Jump to RecipeJump to VideoLeave a ReviewPin Recipe

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.

Bring comfort food to all of your special family gatherings this season with a healthy and fresh Green Bean Casserole with Bacon — a simple side dish that’s made from scratch!

White baking dish with green bean casserole with bacon

It’s that time of year, when I start dreaming of delicious sides that I can add to our family’s dinners. Especially as the holidays approach, I get excited for all of the “extras” on the table that balance out our meals and make them feel a bit more special. And when I think of sides, a green bean casserole always comes to mind.

My mom prepared the classic French’s Green Bean Casserole for us when I was growing up (which I still love), but this season I decided to update the traditional recipe by replacing the classic fried onion topping and the creamy sauce with a lighter broth-based sauce and some sliced almonds on top. This easy green bean casserole is made from scratch, without milk and without soup!

Front view of fresh green bean casserole with bacon and a wooden serving spoon

HOW TO MAKE GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE FROM SCRATCH:

Making a fresh green bean casserole from scratch is still very simple — even without the condensed soup and the canned fried onions!

Let’s start with the green beans:

You can use either fresh green beans or frozen (thawed) green beans. Place the raw green beans in a casserole dish, without cooking them in advance. I prefer a casserole with slightly tender green beans, rather than soft, mushy green beans, so this recipe does NOT require any blanching or pre-cooking. So easy, right?!

Fresh green beans in white baking dish

How to Cook Green Beans for a Casserole:

If you prefer very soft green beans in your casserole, you can pre-cook them before placing them in your baking dish. To do so, simply boil the green beans in a pot of water for about 5 minutes. Then immediately transfer the green beans to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process (for now). Place the blanched green beans in the baking dish and proceed with the recipe as instructed.

Cook the Bacon, Mushrooms and Onions:

After placing the green beans in a casserole dish, fry the bacon in a large skillet just until it’s starting to get crispy.

Crisp bacon in cast iron skillet with wooden spoon

Add the mushrooms and onions to the crisp bacon, and sauté in the bacon grease until tender.

Bacon mushrooms and onions in cast iron skillet with wooden spoon

Prepare the Sauce:

Once the mushrooms and onions are tender, make a sauce for the healthy green bean casserole by pouring chicken broth, corn starch (to thicken), salt and pepper into the same skillet. Use a whisk or a wooden spoon to scrape up all of the bits from the bottom of the pan. This adds maximum flavor to the dish!

Pouring broth in skillet with bacon mushrooms and onions

Allow the sauce to cook and thicken for about 5-10 minutes, and then pour the bacon mixture over the green beans in the casserole dish. Give it all a toss to coat.

Green bean casserole with bacon in a dish before going in the oven

Bake the casserole, covered, for about 35 minutes (or until the beans reach desired tenderness). Then remove the cover, sprinkle sliced almonds on top, and pop the dish back in the oven uncovered just until the nuts are a toasted golden brown. Yet another delicious layer of flavor and texture!

Healthy and fresh green bean casserole with bacon in a white baking dish with text overlay

Can Green Bean Casserole be Made Ahead?

Yes! You can assemble this green bean casserole the night before! Prepare the dish through Step #5 (pouring the sauce over the beans), cover the dish, and keep it in your refrigerator until ready to bake. Allow the dish to sit on the counter and come to room temperature before proceeding with the baking instructions.

I hope that you’ll mix it up this season and give this one a try. It’s truly THE BEST Green Bean Casserole with Bacon!

What goes with Green Bean Casserole?

There are so many great ways to complete your meal, so here are a few of our favorites:

Green Bean Casserole with Bacon

Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 8 people
Calories 111 kcal
Bring comfort food to all of your special family gatherings this season with a healthy and fresh Green Bean Casserole with Bacon -- a simple side dish that's made from scratch!

Ingredients
  

  • 24 oz. fresh green beans, washed, drained, and trimmed OR frozen green beans (thawed)
  • 3 slices bacon, diced
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1 (8 ounce) container sliced white mushrooms
  • 1 ¼ cups chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ cup sliced almonds

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Spray a large casserole dish with cooking spray and place fresh green beans in the bottom of the dish.
  • In a large skillet, fry bacon over medium-high heat until just crisp (about 4-5 minutes). Add onions and mushrooms; cook until just soft (about 5-7 more minutes).
  • Add chicken broth, cornstarch, salt and pepper to the skillet and whisk to combine (scraping the brown bits from the bottom of the skillet for maximum flavor!). Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and allow sauce to simmer and thicken (about 5-10 minutes).
  • Pour sauce over green beans and toss to coat.
  • Cover casserole with lid or foil and bake for approximately 35 minutes (or until green beans are tender). Remove cover, sprinkle top of casserole with almonds, and return to the oven for 5-10 more minutes (or until almonds are toasted and golden). Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste.

Notes

Cooking for a Smaller Family? Cut the ingredients in half and bake the casserole in an 8-inch square dish. The rest of the instructions remain the same.
How to Cook Green Beans for a Casserole:
I think that this dish is best when the green beans are just baked in the oven (and not pre-cooked). However, if you prefer very soft green beans in your casserole, you can pre-cook them before placing them in your baking dish. To do so, simply boil the green beans in a pot of water for about 5 minutes. Then immediately transfer the green beans to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process (for now). Place the blanched green beans in the baking dish and proceed with the recipe as instructed.
Can Green Bean Casserole be Made Ahead?
Yes! You can assemble this green bean casserole the night before! Prepare the dish through Step #5 (pouring the sauce over the beans), cover the dish, and keep it in your refrigerator until ready to bake. Allow the dish to sit on the counter and come to room temperature before proceeding with the baking instructions.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/8 of the recipeCalories: 111kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 4gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 340mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 585IUVitamin C: 13.9mgCalcium: 55mgIron: 1.3mg
Keyword: fresh green bean casserole, green bean casserole from scratch, green bean casserole with bacon
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Author: Blair Lonergan

This post was originally published in September, 2015. It was updated in September, 2018.

blair

Hey, I’m Blair!

Welcome to my farmhouse kitchen in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Inspired by local traditions and seasonal fare, you’ll find plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your family together around the table. It’s down-home, country-style cooking!

Read More

Square overhead shot of hands serving a chicken pot pie recipe with biscuits
Overhead image of a bowl of chili mac on a dinner table with cornbread
Hands serving a platter of sheet pan sausage and potatoes

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Aw YUM! Green Bean Casserole is my absolute favorite holiday side dish, and your version sounds even more delicious than the classic version! Look at all those yummy mushrooms! 🙂 Definitely saving this recipe!!