Crunchy Green Bean Casserole (Printable Version)
Creamy green beans topped with crispy onions, creating a comforting side dish that's perfect for holiday gatherings.
# The Ingredients You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 900 g fresh green beans, trimmed and halved
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauce
04 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
05 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
06 - 1 ½ cups whole milk
07 - 1 cup vegetable broth
08 - ½ tsp salt
09 - ¼ tsp black pepper
10 - ¼ tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
11 - 1 cup shredded cheddar or Gruyère (optional for cheesy version)
→ Topping
12 - 1 ½ cups crispy fried onions (store-bought or homemade)
# Step-by-Step Instructions:
01 - Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F).
02 - Blanch green beans in boiling water for 3–4 minutes, then transfer to an ice bath. Drain and set aside.
03 - In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic until soft, about 2–3 minutes.
04 - Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute to form a roux. Slowly whisk in milk and broth. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened (about 5 minutes).
05 - Add salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir in cheese if using. Remove from heat.
06 - Fold in green beans and mix until well coated. Transfer to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
07 - Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle fried onions evenly on top, and return to oven for 5–10 more minutes until golden and bubbly.
# Additional Tips::
01 -
- Ready in just 45 minutes total
- Uses simple ingredients you likely have on hand
- Perfect make-ahead dish for holidays and gatherings
- Adaptable with optional cheese for extra richness
02 -
- Can be assembled up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerated before baking
- The crispy onion topping is best added just before serving for maximum crunch
- Excellent source of vitamins K and C from the green beans
03 -
- Blanch green beans just until bright green for perfect texture in the final dish
- Pat green beans completely dry after blanching to prevent watering down the sauce
- For the ultimate flavor upgrade toast the fried onions in a dry skillet before topping the casserole