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Make the best cheesy green bean casserole ever with this elevated take on a classic recipe! Loaded with fresh green beans and a homemade cheese sauce, this dish will become a family favorite for holidays and cozy meals.
This green bean casserole with cheese is NOT the same old casserole that has graced so many holiday tables. Oh no, this is easily 1,000% better.
This version is made with fresh green beans, no condensed soup, and it is mushroom-free. It has an incredible homemade cheese sauce, and it will become your family’s new favorite holiday dish.
If you prefer to go the homemade route for the full dish, our fried shallots are dead simple, but look super fancy.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- If you prefer to use canned green beans, you’ll want to sub in 3, 15 oz cans of cut green beans (drained).
- This is a pretty “saucy” recipe. You can increase the green beans by up to 2 cups if you prefer your green bean casserole thicker and absolutely loaded with veggies.
- Do not skip the step of warming the milk before adding it to the roux. This will prevent the sauce from breaking/curdling.
Cheesy Green Bean Casserole
Make the best cheesy green bean casserole ever with this elevated take on a classic recipe! Loaded with fresh green beans and a homemade cheese sauce, this dish will become a family favorite for holidays and cozy meals.
Ingredients
- 5 cups green beans {ends removed, and cut into 2-inch pieces}
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic {minced}
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1/2 cup whole milk {warmed}
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 3 cups extra sharp cheddar {grated}
- 1.5 cups fried onions {divided} {or fried shallots}
Instructions
- Fill a medium mixing bowl with ice water. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350˚F.
- In a large saucepan, bring 6 cups of water to a boil.
- Add green beans, and reduce heat to medium-high.5 cups green beans
- Cook green beans for 5 minutes, and then using a slotted spoon, transfer them to the bowl of ice water.
- After 3 minutes, drain the green beans from the ice water and set aside.
- In a medium heavy-bottomed oven-safe saucepan, combine butter, olive oil, and garlic over medium heat. Stir until garlic is starting to soften (~3 minutes).3 tbsp unsalted butter, 2 tbsp olive oil, 4 cloves garlic
- Sprinkle flour over the top of the butter/garlic mixture, and whisk to combine. Cook until the flour turns a light caramel color (~3 minutes).3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- Add chicken stock, warmed milk, salt, and lemon zest. Increase the temp slightly and cook, whisking constantly for 3 minutes.1 cup chicken stock, 1/2 cup whole milk, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp lemon zest
- Turn off the burner, add cheddar to the pan, and stir until cheddar has melted.3 cups extra sharp cheddar
- Add in the green beans and ¾ cup of the crispy onions and gently stir to combine.1.5 cups fried onions {divided}
- Bake at 350˚F for 25 minutes.
- Gently stir the mixture, add the other ¾ cup of crispy onions to the top of the mixture, and bake for an additional 5 minutes.1.5 cups fried onions {divided}
Notes
- If you prefer to use canned green beans, you’ll want to sub in 3, 15 oz cans of cut green beans (drained).
- You can use your favorite gluten-free flour or cornstarch instead of all-purpose flour.
- You can increase the green beans by up to 2 cups if you prefer your green bean casserole thicker and absolutely loaded with veggies.
- Do not skip the step of warming the milk before adding it to the roux. This will prevent the sauce from breaking/curdling.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.5cupCalories: 289kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 10gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 567mgPotassium: 194mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 845IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 280mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe?Mention @sustainablecooks or tag #sustainablecooks!
Delicious! Love the lemon zest! This is worlds better than the stuff I grew up with!
So glad you enjoyed it Emily! I made this to heal my own childhood trauma, and I’m so happy to hear it is helping others. 🙂
Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!
This was an excellent substitution for the normal green bean casserole that I loathe. I didn’t have the French fried onions but I didn’t feel it took away I just will definitely remember them next time because I’m sure it will elevate the dish. 5 stars as always, Sarah.
Give it a try with the onions next time, but even without them, I agree that it’s a huge improvement from the “normal” GBC. So glad you enjoyed it, Lisa!