Green Bean Casserole

*This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Green bean casserole is a classic holiday side dish that often sparks memories of family gatherings, creamy mushroom flavors, and crispy fried onions. For me, it wasn’t actually a staple growing up.

I don’t really remember it being on our Thanksgiving table, but one year, my son had a strong request: he really wanted green bean casserole for the holiday meal.

I decided to make it to bring to Thanksgiving at my mother-in-law’s house. I used French-style green beans, creamy condensed mushroom soup, and seasoned it simply with salt and pepper.

In my mind, the fried onions weren’t that big of a deal, so I left them off. Big mistake, huge.

The look on my son’s and my niece’s faces when they realized there were no crispy onions on top was priceless—and slightly terrifying.

They quickly let me know that the fried onions are essential. Without them, it just wasn’t the same. From that moment on, I’ve never forgotten the onions again.

Tips for the Perfect Green Bean Casserole

• Use French-style green beans for a more tender, elegant texture.
• Don’t skip the fried onions—they add the signature crunch and flavor that make this casserole irresistible.
• You can make it ahead of time, just add the onions right before baking to keep them crispy.
• This recipe can be doubled to serve 12, just double all the ingredients and bake in a 9×13 baking dish.

What is Green Bean Casserole?

Green Bean Casserole is a classic American holiday side dish made with tender green beans baked in a creamy mushroom sauce and topped with crispy fried onions.

It’s warm, savory, and comforting—one of those recipes that shows up on countless Thanksgiving and Christmas tables.

The magic comes from the mix of textures: soft green beans, creamy sauce, and that essential salty crunch on top.

Even though I didn’t grow up with it on our Thanksgiving menu, it has definitely earned its place at our table now (fried onions and all!).

More Holiday Sides

• Festive Broccoli Salad
• Corn Casserole
• Joanna Gaines’ Holiday Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients

• Green beans (French-style)
• Cream of mushroom soup
• Salt and pepper
• Crispy fried onions (the must-have crunchy finish)

How to make Green Bean Casserole

Mix the green beans with cream of mushroom soup in a medium bowl.

Season with salt and pepper.

Transfer green bean mixture to a baking dish.

Bake at 350° F, uncovered for 25 minutes, until the mixture is hot and bubbly.

Top with fried onions;

Bake an additional 5–10 minutes, until onions are golden and crispy.

Now it’s ready for your holiday plate.