Now you know how you make green bean casserole, there are a few key tips to follow to make the tastiest dish. When baking the green bean casserole meal in the oven, cook it uncovered initially. This helps the topping to crisp up. If you find that the onions are browning too quickly, however, you can cover the casserole dish with kitchen foil towards the end of the cooking time.
Choosing beans, sauce and topping
For the green beans, choose the freshest options available. Tinned variations will be softer and saltier and won’t provide that signature crunchy texture you’re looking to achieve in a classic green bean casserole. Some chefs will also blanch the green beans prior to frying, to lock in even more flavour and brightness.
For more tips and tricks on how to cook green beans perfectly, take a look at our helpful article. And for any leftover green beans, there are so many delicious ways to enjoy this nutritious ingredient in further recipes, from flavourful blistered green beans to buttery Creole green beans.
In this vegetarian green bean casserole recipe, we’ve shared a simple option for a mushroom sauce, using a white sauce base. You could, however, vary the taste profile of the casserole by adding other ingredients, such as umami-rich soy sauce or creamy parmesan for additional depth of flavour.
If preferred, you can switch the crispy onion topping for alternatives such as panko breadcrumbs or toasted nuts, depending on the final texture you’d like in your casserole.
Variations and vegetarian options
The recipe above is vegetarian and ideal for making over the festive season, for a tasty plant-based side dish for vegetarian guests. However, you can vary the recipe and add meat to the topping, such as crispy bacon or crumbled sausage.
Make-ahead, storage and reheating
A green bean casserole is an easy dish to make ahead of time when hosting friends and family. You can follow this recipe to assemble the casserole a day before eating and then let it rest in the fridge. Simply ensure you leave the crispy topping off the casserole until you’re ready to cook it.
Any leftover casserole can be stored covered in the fridge for up to three days. To reheat, it’s best to use the oven. Preheat the oven to 175ºC, cover the casserole with kitchen foil and let it fully warm through for 30 minutes.
