Holiday side dishes, appetizers and baked treats are some of my favorite experiences during the holidays. And I have some special recipes planned to share with you over the next several weeks. First up is the quintessential classic of many holiday tables, green bean casserole. I’m starting with this make-ahead version for a few reasons. First of all, this is a really good one that is traditional but more fresh than the well-known condensed soup version plus you can make this recipe right now and freeze it for up to two months!
This green bean casserole combines fresh green beans and a homemade sauce that is silky, creamy and full of rich flavor. The fried onion topping gets even a bit more depth with fresh breadcrumbs (the printable recipe calls for white bread, but I’ve used an “everything” bagel, and even gluten-free bread with great results). Also, based on your preference, add some slivered almonds or water chestnuts to transform this stand-by into an elegant part of the meal.
The first time I tried this recipe, I was skeptical because the freezer is notorious for dulling flavor and I thought the mushrooms and green beans would become rubbery. But the author of the original recipe had taken steps to ensure this wouldn’t be the case by forgoing the step of blanching the beans, so they will cook to the correct tenderness in the oven without turning grey-green when overcooked. One step that I think is genius is to coat the beans with a thin layer of corn starch which will thicken the liquid expelled by the beans and help create the PERFECT sauce (and the sauce will definitely be perfect). This step is shown here:
The usual canned fried onions will work fine, but I find these packaged fried onions have a more fresh taste (in the produce section of your grocer) :
The sauce is full of rich flavor thanks to six cloves of garlic, some dried thyme and a good dose of pepper. Perfect pairing for the mushrooms and green beans:
Here is your casserole just before freezing:
Why not make two and save one for your Christmas table? Or just have on hand for the perfect side dish to any cozy winter roast.
Cook’s Note: If you don’t want to make this recipe ahead, but prefer to make and eat it the same day, I’ve added directions for doing that at the bottom of the printable recipe.
Green Bean Casserole - Make Ahead
Ingredients
- Topping:
- 2 slices high-quality white sandwich bread, torn into pieces
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups canned fried onions
- Casserole:
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 10 ounces white mushrooms, sliced thin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 6 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup white wine or cooking wine
- 1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 2 pounds green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces (frozen beans works, don't use canned)
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- Optional: 1/2 cup slivered almonds or 1/2 cup chopped water chestnuts
Instructions
- For the topping: Pulse the bread, butter and salt in a food processor until coarsely ground, about 10 pulses. Combine the bread mixture and onions in a bowl, transfer to a large zip-lock freezer bag, and freeze for up to 2 months.
- For the Casserole: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, salt and pepper and cook until the mushrooms release their liquid, about 5 minutes. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook until the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the flour and cook until golden, about 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the wine, broth and cream and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened, about 10 minutes.
- Toss the green beans with the cornstarch in a large bowl and transfer to a 13 by 9-inch baking dish. Pour the warm mushroom mixture evenly over the beans (do not mix). Let cool completely, cover with plastic wrap, cover with foil, and freeze for up to 2 months.
- To cook and serve: Remove the casserole from the freezer and take away the plastic from the baking dish and replace the foil. Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 400 degrees. Bake until the sauce is bubbling and the beans are tender, about 80 minutes, stirring the beans thoroughly and adding almonds or water chestnuts after about 50 minutes. Remove the foil and spread the topping mixture over the beans. Bake until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Serve.
- To cook and serve the same day this recipe is prepared: Once the mushroom mixture has been poured over the beans, (do not mix in) cover with aluminum foil and bake in a 350F degree oven for 60 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle fried onion mixture over top and bake uncovered an additional 10 minutes. Ready to serve!
- Note: If you're wanting a gluten-free option, use gluten-free bread where the recipe calls for white sandwich bread and instead of flour in the sauce, use cornstarch (start with only 2 tablespoons).
Recipe adapted from The Best of America’s Test Kitchen 2010.
I accidently mixed it before baking will it still be ok??
Hi Nikki, It will be fine. Merry Christmas! 🙂
I’m worried about putting this frozen dish in a hot oven. will it explode?
Hi Marcy, The time the dish sits on the counter while the oven is pre-heating will bring the pan temperature close enough to room temperature to be able to put in the hot oven. But I’ve also taken a Pyrex dish straight from the freezer to the oven bwfore with no problem.
I noticed you mentioned using gluten free bread before. Have you replaced the flour with gluten free flour befor?
Hi Danielle, I would substitute the flour with cornstarch. I’ll go in and add this information to the recipe. Thanks for the heads up.
If I m make it on Tuesday for Thursday, should I just keep it in the fridge
if i’m taking this to someones house, should I cook it ahead of time or just cook the whole thing there?
Hi Marcy, You could cook it at your house and see if they’ll let you place the casserole in their oven just to re-heat when you get there. And if you’re making it today, I’d just place it in the fridge. Let me know if you have other questions!
I already put it in the freezer. I’ll now place it in my fridge. My issue is I’m driving two hours. Should I cook it an hour, take it to my dinner, place topping on there and bake until heated through?
It should be absolutely fine to bake for one hour, then at your destination, add the onions and bake again just until bubbly, maybe 20 more minutes. 🙂
Hi,
I just finished making this casserole but I forgot and mixed the sauce and green beans. I’m going to go ahead and outbid in the freezer when it cools. What adverse effect have I created by mixing it up?
