Green Bean Casserole with Cheese
This absolutely delicious and easy Green Bean Casserole with Cheese is the perfect make-ahead dish that will have everyone raving. It is a homemade version of traditional green bean casserole that will be the star of your Holiday table. It is made with fresh green beans, cheese and no canned soup!
Table of contents
- Why We Love This Make Ahead Green Bean Casserole
- Ingredients For Healthy Green Bean Casserole
- Step By Step Instructions For This Recipe
- Step 1: Heat oven, prepare the baking dish and steam the green beans.
- Step 2: Sauté the veggies and add the dry sherry.
- Step 3: Add the flour.
- Step 4: Add the broth and milk and thicken.
- Step 5: Stir in the cheese and green beans.
- Step 6: Place in the prepared baking dish and top with cheese.
- Step 7: Make the breadcrumb topping.
- Step 8: Bake and serve.
- FAQ’s and Expert Tips
- Additional Recipes To Try
I originally shared this recipe on November 16, 2012. I have updated the images and some of the text today.
Why We Love This Make Ahead Green Bean Casserole
This recipe is a twist on the classic Green Bean Casserole. It tastes pretty similar to the real McCoy, except it doesn’t have canned cream of mushroom soup or the processed canned french fried onions like in the original recipe. In fact, it’s made entirely from scratch with sharp cheddar cheese. The addition of cheese makes it really special. So really, it’s much better than the original and should be added to all of your holiday meals. The great thing is that it is definitely one of those easy side dish recipes that you’ll want in your repertoire.
Don’t let the fact that it’s from scratch make you think that this comfort food dish is hard to make. It really one of those easy recipes and the best green bean casserole recipe in my opinion! And it can be made the day before, so you’ll have extra time to focus on that bird.
Ingredients For Healthy Green Bean Casserole
- Green Beans – Using fresh tender green beans makes such a difference in the overall texture. You can really control the amount of crunch they have, so you won’t end up with a mushy Thanksgiving side dish.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Unsalted Butter – Extra virgin olive oil has a higher smoke point than butter, so using a mix of the two to sauté the shallots lets you get that awesome butter flavor without burning.
- Shallots – Shallots add a mildly sweet and slight garlic flavor that is much less intense than onion.
- Fresh Mushrooms – Finely chopped Crimini or white fresh mushrooms are a classic ingredient that adds a delicious earthy flavor and meaty texture.
- Fresh Thyme – The floral herbal notes of fresh thyme will bring brightness to the dish.
- Dry Sherry – Adding this fortified wine will add great depth of flavor to the overall dish. A little bit goes a long way.
- All Purpose Flour – Dusting the veggies with flour is a great trick because it’s an easy way to thicken a sauce without making a roux, and it uses less fat overall.
- Chicken Broth or Vegetable Broth and Low Fat Milk – Using broth and low fat milk to make the sauce lightens a typically heavy sauce while still adding flavor and getting that creamy texture.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese – Look for the sharpest cheddar available to get the most cheesy bang for your buck. Shredded cheese helps make a creamy sauce and adds an awesome tangy flavor to the sauce.
- Breadcrumbs – A crunch topping of breadcrumbs is a great replacement for those canned french-fried onions and add great flavor and additional crunch. Really the best texture!
- Seasonings – Paprika adds a smokiness and great color and onion powder adds a slight sharp sweetness to the bread crumbs and salt and black pepper enhance the flavor of the entire dish.
Step By Step Instructions For This Recipe
Step 1: Heat oven, prepare the baking dish and steam the green beans.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Coat a 2 1/2 quart baking dish with cooking spray. Bring several inches of water to a boil in a large saucepan fitted with a steamer basket. Steam green beans until crisp tender, about 4 minutes. Carefully remove steamer from the saucepan, to stop the beans from cooking further.
Step 2: Sauté the veggies and add the dry sherry.
Heat oil and butter in a large skillet, add shallots and cook until just starting to brown. Add mushrooms, thyme, salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally until the mushrooms have released their juices and the liquid has evaporated. Add sherry and cook, stirring occasionally until the liquid has evaporated.
Step 3: Add the flour.
Sprinkle flour over the mushroom mixture and stir to coat.
Step 4: Add the broth and milk and thicken.
Add broth and milk and bring to a simmer stirring often until the sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes.
Step 5: Stir in the cheese and green beans.
Remove from the heat and stir in 1 ½ cups (6-ounces) cheddar. Add the green beans and stir to combine.
Step 6: Place in the prepared baking dish and top with cheese.
Transfer to the prepared casserole dish. Top with the remaining cheese.
Step 7: Make the breadcrumb topping.
Stir together the breadcrumbs and the remaining ½ teaspoon oil in a small dish. Add paprika and onion powder and stir until the breadcrumbs are evenly moist and bright orange. Sprinkle over the casserole.
Step 8: Bake and serve.
Transfer the casserole to the oven and bake until bubbling and golden brown on top, 20 to 25 minutes. Allow to cool 15 minutes before serving.
FAQ’s and Expert Tips
Add an additional thickening agent like a roux or flour to absorb the extra liquid and cook a little longer to continue to reduce the sauce.
A cooked casserole can sit at room temperature for no longer than 2 hours and then needs to be covered with plastic wrap and placed in the refrigerator.
Yes! Just don’t add the breadcrumb topping until just before baking and remember it will take a little longer to bake.
Absolutely! In order to maintain the crispy topping it is best to reheat in the oven. Cover with foil to prevent too much browning.
Additional Recipes To Try
- This make ahead recipe for Orange Ginger Green Beans is a great one for the holiday season, too. Time to plan a friendsgiving!!
