Classic Make Ahead Green Bean Casserole Recipe
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This Make Ahead Green Bean Casserole comes together in minutes and bakes to bubbly perfection. It’s so easy to prepare classic green bean casserole ahead of time, making it the perfect side dish for holidays and weeknight meals alike! This is a great recipe for the holiday season!
Many people ask, “Can you make green bean casserole ahead of time?” and I’m here to tell you — YES!! This classic holiday side dish makes the entire cooking process a breeze!
If you want to prep it prior to the Thanksgiving dinner, go for it!
It’s no secret that to have a Happy Thanksgiving, you need to have this family favorite on the table.
I make this easy green bean casserole for all the holiday gatherings and it really is my favorite side dish.
It’s an easy way to use canned or fresh green beans, and that golden brown crunch on top just can’t be beaten.
This is likely very similar to a traditional green bean casserole recipe that you grew up with – but be sure to double-check the printable recipe card below to make sure.
There are very few steps needed to make the green bean mixture, but you want to be sure that you don’t miss any!
All the steps and ingredients needed to make this homemade green bean casserole are important!
Make Ahead Green Bean Casserole
Tender green beans are baked in a creamy sauce and topped with crispy fried onions for a salty crunch!
It’s the combination that many of us grew up on, and I love how easy it is to put together this green bean casserole ahead of time.
Plus, make ahead green beans aren’t just for the holidays! This side dish is wonderful with a smoked roast, pork tenderloin, and even fried chicken.
For a modern twist on classic green bean casserole, try this version with mushroom bacon cheese sauce!
It just takes a few extra minutes of prep for a side dish that everyone will be talking about.
Green Bean Casserole Make Ahead Tips
- Drain the beans!
Otherwise, the sauce will be thin and not as creamy. Rinsing is not required, but you can if you want to reduce the amount of sodium in this recipe for make ahead green beans.
Cans of regular-cut beans are what you’re looking for. French cut are fine as well, they will just slightly change the texture of the dish.
If you prefer to use a bag of frozen instead, don’t thaw them first. Simply increase the cooking time for your make ahead green bean casserole by about 5 minutes.
- Cream of mushroom substitute:
There aren’t any actual mushrooms in this recipe, but some people are allergic or don’t like the flavor.
You can use any “cream of” soup you’d like instead — chicken and celery are popular alternatives.
And if you want to vary from the traditional version, you can make your own homemade creamy mushroom sauce and add button mushrooms to it!
- Add some bacon.
Cook up a few strips on the stove or in the oven, then chop them up and stir them in with the rest of the ingredients.
- Feeding a crowd?
Double the green bean casserole make ahead recipe and bake in a 9×13 baking dish instead.
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Casserole Dish – One that’s 2 – 2.5 quarts in size should do the trick! Typically that will be an oval baker or an 8×8 baking pan.
- Mixing Bowl – I like to have a variety of sizes on hand, and this set has them all.
- A sturdy silicone spatula can be used for scraping, stirring, and smoothing and is easy to clean too!
Make Ahead Green Beans FAQ
Yes! In fact, I highly recommend it if you’re hosting a holiday meal. You can put it together up to 48 hours in advance and reheat during the final stretch.
Prepare the recipe as directed, but leave off the crispy fried onions. Then, let it cool for a bit before wrapping tightly in foil and placing it in the refrigerator.
About an hour before serving, transfer the dish to the counter to remove the chill — at least 30 minutes.
Then, warm make ahead green bean casserole in the oven, adding the crispy onions towards the end as stated in the directions.
They are thin, crispy pieces of onion that are commonly associated with this make ahead green bean casserole.
French’s is the most popular brand, and they can be found in just about any grocery store.
Not only are they essential to this green bean casserole make ahead recipe, but they’re great for topping burgers or all kinds of casseroles!
Sure, I’m all about the crunchy onion topping, but you could easily add shredded cheddar cheese, panko breadcrumbs, flavored French Fried Onions, or anything else that you want to this homemade version. Just remember that this make-ahead green bean casserole is simple and you have options, and that’s really what it comes down to.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Classic Make Ahead Green Bean Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 2- 10.5 ounce cans cream of mushroom soup, 2 10.5 ounce cans
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 2 – 14.5 ounce cans cut green beans, 2 14.5 ounce cans
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups crispy fried onions
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the soup and milk until smooth. Stir in the green beans, pepper, and salt.
- Pour the green beans into a medium-size casserole pan, spread them out evenly.
- Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and stir the mixture.
- Top the green beans with the crispy onions and bake for an additional 8 minutes.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published November 2021, updated and republished October 2024
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The green bean casserole has been a old "standby" or "go-to" recipe since I was a child (I'm now a senior). The only difference in your recipe is that we actually added chopped mushrooms to the dish.
Today, this dish is considered "conforted food" in our home! The taste of holidays! Jimm
I made this for family recently and everyone loved it! A true comfort food style dish that everyone will love. So creamy and delicious with a nice crunch on top. Yum!