Ultimate Green Bean Casserole Recipe Is a Side Dish Step Above (9 Ingredients) by Donna John

Green bean casserole is usually what I skip over when loading my Thanksgiving and Christmas plates. There's always other dishes, like hash brown casserole, broccoli rice casserole and corn casserole, that deserve that valuable real estate on my plate. Last year my mother-in-law asked me to bring a green bean casserole to Thanksgiving. I decided this was the perfect chance to elevate the side dish.

This easy green bean casserole recipe has a few extra ingredients that adds that little something extra: chopped fresh mushrooms (mushrooms may lower your cancer risk), bacon (fan favorite!) and cheese. The result is a flavorful green bean dish that's holiday worthy.

Photo credit (all photos): Donna John

To make this ultimate green bean casserole recipe you will need bacon (!), onion, fresh mushrooms, garlic, cream of mushroom soup, milk, cheese, canned green beans (check out the health benefits of green beans) and french fried onions. The vegetable casserole has all the creaminess of the original, with just more flavor. 

Serve this green bean dish as a side dish with your Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas ham, or for dinner any night of the week.

Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50  minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 6 slices bacon
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 - 1 1/2 cups chopped mushrooms
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 20 ounces (2 cans) cream of mushroom soup
• 1/4 cup milk, half and half or evaporated milk (I used evaporated milk)
• 1 cup shredded cheese 
• 56 ounces (4 cans) green beans, drained and rinsed well 
• 1/2 - 1 cup french fried onions

Here's how to make it: 

1. Cook the bacon until crisp. Remove to a paper towel. Drain all but about 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease.
   
2. Add the onion and mushrooms and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds.
   
3. Stir in the soup, milk, bacon and cheese. Cook until cheese melts, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. (Monterey Jack, gouda, gruyere or Swiss cheese work well for this casserole, but se your favorite. I used Monterey Jack cheese.)
   
4. Fold in the green beans. (If you prefer, use frozen green beans instead of canned. If you use fresh, boil them until desired tenderness before adding to the casserole.)
   
5. Pour the mixture into a 13x9-inch baking dish. Top with the french fried onions. (Instead of using a can of french fried onions, you could caramelize some onions and add them after baking.)
   
6. Bake in a preheated 350-degree F oven for about 30 minutes.
   
7. Store any leftovers covered in the fridge and reheat in the microwave.
   

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