserole haters to flip sides when they get a good taste of this delicious creamy/crunchy combo!

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3-ingredient easy green bean casserole recipe in an oval white staub baking dish

Easy Green Bean Casserole

Yield: 12 servings
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 48 minutes

This easy green bean casserole is my family’s version of the classic recipe and uses only 3 ingredients, including canned green beans… Because who needs another complicated Thanksgiving recipe? NOT this mama!

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Drain the green beans, and mix them together with the cream of mushroom soup and about 2/3 of the can of French fried onions. Transfer to either a 9"x9" square baking dish or an 11" oval baking dish.
  3. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes, until bubbling. Top with the remaining French fried onions and bake for an additional 5 minutes, until the French fried onions are golden brown.

Notes

Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole

This easy green bean casserole can also be prepared in your slow cooker. Simple mix everything up in your slow cooker insert and cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 3-4 hours, or until heated through. If you want to brown the fried onions for the topping, toss them in a skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 155Total Fat: 9.5gSaturated Fat: 3.4gCholesterol: 2.1mgSodium: 879.2mgCarbohydrates: 15.6gFiber: 3.2gSugar: 1.6gProtein: 1g

Have you tried this recipe?

Leave a comment below and share a photo on Instagram. Tag it @unsophisticook and hashtag it #unsophisticook!

simple green bean casserole in a white baking dish

Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole

Need to save some space in your oven? This simple green bean casserole can also be prepared in your slow cooker. Simply mix everything up in your slow cooker insert, and cook it on low for 4-5 hours or high for 3-4 hours, or until heated through. Easy-peasy!

The only downside is you can’t brown the fried onions like you do in the oven-baked version. No problem, though! Toss the remaining fried onions in a skillet, and brown them over medium heat for about five minutes. Sprinkle them over the top of your slow cooker green bean casserole, and you’re good to go.

More yummy & easy casserole recipes to try:

  • This easy tuna casserole with egg noodles was always one of my mom’s go-to recipes when I was growing up… And I can totally see why. Tuna noodle casserole is quick to prep, tasty, and versatile!
  • This custardy creamed corn casserole recipe is SO good you’ll want to scrape the dish clean to get every last bit of caramelized goodness… My favorite of all the corn casserole recipes I’ve tried, just like my grandma made it!
  • Or for a less sweet version, this super easy Jiffy cornbread casserole starts with a box of Jiffy corn muffin mix. Add in five simple pantry ingredients and you’ve got a delicious side dish that’s sure to be a staple for both weeknights and holiday gatherings!
  • This easy cheesy meatball casserole boasts just 5 ingredients, yet is still packed with flavor… Serve it as is, over pasta, or on sandwich rolls for a versatile weeknight dinner!
  • This baked mac and cheese casserole is easy homemade macaroni and cheese at its best! Gooey and cheesy with a layer of crushed potato chips on top for texture…
  • This cheesy hashbrown casserole recipe, filled with 3 different cheeses, is a Midwest classic at its best. Top it with your choice of more cheese, crushed potato chips, or corn flakes!

And a bonus recipe that’s kind of a casserole in that you bake it… these amazing creamy make ahead mashed potatoes! You simply can’t go wrong with this recipe. Filled with cream cheese AND sour cream, it makes the BEST mashed potatoes. Always fluffy and delicious!

I’d love to see how your green bean casserole turns out… Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check it out. Enjoy!

So tell me how YOU feel about green bean casserole — love it or hate it?!?

Karol Smith

Monday 15th of November 2021

I have made my green bean casserole this way for years. So simple, fast and good. Now have my grandkids making it to bring to our holiday meals. Perfect side dish for any occasion. Plus it travels well.

Angelina Frohlich

Thursday 26th of November 2020

If I am using fresh green beans do I need to cook them first??

Tara Kuczykowski

Thursday 26th of November 2020

No, you shouldn’t need to. Happy Thanksgiving!

Laurie

Monday 9th of November 2020

Can you use fresh green beans instead of canned?

Tara Kuczykowski

Monday 9th of November 2020

Hi Laurie! You could definitely use fresh or frozen green beans in place of the canned.

Lisa

Friday 4th of September 2020

I have double the recipe, does the cooking time change?

Tara Kuczykowski

Friday 4th of September 2020

Hi Lisa! Yes, you will most likely want to bake it a little longer. I recommend using visual cues to check doneness in this situation, so look for it to be bubbling and browning around the edges. Hope you love it!!

Alisha Ross

Tuesday 21st of January 2020

I love cooking meals with my crock pot! These are some great recipes and I pinned this to my Pinterest crock pot/slow cooker board. Thanks so much for sharing!

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