Fresh and Healthy Green Bean Casserole

Name: Fresh and Healthy Green Bean Casserole
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1.5 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into bite sized pieces; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tablespoons all purpose flour; 1 cup vegetable or chicken broth; 1/2 cup half and half; 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 2 medium onions, thinly sliced; 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

A lighter, homemade version of the classic holiday side dish using fresh beans and a savory mushroom sauce.

By Enzo81 Kitchen· American· November 3, 2026

enzo81.xyz

Prep

20 minutes

Cook

30 minutes

Total

50 minutes

Serves

I used to be someone who skipped the green bean casserole at holiday dinners, but this version completely changed my mind. By skipping the canned soup and making a simple creamy parmesan sauce from scratch, the flavors taste so much brighter and fresher.

My favorite trick for this recipe is to roast the onions until they get golden and crispy. It adds the perfect crunch that balances out the tender beans and earthy mushrooms.

Ingredients

1.5 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into bite sized pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 cup vegetable or chicken broth
1/2 cup half and half
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

9Instructions

1
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2
Blanch the green beans in a pot of boiling water for about 3 minutes until bright green, then drain them and set aside.
3
In a large skillet, heat one tablespoon of olive oil and sauté the mushrooms until they are browned and soft.
4
Stir in the minced garlic, then sprinkle the flour over the mushrooms and cook for one minute.
5
Slowly pour in the broth and half and half while stirring constantly until the sauce thickens.
6
Remove the skillet from the heat, stir in the parmesan, salt, pepper, and the blanched green beans.
7
Transfer the mixture to a baking dish.
8
Toss the sliced onions with the remaining olive oil and breadcrumbs, then scatter them over the top of the casserole.
9
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the sauce is bubbling and the onion topping is golden brown.

Tips

You can prep the green beans and mushroom sauce a day ahead of time to save space in the kitchen on the big day. Just keep them stored separately in the fridge and assemble with the crispy onion topping right before you are ready to bake. If you have leftovers, keep them in an airtight container for up to three days.

#Vegetarian #Holiday Side #Healthy #Homemade

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