Description
Our Green Bean Casserole Christmas Favorite brings holiday cheer. Creamy, savory, topped with crispy onions, it’s a must for your festive table.
Ingredients
Scale
- Garden Fresh Goodness:
- 1.5 lbs fresh green beans, trimmed (or 2 cans, 14.5 oz each, drained; or 16 oz frozen, thawed and drained)
- 8 oz fresh button mushrooms, sliced (optional)
- The Creamy Heart:
- 1 (10.5 oz) can condensed cream of mushroom soup (full-fat, please!)
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- Flavor Boosters:
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (or more, to taste!)
- Crunchy Topping Magic:
- 1 (6 oz) can crispy fried onions (like French’s)
Instructions
- Prep the Green Beans:: Okay, first things first, let’s get those green beans ready for our Green Bean Casserole Christmas Favorite. If you’re using fresh, give ’em a good wash and snap off those tough ends. Then, pop ’em into a pot of boiling, salted water for about 5-7 minutes. You want them tender-crisp, not mushy! I always taste one at the 5-minute mark, because sometimes I forget how long they’ve been in there. Drain ’em real well and set aside. If you’re using canned or frozen, just follow the package directions for cooking, making sure to drain any excess water. No one wants a watery casserole!
- Whip Up the Creamy Sauce:: Now for the good part! In a medium bowl, whisk together your can of cream of mushroom soup, the milk, and that secret splash of soy sauce. Give it a good whisk until it’s mostly smooth. Honestly, a few tiny lumps are totally fine; it’s homemade, not a science experiment! This is where the magic starts to happen, you’ll smell that familiar holiday aroma building. Don’t forget a generous grind of black pepper here too, trust me on this one. I once forgot the pepper and it tasted… flat. Never again!
- Combine and Stir:: Time to bring it all together for our Green Bean Casserole Christmas Favorite! Gently fold your cooked green beans into that creamy mushroom sauce. Make sure every bean is coated in that deliciousness. This step always makes me happy, seeing the vibrant green against the creamy white. If you’re using fresh sautéed mushrooms, toss those in now too. You want everything distributed evenly so every bite is a flavor explosion. Be gentle, we don’t want to smash our beautiful beans!
- Ready for the Oven:: Pour the whole glorious mixture into a 2-quart baking dish. Give it a little shake to settle everything out evenly. At this point, I like to take a moment and just admire my work. It looks so promising! If you’re preparing this ahead of time, this is where you’d cover it and pop it in the fridge. Otherwise, it’s oven time! Make sure your oven is preheated to 375°F (190°C), because temperature matters, hon.
- Initial Bake:: Slide that dish into your preheated oven and let it bake for about 20-25 minutes. You’re looking for the casserole to be bubbly around the edges and heated through. The top might start to get a little golden, which is exactly what we want. This is where the flavors really meld and deepen. I usually peek through the oven door like a kid on Christmas morning, waiting for that perfect bubbly goodness. It’s tough not to just dig in right then!
- Add the Crispy Onions & Final Bake:: Okay, pull that bubbly casserole out of the oven. Now, sprinkle a generous layer of those crispy fried onions all over the top. Don’t be shy! Pop it back into the oven for another 5-10 minutes, or until those onions are beautifully golden brown and super crispy. You’ll smell them toasting, and that’s your cue! The aroma is just incredible. Let it cool for a few minutes before serving, but honestly, who can wait? This Green Bean Casserole Christmas Favorite is best served warm, right from the oven, with all that holiday cheer.