The Ultimate Green Bean Casserole
This green bean casserole strikes the perfect balance between creamy, savory, and crunchy, making it a dish everyone looks forward to.
Servings 8
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs Fresh Green Beans, washed, snipped and halved
- 1 tsp Chicken Bouillon
- 10 Slices Bacon, chopped
- 1 Yellow Onion, Diced
- 5 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 8 oz Baby Bella Mushrooms, finely chopped or any variety of mushrooms that you like
- 1/3 cup All Purpose Flour
- 1/2 cup Chicken Broth
- 2 cups Half and Half
- 3 oz Fresh Parmesan Cheese
- 6 oz Can of Crispy French Fried Onions
Seasonings
- 1 tsp each Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Salt and Pepper
- 1 pinch of Nutmeg
Instructions
- Start by boiling a large pot of water and adding a teaspoon of chicken bouillon for extra flavor. Once the water is boiling, add the washed and trimmed green beans. Cook them for about five minutes until they are bright green and tender-crisp. Drain the beans and immediately transfer them to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Set them aside once cooled.
- In a large skillet, brown the chopped bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and set it aside, leaving the rendered fat in the pan.
- In the same skillet, add the diced onion, minced garlic, and chopped mushrooms. Sauté for 7 to 8 minutes until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.
- Sprinkle the flour over the sautéed vegetables and cook for about three minutes, stirring frequently. Slowly whisk in the chicken broth and half and half, maintaining medium-low heat. Continue stirring until the sauce thickens. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg for a hint of warmth.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and well combined. Add the crispy bacon and blanched green beans to the sauce, mixing gently. Season with more salt and pepper if needed at this point.
- Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and bake at 350°F for 25 minutes. Once out of the oven, sprinkle the crispy French fried onions on top and return to the oven for an additional 5 minutes, allowing the onions to become golden and crispy.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
This recipe can be made up to 2 days in advance. Follow all of the steps until you have assembled the casserole in the baking dish. Do not bake and do not add the crispy onions on top. Once assembled, cover and refrigerate. When ready to bake, just follow the rest of the instructions above!
You can also freeze it for up to 2 months in advance following the same steps as above. But when ready to bake, allow it to thaw in the fridge or on the counter first.
To reheat, you can put it in the microwave for about 1 minute, depending on the portion size and the strength of your microwave.