Make this from scratch Fresh Green Bean Casserole with Onion Ring Topping this holiday season! Green beans tossed with a creamy homemade mushroom sauce is topped with crispy air-fried onion rings and baked until bubbling and delicious. Serves 6 to 8.
As if you couldn’t guess, my favorite Thanksgiving side dish is and always will be, green bean casserole.
A few years ago I did make a homemade version. While it’s super delicious, I still wanted that crispy fried onion topping.
Let’s be real, it’s the reason why people love this casserole so much, amiright? SO after owning my air-fryer for a year now, it has easily become my favorite appliance. And it makes the perfect onion topping for my homemade green bean casserole.
No can of cream of mushroom soup needed.
Just simple, fresh ingredients for the best green bean casserole deserving enough to grace your Thanksgiving table.
To make this homemade Fresh Green Bean Casserole You Will Need:
- fresh green beans
- unsalted butter
- shallot
- sliced fresh mushrooms
- cloves fresh garlic
- all-purpose flour
- half and half
- freshly grated nutmeg
- kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- beer battered onion rings
If you don’t have an air-fryer you can still make this recipe. Either slice up a bunch of shallots and fry them in 1 tablespoon each butter and olive oil until crispy or buy the store-bought crispy fried onion topping. No judgement here.
First prep the green beans by bringing a large pot of salted water to boil. Also, fill a large bowl with ice and set a mesh strainer or colander in the center and fill with water.
Trim and cut 1-1/2 pounds green beans in half. Once the water is boiling, add all of the green beans and simmer for 6 minutes or until bright green and just starting to become tender.
Transfer the green beans to the waiting colander in the ice bath. When they are cool to touch, remove the strainer holding the green beans and drain well. Set these off to the side for a moment.
Preheat your oven to 350℉ (or 180℃) and spray a 9 x 9 baking dish with olive oil spray.
Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large, deep-sided skillet over medium-low heat.
To the butter, add 1 diced shallot with a pinch of kosher salt and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes.
What is better than the smell of butter and shallots sautéing?
To that, add in 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms. Stir and cook until just tender, about 5 to 8 minutes, before adding in the 2 small cloves of garlic that have been minced. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
As far as what mushrooms to use, I’m using cremini mushrooms, but white button would work too.
Once the mushrooms are tender, add in the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter.
Measure and stir in 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour, until absorbed. Cook the flour for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Pour in the 2 cups of half & half and stir, over medium-high heat, until thickened.
Stir in 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Season with 1 teaspoon kosher salt (more or less to taste), 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper and 1/8 teaspoon grated fresh nutmeg.
Lastly, toss the blanched green beans in the creamy mushroom sauce before pouring the green bean mixture into 9×9 (or 8×8 would suffice) baking dish that has been sprayed with olive oil spray.
Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake on the middle rack of your preheated 350° for 20 minutes.
This casserole will smell heavenly!
Remove the foil and scatter the lightly battered onion rings over top. Continue baking for an additional 20-25 minutes or until the casserole is bubbling and the onion rings are crispy and a deeper golden color.
I’m not kidding you when I say this is the best green bean casserole.
It’s the perfect combination of creamy meets crispy and it’s so delicious! But most importantly it’s easy. Instructions for making it in advance included 🙂
Enjoy! And if you give this Fresh Green Bean Casserole recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!
Fresh Green Bean Casserole with Onion Ring Topping
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds green beans, rinsed, trimmed and cut into 1-1/2 to 2-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 1 large shallot, diced (about 1/3 cup)
- 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (about 3/4 teaspoon)
- 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 cups half & half
- 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon grated fresh nutmeg
- 1 recipe air fryer beer battered onion rings, lightly battered version
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350℉ (or 180℃) and spray a 9 x 9 baking dish with olive oil spray. Fill a large bowl with ice water and place a colander inside.
- Fill a 12-inch, deep-sided skillet with water half way. Bring to a boil and stir in 1 tablespoon of sea salt. Add in the green beans and simmer for 4 to 6 minute or until slightly tender. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the blanched green beans to the colander in the ice bath, discarding the remaining water in the pan. Once the green beans are cold, remove the colander and drain the beans.
- In the same skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat. Add the shallots and a pinch of kosher salt. Stir, cooking until soft. About 5 minutes.
- Next add in the mushrooms, stir and cook until tender. About 5 to 8 minutes. Add in the minced garlic, stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Then add in 4 tablespoons of butter.
- Once the butter has melted, sprinkle the flour over top, stir and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir while pouring in the half and half, scraping any browned bits off of the bottom of the skillet. Increase the heat to medium-high, stirring constantly until thickened to a creamy soup consistency.
- Remove off of the heat and stir in the parmesan cheese. Season with the nutmeg, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add the green beans to the mushroom sauce and toss to coat.
- Transfer green bean mixture to the prepared baking dish, cover with aluminum foil and bake on the middle rack of your preheated oven for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil and scatter the fried onions over top. Place back into your oven for 20 more minutes or until the onion are crisp and the casserole is bubbling.
Notes
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THANK YOU in advance for your support!
Trying this tonight… but thought I took a moment to point out a couple of issues with the directions, right after the mushrooms are added and cooked.
– in the printed directions, there is no mention of the adding of the remaining 4 Tbs of butter
– in the step by step directions, there is no mention of adding the garlic.
And as usual I am taking longer than you to put it all together.
Otherwise I am super excited to try it because IT SMELLS DELICIOUS!!!
I just put it in the oven to bake. Wish me luck!
Thanks for letting me know, E! I’ve made the changes. 🙂
…also some discrepancy between the 9 x 9 pan instructions vs the suggested 8 x 8 pan
Either would work. 8×8 holds 2 quarts and a 9×9 holds 2-1/2 quarts.