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Easy Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Onions Recipe

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4.8 from 3 reviews

This classic Green Bean Casserole recipe combines tender green beans with a creamy, flavorful sauce made from butter, flour, spices, Dijon mustard, chicken or vegetable stock, and half and half. Topped with crispy French fried onions and baked to golden perfection, this comforting dish is perfect for holiday dinners or everyday meals.

Ingredients

Scale

Vegetables

  • 2 pounds fresh or frozen green beans

Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 cup vegetable or chicken stock
  • 2 cups half and half

Topping

  • 1 ½ cups French fried onions

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F and position the rack in the center of the oven to ensure even baking.
  2. Blanch Green Beans: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook until almost tender, about 3 minutes for fresh or 2 minutes for frozen. Drain the beans and immediately transfer them to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. After 2 minutes, drain and pat dry.
  3. Prepare Sauce Base: In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and Dijon mustard. Cook while whisking occasionally until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
  4. Add Liquids: Slowly whisk in the chicken or vegetable stock until the mixture is smooth. Then slowly add the half and half, whisking continuously and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Cook and stir occasionally until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
  5. Combine Sauce and Beans: Pour the thickened sauce over the blanched green beans in a 9×13-inch baking dish, tossing gently to coat all the beans evenly.
  6. Bake Covered: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake until the sauce starts to bubble, approximately 20 minutes.
  7. Add Topping and Finish Baking: Remove the casserole from the oven, stir the beans gently, and sprinkle the French fried onions evenly on top. Return to the oven and bake until the onions are golden brown, about 10 more minutes.
  8. Serve: Let the casserole cool slightly before serving. This dish serves 10 and is ideal for sharing at family dinners or festive gatherings.

Notes

  • Use fresh green beans when possible for the best texture; frozen can be used as a convenient alternative.
  • Blanching the green beans and shocking them in ice water helps preserve their bright green color and crisp-tender texture.
  • Dijon mustard adds a subtle tang that enhances the flavor of the creamy sauce without overpowering it.
  • Vegetarian option: use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock to keep the dish vegetarian.
  • For gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
  • French fried onions can be homemade or store-bought, but ensure they are crisp before adding to the casserole for a crunchy topping.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://judyrecipes.com/easy-green-bean-casserole-with-crispy-onions-recipe/