Green Bean Casserole (with French Fried Onions!)

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

4.75 from 28 votes

Course: Sides

Dietary Restriction: Egg Free, Peanut/Tree-Nut Free, Vegetarian

Category: Holiday Dishes

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings (Adjust to suit): 8

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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

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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!
4. Transfer the onions to a paper-towel lined plate and generously season with salt.

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Recipe Notes

We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.