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!
★★★★★
This is my kind of casserole! I love green beans and ff onion rings and this is so easy. The world needs more recipes this simple and good.
–Jeanne
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!
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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.
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!
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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
Making this simple green bean casserole is incredibly easy. Just mix everything together, reserving about ⅓ 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.
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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!
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!
Easy Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients
- 4 (14.5-ounce) cans cut green beans drained
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 (6-ounce) container French fried onions divided
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large glass bowl, mix them together the drained green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and ⅔ of the can of French fried onions. Transfer to a large ceramic baking dish.
- 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 fried onions are golden brown.
Tips & Suggestions
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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!
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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 says
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.
Moviegal246 says
These were terrible! Bland, mushy, totally inedible. You should be ashamed!
Angelina Frohlich says
If I am using fresh green beans do I need to cook them first??
Tara Kuczykowski says
No, you shouldn’t need to. Happy Thanksgiving!
Julie says
Best green bean casserole
Laurie says
Can you use fresh green beans instead of canned?
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Laurie! You could definitely use fresh or frozen green beans in place of the canned.
Lisa says
I have double the recipe, does the cooking time change?
Tara Kuczykowski says
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 says
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!
Tanya says
I have a question i really want to try this but I'm so confused on the milk. Alot of people use it. Does it make a difference without??? Help.
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Tanya! I know some recipes do call for milk, but I’ve never used it and don’t find it necessary.
Jacqui says
I made this green bean casserole as practice for Thanksgiving and it was AWESOME! Thanks for the recipe!
Tara Kuczykowski says
So happy to hear that, Jacqui -- enjoy your Thanksgiving!
Christina says
A seasonal classic that never goes out of style! My family loves this!
Stacie A Hamilton says
I love green bean casserole. However, I like to use fresh green beans. I imagine/hope it should come out just as good. I love the added crispy onions on top.
Laurie says
@Stacie A Hamilton, did you try with fresh green beans? I hate the thought of using canned?
Sandy says
This recipe is a classic and so good.
Andie Thueson says
I'm a sucker for green bean casserole - so excited for Thanksgiving!
Justine Howell says
Just like I like it, super easy and delish!!
Carolyn says
I've never been a huge fan of green bean casserole but yours looks so good, I have to try it!
Sandi says
I can't believe there are only three ingredients! Yum!
Jamielyn says
This looks so easy and delicious! LOVE that it only has 3 ingredients!
Liz says
Can I prepare it for the night b4?
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
Hi Liz! You can -- but I'm not sure how much time you'll really save. In fact, it will probably take longer to cook when it's cold. It literally takes 3 minutes to mix it up and pop it in the oven, so I'd say just making it the day of is your best bet.
Mom says
My family loved it. My son wants it way more often than just holidays.
And it couldn't be easier! Thanks!
Jayne says
I had never made green bean casserole before, but being an extremely lazy cook, I decided to give this recipe a try. My adult son absolutely LOVED it. I had to make it 3 times for him before I told him to go home and cook it for himself. I loved it too. I predict a shortage of French's french fried onions by next year. We're already stocking up for Christmas. Thanks so much!
tabbitha says
Are you supposed to drain the green beans.....cuz I didnt and its in the oven. :-S
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
Oh my gosh, I can't believe I didn't specify that, but yes, the green beans should be drained. I'm SO sorry! Going to update the recipe to make that clear now.
asKing says
The only thing we do at this house to make it better is to add Golden Mushroom soup instead of the cream of Mushroom soup...........Sooooo Good !
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
I will definitely try that -- thanks for sharing!
Emme says
Make this every year for our family Thanksgiving pot luck. Will definitely try with this soup instead.
NanB says
@asKing, Yes I love the golden mushroom soup. So much more and a bonus this year is that my DH has become lactose intolerant so the Golden soup has no dairy! Yay
Tara Kuczykowski says
Too late for tomorrow, but I will definitely try this!
D. says
I do not like green bean casserole, mainly because I can't stomach mushroom soup. There are 2 ways to make good green beans. First and easiest, just cook with butter, salt and pepper. Second, cooked with lots of bacon and onions.
The first time I opened a can of mushroom soup, I nearly gagged from the smell. I can always tell when someone cooks with it, it has that distinctive smell, similar to a wet dog. Yuck!
A. says
My family hates cream of mushroom, too but don't let that scare you away! I always substitute cream of chicken and I make it exactly this way. Sometimes I feel guilty because it's almost too easy but it's a family favorite!
Tara Kuczykowski says
Awesome tip -- thanks for sharing!
Jeanne says
This is my kind of casserole! I love green beans and ff onion rings and this is so easy. The world needs more recipes this simple and good.