Creamy Cheesy Green Bean Casserole: A Family Favorite (Print Version)

Make the best Cheesy Green Bean Casserole with this easy recipe. Creamy, savory, and topped with crispy onions it's a nostalgic side dish for any meal.

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 20 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 35 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Vegetarian (with veggie broth)

# Ingredients:

→ Fresh & Green

01 - 1 ½ lbs fresh green beans, trimmed
02 - 1 yellow onion, finely diced
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

→ Creamy Foundation

04 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
05 - ¼ cup all-purpose flour
06 - 2 cups whole milk
07 - 1 cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian)
08 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened and cut into cubes

→ Cheesy Goodness

09 - 1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated, divided
10 - ½ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, divided

→ Crunchy Topping & Seasoning

11 - 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
12 - ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
13 - 1 (6 oz) can crispy fried onions

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, get those green beans ready. I snap off the tough ends, give them a good rinse, then pop them into a pot of lightly salted boiling water. Just a quick blanch, maybe 4-5 minutes, until they’re bright green and crisp-tender. You don't want them mushy! Immediately drain and plunge them into an ice bath—this stops the cooking and keeps their vibrant color. This is where I always forget to salt the water, oops.
02 - Now for the good stuff, the sauce that makes this a <em>Cheesy</em> Green Bean Casserole. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Once it’s shimmering, toss in your finely diced onion and sauté until it’s soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Then, add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until it’s fragrant; don't let it burn, or it gets bitter, I made that mistake once and had to start over!
03 - Sprinkle in the flour over the softened onions and garlic. Stir, stir, stir constantly for about 1-2 minutes until it forms a thick paste and smells a little nutty. This is your roux, the base of our creamy sauce. It’s important to cook out the raw flour taste here, honestly, or your Cheesy Green Bean Casserole will taste off. It might look a bit clumpy, but keep at it!
04 - Slowly, and I mean <em>slowly</em>, whisk in the milk and chicken broth, a little at a time. This is where patience pays off; you want to avoid lumps. Keep whisking until the sauce is smooth and starts to thicken. Bring it to a gentle simmer, letting it bubble for a few minutes until it coats the back of a spoon. The aroma filling the kitchen is just delightful at this point.
05 - Reduce the heat to low, then add the cream cheese and half of your grated cheddar and Parmesan. Stir continuously until all the cheese is melted and the sauce is gloriously smooth and velvety. Taste it! Adjust the salt and pepper if needed. This is the heart of our Cheesy Green Bean Casserole, so make sure it tastes amazing. I always sneak a spoonful, to be real.
06 - Gently fold the blanched green beans into the creamy cheese sauce. Pour the mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar and Parmesan over the top. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until bubbly and golden. In the last 5-10 minutes, scatter those crispy fried onions over the top and bake until they’re perfectly golden brown. The smell? Oh, it’s pure heaven, I tell ya!

# Notes:

01 - Don't rush the roux; a well-cooked roux makes all the difference for a smooth sauce, I learned that the hard way with lumpy gravy once!
02 - You can prep the sauce and beans a day ahead and store them separately in the fridge. Just combine and bake when you're ready, saves so much stress.
03 - If you're out of cheddar, a mix of Monterey Jack and a little mozzarella works surprisingly well for that gooey factor, I tried it during a cheese emergency.
04 - A sprinkle of fresh thyme or a dash of nutmeg in the sauce really elevates the flavor; it’s a little secret I picked up from an old cookbook.

# Equipment Needed:

01 - 9x13 inch baking dish
02 - large saucepan
03 - whisk
04 - cutting board
05 - knife

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 350
Total Fat: 25g
Total Carbohydrate: 20g
Protein: 10g

Back