The best green bean casserole. (2024)

Green bean casserole is a savory holiday side dish with all kinds of big and delicious flavors, and it’s totally easy to make day of or ahead of time!

This green bean casserole is the perfect homemade side to bring to holiday celebrations with loved ones, and it’s a piece of cake to whip up with only 15 minutes of prep time and 30 in the oven.

Easy Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Could anyone else out there totally survive on casseroles alone? I know they’re not for everyone, but I can’t get enough. They just remind me of cozy comfort foods that warm you up with their rich and savory flavors, and Grandma’s green bean casserole absolutely lives up to all the casserole hype. My favorite thing about casseroles? They’re famously easy to make (which might be why they’re such a hit especially for holiday meals — nobody wants to be slaving away in the kitchen for hours).

AND, they’re great make-ahead dishes for big gatherings, too. You can prep all the ingredients, bake the casserole, and then either freeze it if the event’s a while away or refrigerate it if it’s only a couple days away. And it tastes just as good reheated as the first time it was made — promise. That’s sort of the magic of casserole, don’t you agree?

Homemade green bean casserole has to be one of my favorites. Not only does it remind me of sweet memories around the holidays, but the textures and flavors are unreal and just so good. You’ll love this rendition with cracker crumbs on top because they lend a crunchy, salty topping to an already incredible dish!

What goes with green bean casserole?

Of course, green bean casserole is typically a holiday side dish, so any of your normal suspects on a holiday table really go nicely with it: turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, or homemade cranberry sauce are all super tasty with it!

What can I substitute for cream of mushroom soup in a casserole?

So, my recipe for green bean casserole doesn’t use cream of mushroom soup (even though a vast majority of recipes out there do call for it). I think soup can be a good way to make it creamy, but I’m not a huge fan of using it myself, so I make a creamy base using milk and sour cream that is divine in this casserole.

Can I mix up green bean casserole the night before?

You sure can! Just make the casserole as the instructions call for below, and then let it cool completely before covering it tightly with a lid or plastic wrap overnight. You can make it up to 3 days ahead, and you can also freeze it for up to 3 months.

How do you reheat green bean casserole?

Reheat green bean casserole in a 350 degree F. oven for about 20 minutes, or until heated through.

How to make green bean casserole:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Drain and rinse the canned green beans.
3. Melt butter in medium saucepan. Add the onion and garlic, and stir to combine.
4. Add the flour, and cook for another minute.
5. Whisk in salt and then the milk, and cook until the mixture thickens.
6. Remove from the heat, and stir in the sour cream.
7. Add the green beans to the pan, and stir to combine.
8. Place the green bean mixture in the bottom of the 2.5-quart baking dish.
9. Add the cracker crumbs and melted butter to a small bowl, and stir to combine.
10. Sprinkle the cracker crumbs over the green bean mixture.
11. Bake for 30 minutes.
12. Serve hot.

Side dish recipes for your turkey dinner:

• Whipped Sweet Potato Casserole
• Simple and Juicy Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
• Simple Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Cauliflower
• Simple Maple Roasted Butternut Squash
• Deli-Style Broccoli Salad
• Easy Apple Cabbage Salad with Pecans

Green bean casserole is a holiday favorite that’s warming to the soul and beyond easy to make on the day of a gathering or ahead of time.