Description
A classic and comforting Ultimate Green Bean Casserole featuring crispy bacon, sautéed mushrooms and onions, creamy mushroom soup, melted Monterey Jack cheese, and topped with crispy French fried onions. Perfect for holiday dinners or a hearty side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 6 strips bacon
- 1/2 yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 1/2 cups chopped button mushrooms
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 (10.5-ounce) cans cream of mushroom soup
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 (14.5-ounce) cans cut green beans, drained
- 1 1/2 cups French fried onions
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly spray a 9X13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prepare it for the casserole.
- Cook Bacon: In a large skillet over medium-low heat, cook the bacon strips until crisp. Remove them and drain on paper towels. Once cooled, crumble the bacon. Reserve about 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease in the pan and discard the rest.
- Sauté Onions: Return the skillet with the bacon grease to medium heat. Add the finely diced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes until they become translucent.
- Cook Mushrooms and Garlic: Add the chopped mushrooms to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are golden brown. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Combine Soup and Cheese: Stir in the undiluted cream of mushroom soup, then add the crumbled bacon back into the skillet. Mix in the milk and shredded Monterey Jack cheese, stirring until the cheese melts completely. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add Green Beans: Fold the drained green beans into the mixture until well combined.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly. Top the casserole with the French fried onions. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, or until the casserole is hot and bubbly and the topping is golden.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, you can broil the French fried onion topping for 2-3 minutes at the end of baking, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Use fresh green beans and blanch them if you prefer over canned ones for a fresher taste and firmer texture.
- Feel free to substitute milk with a lactose-free alternative if needed.
- To make it vegetarian, omit bacon and use vegetable oil instead of bacon grease.
- Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
