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It’s totally possible to have a real food Thanksgiving dinner, and this recipe is here to help. I took the standard Green Bean Casserole recipe and “real foodinized” it for you, and the outcome is just delicious! I am not going to promise it will taste exactly like the original recipe you’ve made in years past, because I think this one will actually be even better than before.
It’s really hard to beat wholesome, pure ingredients that are lovingly put together in a homemade dish like this one. And just for the record, this is now one of my 6-year-old’s favorite vegetable recipes. She gave it a huge thumbs up and has already asked me to make it again! So holidays aside, this may very well be our new standard way to eat green beans. :)
More Real Food Holiday Recipes
- Whole-Wheat Garlic Cheddar Drop Biscuits
- Whole-Wheat Biscuits
- Chestnut and Prosciutto Stuffing
- Pesto Cream Cheese Bake Appetizer
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Whole-Grain Corn Bread
- Butternut Squash Soup
- Brown Rice Risotto
- Salad Inspiration
- Shortcut Chocolate Pecan Pie
Green Bean Casserole with French Fried Onions
Ingredients
Casserole Ingredients
- 2 pounds green beans trimmed, cut in half, and steamed (8 to 10 minutes or until tender and easily pierced with a fork)
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 8 ounces mushrooms diced (Shiitake is a great choice, but button mushrooms are good as well)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 4 tablespoons whole wheat flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Pepper to taste
- 2 ½ cups milk
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
Onion Topping Ingredients
- 1/2 onion peeled, cut in half, and sliced very thin
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 4 tablespoons butter
- Salt to taste
Instructions
Casserole Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
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In a large sauté pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the mushrooms and garlic and cook while stirring for 2 to 3 minutes.
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Sprinkle in the flour and stir vigorously for 1 to 2 minutes, being careful not to let the flour burn. Stir in the salt and pepper.
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Carefully whisk in the milk and soy sauce while scraping the brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Bring to a light boil. Whisk and cook until the sauce thickens to the consistency of a really thick soup, about 3 to 4 minutes.
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Mix the sauce with the (previously steamed) green beans in a casserole dish and toss to combine. Bake in the oven until bubbly, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and top with French Fried Onions (instructions below).
French Fried Onion Topping Instructions
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While the casserole is baking, spread the flour out on a large plate, carefully separate the onion pieces, and dredge them in the flour until they are evenly coated.
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Melt the butter for the topping in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Shake the excess flour off the onions and add them to the pan, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Depending on the size of the pan you may need to cook them in batches. If cooking more than one batch, be sure to wipe out the pan in-between to prevent the residue from burning.
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Once the onions are golden brown on the bottom (after about 1 to 2 minutes), carefully flip them over to brown the other side. Add extra butter to the pan if they begin to look dry. The onions do cook quickly, so keep a close watch!
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Transfer the onions to a paper-towel lined plate and generously season with salt.
Recipe Notes
We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.
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I can’t wait to make this for Thanksgiving! Can I make this the night before and keep it in the fridge to warm up on Thursday? What about the topping will it store well at room temperature overnight??
Thanks! :)
Hi there. Sure, that will work. I’d keep the topping in the fridge, too.
In the picture it looks like a 9×9 casserole dish…I’m assuming that one batch would fit one 9×9 casserole dish?
Thanks!
Yes, that will work. :)
Can you make this and freeze it? What about making it the day before and just put in fridge?
Hi Emily. Both will work.
My family is used to the canned gmo version. They loved this real food recipe! I will make this dish again :)
Can I use plain unsweetened almond milk??
Hi. Other readers have.
I am so excited to make this but my family does not like mushrooms. Is there anything I can substitute??
Hi Wendy. The mushroom really add to the savory taste of this dish. You could add some bacon crumbles for a boost.
I’ve made this for the past two Thanksgivings and my family loves it! It takes a little extra effort, but I think it tastes better and it’s nice knowing all the ingredients are real food. My family members that are not sold on the notion of ‘real foods’ did not taste a difference. I told them after they had seconds and they were pretty surprised.