Description
Homemade green bean casserole brings classic comfort to holiday tables with creamy cheese sauce and crispy onion topping. Southern families cherish this hearty side dish that delivers rich flavors you will savor alongside roasted meats.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 24 ounces (680 grams) frozen green beans, thawed
- 1 pound (454 grams) smoked bacon, cut into 1/2“-3/4” pieces
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 8 ounces (227 grams) sliced baby bella (crimini) mushrooms
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Liquid:
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1–2 pinches red pepper flakes, to taste
Instructions
- Initiate bacon preparation in a cold, spacious cast iron skillet over medium heat, cooking until crisp and golden, approximately 25 minutes while stirring periodically.
- Extract bacon using a slotted spoon onto a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve bacon drippings in a separate container, returning 4 tablespoons to the original skillet.
- Reposition skillet on medium heat, introducing mushrooms, onion, and garlic. Sauté until vegetables develop a rich, caramelized exterior, roughly 5 minutes.
- Incorporate additional bacon drippings, then sprinkle flour, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Blend thoroughly, ensuring flour integrates seamlessly with vegetables. Roast mixture for one minute to eliminate raw flour taste.
- Pour milk into the skillet, stirring to create a uniform consistency. Remove from heat to prevent cheese separation. Gradually fold cheese into the sauce, stirring between each addition.
- Gently fold green beans and half the reserved bacon into the creamy mixture, ensuring even distribution.
- Return skillet to medium heat, allowing casserole to simmer until green beans reach optimal temperature and sauce thickens, approximately 3-5 minutes. Garnish with remaining crispy bacon pieces.
Notes
- Bacon Preparation Tip: Start with cold bacon in a cold skillet to ensure even rendering and crispy texture without burning.
- Bacon Drippings Hack: Save extra bacon drippings for future cooking, adding rich flavor to other dishes like roasted vegetables or sautéed meats.
- Vegetable Browning Technique: Allow mushrooms, onions, and garlic to develop deep caramelization by not overcrowding the pan and letting them sear without constant stirring.
- Cheese Melting Trick: Remove pan from heat when adding cheese to prevent separation and maintain a smooth, creamy sauce consistency.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 396
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 773 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 61 mg