Description
This Ultimate Green Bean Casserole is a classic comfort food dish with a flavorful twist, featuring crispy bacon, sautéed mushrooms and onions, creamy mushroom soup, melted Monterey Jack cheese, and topped with crunchy French fried onions. Perfect for holiday dinners or family gatherings, it delivers a rich and satisfying taste everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 6 strips bacon
- 1/2 yellow onion (finely diced)
- 1 1/2 cups chopped button mushrooms
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 4 (14.5-ounce) cans cut green beans (drained)
Dairy and Canned Goods
- 2 (10.5-ounce) cans cream of mushroom soup
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Others
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 1/2 cups French fried onions
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Cook the Bacon and Onions: In a large skillet over medium-low heat, cook the bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon and drain on paper towels, then crumble it. Drain all but about 2 tablespoons of bacon grease from the skillet and return it to medium heat. Add the finely diced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes until translucent.
- Sauté Mushrooms and Garlic: Add the chopped mushrooms to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until mushrooms are golden brown. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the undiluted cream of mushroom soup and add the crumbled bacon back to the mixture. Incorporate the milk and shredded Monterey Jack cheese, stirring until the cheese melts fully. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Fold in the drained green beans until well combined.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the combined mixture into the prepared baking dish and top evenly with the French fried onions. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until the casserole is hot, bubbly, and the topping is golden and crisp.
Notes
- For best results, use fresh French fried onions for a crispy topping.
- You can substitute cream of mushroom soup with homemade mushroom sauce for a fresher taste.
- Adjust salt and pepper according to your preference, especially because bacon adds saltiness.
- This recipe serves well as a side dish for holiday meals like Thanksgiving.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.2g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
