Best Ever Green Bean Casserole

Vegetarian
Health score
4%
Best Ever Green Bean Casserole
70 min.
6
183kcal

Suggestions

Transform your next holiday dinner or cozy family gathering with this Best Ever Green Bean Casserole, a vegetarian masterpiece that reimagines a classic comfort food with modern flair. Unlike traditional versions drowning in heavy cream, this dish boasts a sophisticated sauce made from scratch using chicken broth, half-and-half, nutmeg, and a hint of fresh garlic, resulting in a rich, velvety texture that clings perfectly to tender green beans. The true star of the show, however, is the homemade crispy onion topping. Instead of relying on canned fried onions, you'll roast thinly sliced onions with flour and panko bread crumbs until they are golden brown and irresistibly crunchy, providing an incredible textural contrast to the soft vegetables beneath. This recipe is surprisingly accessible, requiring just a few basic kitchen tools and about an hour of your time to yield a side dish that feels gourmet yet remains approachable for home cooks of all skill levels. With a satisfying balance of earthy mushrooms, sweet onions, and crisp beans, every bite offers a burst of flavor that elevates any meal from simple to spectacular. Whether you are serving this as a hearty starter, a light antipasto, or the perfect companion to a roast chicken or turkey, its versatility shines through. At only 183 calories per serving, it offers a guilt-free indulgence packed with essential nutrients, making it an ideal choice for health-conscious diners who refuse to compromise on taste. The step-by-step process ensures that even beginners can achieve restaurant-quality results, leaving your guests eager for seconds and your kitchen filled with the aroma of roasting onions and simmering sauce. Dive into this delicious creation and experience why this casserole has earned its reputation as the best ever.

Ingredients

  • 0.5 teaspoon pepper black freshly ground
  • cup chicken broth 
  • 0.3 cup flour all-purpose
  • tablespoons flour all-purpose
  • pound green beans fresh rinsed trimmed halved
  • cloves garlic minced
  • cup half-and-half 
  • teaspoon kosher salt 
  • tablespoons kosher salt divided
  • 12 ounces mushrooms trimmed cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 0.3 teaspoon nutmeg freshly ground
  • medium onions thinly sliced
  • tablespoons panko bread crumbs 
  • tablespoons butter unsalted

Equipment

  • bowl
  • frying pan
  • sauce pan
  • oven
  • mixing bowl
  • colander

Directions

  1. Watch how to make this recipe.
  2. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F.
  3. Combine the onions, flour, panko and salt in a large mixing bowl and toss to combine. Coat a sheet pan with nonstick cooking spray and evenly spread the onions on the pan.
  4. Place the pan on the middle rack of the oven and bake until golden brown, approximately 30 minutes. Toss the onions 2 to 3 times during cooking. Once done, remove from the oven and set aside until ready to use. Turn the oven down to 400 degrees F.
  5. While the onions are cooking, prepare the beans. Bring a gallon of water and 2 tablespoons of salt to a boil in an 8-quart saucepan.
  6. Add the beans and blanch for 5 minutes.
  7. Drain in a colander and immediately plunge the beans into a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.
  8. Drain and set aside.
  9. Melt the butter in a 12-inch cast iron skillet set over medium-high heat.
  10. Add the mushrooms, 1 teaspoon salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms begin to give up some of their liquid, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.
  11. Add the garlic and nutmeg and continue to cook for another 1 to 2 minutes.
  12. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute.
  13. Add the broth and simmer for 1 minute. Decrease the heat to medium-low and add the half-and-half. Cook until the mixture thickens, stirring occasionally, approximately 6 to 8 minutes.
  14. Remove from the heat and stir in 1/4 of the onions and all of the green beans. Top with the remaining onions.
  15. Place into the oven and bake until bubbly, approximately 15 minutes.
  16. Remove and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

Calories183kcal
Protein13.28%
Fat42.82%
Carbs43.9%

Properties

Glycemic Index
64.5
Glycemic Load
7.04
Inflammation Score
-7
Nutrition Score
13.015652169352%

Flavonoids

Luteolin
0.11mg
Isorhamnetin
1.84mg
Kaempferol
0.58mg
Myricetin
0.13mg
Quercetin
9.52mg

Nutrients percent of daily need

Calories:182.79kcal
9.14%
Fat:9.19g
14.15%
Saturated Fat:5.4g
33.73%
Carbohydrates:21.21g
7.07%
Net Carbohydrates:17.54g
6.38%
Sugar:7.24g
8.05%
Cholesterol:24.93mg
8.31%
Sodium:2917.09mg
126.83%
Alcohol:0g
100%
Alcohol %:0%
100%
Protein:6.42g
12.84%
Vitamin K:34.04µg
32.42%
Vitamin B2:0.47mg
27.79%
Manganese:0.39mg
19.32%
Vitamin B3:3.46mg
17.31%
Vitamin C:13.8mg
16.73%
Vitamin B1:0.24mg
16.04%
Selenium:11.02µg
15.74%
Vitamin A:783.63IU
15.67%
Folate:60.7µg
15.17%
Fiber:3.67g
14.68%
Phosphorus:144.92mg
14.49%
Copper:0.28mg
14.24%
Potassium:476.62mg
13.62%
Vitamin B6:0.25mg
12.52%
Vitamin B5:1.25mg
12.5%
Iron:1.77mg
9.81%
Calcium:95.59mg
9.56%
Magnesium:36.07mg
9.02%
Zinc:0.85mg
5.68%
Vitamin E:0.56mg
3.72%
Vitamin B12:0.13µg
2.11%
Vitamin D:0.18µg
1.22%