- This recipe for roasted green beans with almonds and thyme is like a cross between Green Bean Almondine and roasted green beans. A traditional dish perfect for you dinner table.
- One of my most popular recipes ever are these simple skillet green beans. Have you tried them yet?
- Classic flavors come together in these Green Beans with Walnuts and Balsamic. Try it next time you’re entertaining!
- Serve this one chilled in the summer. So fresh! Green beans and corn
- Another cold option for summertime: green beans with basil vinaigrette
- If you love green beans check out our guide for How To Cook Green Beans and this lineup of Healthy Green Bean Recipes too.
- Easy Cheesy Stove-Top Butternut Squash is made on the stove top- which makes it a useful recipe for Thanksgiving dinner.
- A twist on a classic holiday side dish Healthy Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes are lighter in calories with non-fat plain yogurt, but they are far from light on flavor with layer upon layer of yummy garlic! A delicious side dish that is one of the best foods on the planet.
- Don’t miss the gluten-free option, vegetarian option, and time-saving option for this Cornbread Stuffing with Apples and Pecans. It is a delicious dish!
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic and Thyme are the perfect Thanksgiving vegetarian side dish and they’re ready in 45 minutes!
- When should I order my Thanksgiving turkey? What side-dishes can be made ahead? Can my pies be made the day before? Here are the answers to your Thanksgiving dinner timeline questions… Healthy Thanksgiving Planner
- This perfect side dish Easy Sweet Potato Casserole doesn’t have any marshmallow and instead has nuts and brown sugar on top!
Thanks so much for reading. If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my free weekly email newsletter where I share weeknight meal plans delivered right to your inbox. Or follow me on Instagram. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review! It is very appreciated. Happy Cooking! ~Katie
PrintGreen Bean Casserole with Cheese Recipe
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stove Top/Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
Put down that can and make this absolutely delicious and easy from-scratch Cheddar Green Bean Casserole. It’s the perfect vegetarian make-ahead dish that will have everyone at your Thanksgiving feast raving!
Ingredients
- 6 cups green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces (about 1 ½ pounds)
- 4 ½ teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 3 shallots, minced
- 8-ounces Crimini or white mushrooms, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ cup dry sherry
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 1 cup low-fat milk
- 2 cups sharp cheddar, shredded and divided, 8-ounces
- 3 tablespoons dry breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Coat a 2 1/2 quart baking dish with cooking spray.
- Meanwhile, bring several inches of water to a boil in a large saucepan fitted with a steamer basket. Steam green beans until crisp tender, about 4 minutes. Carefully remove steamer from the saucepan, to stop the beans from cooking further.
- Heat 4 teaspoons oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots and cook until just starting to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add mushrooms, thyme, salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally until the mushrooms have released their juices and the liquid has evaporated, 3 to 4 minutes. Add sherry and cook, stirring occasionally until the liquid has evaporated, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Sprinkle flour over the mushroom mixture and stir to coat.
- Add broth and milk and bring to a simmer stirring often until the sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in 1 ½ cups (6-ounces) cheddar. Add the green beans and stir to combine.
- Transfer to the prepared casserole dish. Top with the remaining 1/2 cups (2-ounces) cheddar.
- Stir together the breadcrumbs and the remaining ½ teaspoon oil in a small dish. Add paprika and onion powder and stir until the breadcrumbs are evenly moist and bright orange. Sprinkle over the casserole.
- Transfer the casserole to the oven and bake until bubbling and golden brown on top, 20 to 25 minutes. Allow to cool 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
To Make Ahead: Prepare it through step five in advance, and then just pop it in the oven when the Turkey comes out. Keep in mind, the casserole will take a little longer in the oven if it is cold when it goes in the oven.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2/3 cup
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 290 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
Delicious!
★★★★★
This is a holiday staple for my family – I love this healthier version!
★★★★★
Now who would not want a piece of this tasty looking casserole! Sign me up!
★★★★★
Which type of sharp cheddar do you use? White or orange?
Here in Vermont most of the sharp cheddar is white, so that’s what I used, but either is fine. They are basically exactly the same except the orange has annatto added to it, which is just a natural plant-based color. I seem to remember that in general, west of the Mississippi sharp cheddar will be orange, and east of it- you’ll find white.
ya for this from scratch recipe! Agree re: canned soup, thank you for this recipe!
Thanks so much Sabrina. Hope you enjoy the recipe! Have a great weekend.
Thank you for your prompt and detailed reply, Katie. I often use coconut flour or almond flour rather than wheat. I assume they would alter the taste of the casserole, therefore your recommendation of corn starch.
Yes the cornstarch (though not healthy per se) is a great alternative in this case because it is neutral and acts as a stabilizer so the cheese and milk don’t break out of the sauce. Coconut flour and almond are great in baking but they do not have enough starch in them to sub in here. And yes- the flavor would be too strong. Interestingly, I am currently working on a soup recipe that is completely thickened with ground walnuts- it is divine! I need to play with the technique some more before I am able to say how it would work in a recipe like this.
This looks wonderful! I need a substitute for the flour and bread crumbs because several family members follow a gluten-free diet.
Thank you…
Hi Mimi: In step 4, add the broth and bring it to a simmer. Add a cornstarch slurry of 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 3 tablespoons water while stirring constantly. Once that thickens add the milk and continue with the recipe as stated. Note: I do not recommend making ahead if using cornstarch as it weakens after cooling and reheating. Ian’s makes a gluten-free panko that you can sub in for the wheat ones.