Cheddar Green Bean Casserole Recipe

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 11/17/22
Southern green bean casserole

​The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 35 mins
Total: 50 mins
Servings: 8 servings

The green bean casserole has long been a favorite comfort food and it is an essential Thanksgiving side dish. The original recipe was introduced in the mid-1950s by the Campbell Soup Company, and the original recipe card can be found in the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio.

This is a delicious green bean casserole, perfect for a holiday feast or Sunday family dinner. The homemade cheddar cheese sauce with sour cream and mushrooms is an excellent replacement for the canned condensed soup and it is as creamy and delicious as the classic Campbell's recipe. If you prefer the soup version, take a look at this classic holiday green bean casserole.

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Ingredients

  • 4 cups cooked green beans

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced

  • 1/4 cup finely chopped onion

  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 1/2 cups milk

  • 6 to 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese

  • 2 tablespoons sour cream

  • 1 cup soft breadcrumbs tossed with 2 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter, optional

  • Parmesan cheese, optional

  • 1 to 1 1/2 cups store-bought French fried onions, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Southern green bean casserole ingredients
    ​The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  2. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish.

    Grease dish
    ​The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  3. In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add mushrooms and onion; saute, stirring, until mushrooms are browned and onions are tender.

    Melt butter
    ​The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  4. Stir in flour, salt, and pepper, stirring until flour is mixed into the fat. Gradually stir in the milk. Continue cooking, stirring, until slightly thickened.

    Stir in flour
    ​The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  5. Add the cheddar cheese, sour cream, and drained green beans to the thickened sauce and then spoon into the prepared baking dish.

    Add cheddar cheese
    ​The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  6. If desired, sprinkle with a few tablespoons of shredded or grated Parmesan cheese.

    Sprinkle with cheese
    ​The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  7. Sprinkle the buttered breadcrumbs over the top of the casserole or top with French fried onions, if using.

    Sprinkle onions
    ​The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  8. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until bubbly and browned.

    Bake
    ​The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  9. If you like, top the casserole with more buttered breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese or use the traditional French fried onions. 

    Serve
    ​The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  10. Serve and enjoy!

Tip

  • Use about 1 1/2 pounds of fresh or frozen green beans or about three 15-ounce cans, drained.

Recipe Variations

  • Add 1 small can (drained) of sliced water chestnuts to the casserole for some extra crunch.
  • Add a few tablespoons of crumbled bacon to the sauce mixture or sprinkle it over the top of the casserole before adding the bread crumbs or fried onions.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
222 Calories
16g Fat
12g Carbs
10g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 222
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g 20%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Cholesterol 45mg 15%
Sodium 474mg 21%
Total Carbohydrate 12g 4%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 10g
Vitamin C 8mg 38%
Calcium 292mg 22%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 298mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)