It looks and tastes great. Thank you for the recipe
So I had to drop by and thank you for posting this AMAZING recipe. My husband and I are overseas (greetings from Japan!), and we hosted Thanksgiving for a handful of single Airmen he supervises since we’re all away from our families. Not only was this my first time ever hosting Thanksgiving, but we had a full house that night! I’m talking 12 full grown, hungry men! I was determined to give these boys a good, home cooked meal for the holiday, especially since for most of them, this was their first time away from home. I was in the Air Force myself for 4 years, and I knew how lonely it could be around this time of year.
I made this the day before using frozen green beans coated in the cornstarch, and it worked out amazing. I also simply stored it in the refrigerator rather than the freezer, and it cooked up perfectly. Not watery nor rubbery at all! Let me tell you, while prepping that sauce, I nearly hit the floor when I tasted it. Ohhh my, this was way better than the canned-everything version that I always had, and the extra bit of effort it took to pull this together was so well worth it. I will NEVER go back.
At dinnertime, one of the boys, a southerner like myself, was so excited to see green bean casserole on the table. I had never seen so many people rave about this dish, but it was the first thing I ran out of! So for that, thank you. This recipe helped make this Thanksgiving special for a handful of servicemen. 😉
April, First and most importantly, a huge thank you to you, your husband and each one of those 12 young men for your service and sacrifice for our country. What you’ve given up for us can never be repaid. Second, I am overwhelmed with gratitude that you chose my recipe to serve at this extra-special Thanksgiving and then took the time to let me know what it meant to these men. You have made my Christmas and your note is the best comment I have received on my blog, ever. How lucky those airmen were to have you to help make a first Thanksgiving away from home seem more like “home”. I’m so glad you all liked it. My family and I would love to reach out to these guys during Christmas away from home. If you feel comfortable, would you contact me through my email with an address and their names so we could send Christmas cards to them? Again, thanks for making my holiday season all the more special and I hope to hear from you at gooddinnermom@gmail.com. God bless you all and keep you safe. Sally 🙂
Hi, if I make this the same day do I partially cook the green beans before putting the casserole together and do I still use the cornstarch?
Hi Michelle, Yes, every step will be the same except the cooking time. Enjoy, you will love it! Happy Thanksgiving.
Thank you. Looking forward to it. Happy Thanksgiving!
Can this be thawed to save on cooking time? If so, what would you recommend for cooking time and temp?
Hi Giana, This casserole could be thawed overnight in the refrigerator and then I’d follow the directions at the bottom of the printable for making the day of baking. Essentially, bake covered for 60 minutes at 350F degrees, then an additional 10 minutes uncovered.
Thanks, Sally! Excited to try it.
Thank you for this great recipe! I am planning on making this today and freezing for next week. One question, what kind of wine would you suggest? Thanks again!
Ally, I just made this again last week and used a Riesling. It was fabulous! I usually just use what I have but I do will say that the casserole made with the Riesling was the best ever. Don’t know if it’s because of the wine or if I was just really craving it. Happy Thanksgiving to you and thanks for making my recipe. 🙂
Awesome! I love Riesling. Thank you very much for taking the time to respond. I’m totally excited to make this. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. 🙂
My pleasure and Riesling is one of my favorites, too. 😉
Could you use the frozen whole green beans instead of fresh ones?
Ginger, I haven’t used frozen in this recipe but I think they would work just fine. If you do use the frozen (so much less work!), let me know how they turn out.
I know it’s sacrilege . But could you use frozen green beans and coat with the cornstarch frozen?
Hi Susan, I think cooking is all about experimentation. So go for it! Vegetables that are frozen are done so at the peak of freshness. Plus, that will cut a lot of time off your prep work. Great idea, actually.
So, if I do the freeze over-night version and cook the beans, do you still coat them with cornstarch?
Tracy, if you are going to freeze it, whether you precook the beans or not, I would still coat them with cornstarch. The cornstarch is meant to help with the moisture that will collect during freezing.
This sounds delicious. I am thinking of making it the day before and not freezing it. Do you think that @400 I would cook it about 40 minutes? Thank you so much for the recipe.
Hi Deb, If you don’t freeze it beforehand, I would boil the beans for about 4-5 minutes so they are cooked to tender but not too raw-crunchy when you cook it the day of. This will not make the beans too soft, I promise. If you make it the day before, you still can freeze it just overnight (if you have the room). This really is a great recipe and I think everyone will be happy with it. Thanks for trying it!
Deb, I just realize I didn’t answer your question. Yes, I think 40 minutes at 400 degrees would work great.
This was INCREDIBLE! I had never made (or even eaten) this because, well…..yuck, canned green beans and cream-of-something soup? And the fact that you can make this ahead and freeze it for busy holiday kitchens?!!!! WIN WIN WIN! Thank you for a fantastic recipe!
Sharon, I’m glad you found my recipe since we are of the same mind of the “usual” canned beans and (love this) cream of “something” soup, lol. And thanks for taking the time to tell me about it! 🙂
I seriously cannot believe that you can freeze a green bean casserole! I am hosting Thanksgiving this year and so excited to get a jump start on it with this recipe already. Awesome!