Alton Brown Green Bean Casserole

This delicious and creamy Green Bean Casserole by Alton Brown is a classic comfort dish with a homemade twist. Crispy golden onions, tender green beans, and a rich, velvety mushroom sauce come together in this easy recipe. Perfect for holiday dinners or a cozy side dish, you can make it with simple pantry ingredients for a truly satisfying meal!

Recipe Ingredients:

For the topping:

• 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons panko bread crumbs
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• Nonstick cooking spray

For beans and sauce:

• 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
• 1 pound fresh green beans, rinsed, trimmed and halved
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 12 ounces mushrooms, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup half-and-half

How To Make Green Bean Casserole?

1. Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 245°C / 475°F.
2. Prepare the crispy onion topping: In a large mixing bowl, toss the onions with the flour, panko, and salt until evenly coated. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray, spread the onions evenly, and bake on the middle rack for about 30 minutes, tossing 2–3 times during baking. Once golden brown, remove from the oven and set aside. Reduce the oven temperature to 200°C / 400°F.
3. Blanch the green beans: In a large 8-quart saucepan, bring 4 liters / 1 gallon of water and 2 tbsp salt to a boil. Add the green beans and blanch for 5 minutes. Drain and immediately transfer to a large bowl of ice water to stop cooking. Drain again and set aside.
4. Cook the mushrooms: Melt the butter in a large 30cm / 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, 1 tsp salt, and black pepper, cooking for 4–5 minutes until the mushrooms release moisture.
5. Add garlic and seasoning: Stir in the minced garlic and nutmeg, cooking for another 1–2 minutes.
6. Thicken the sauce: Sprinkle the flour over the mixture, stirring to combine, and cook for 1 minute. Pour in the broth, simmer for 1 minute, then reduce heat to medium-low and add the half-and-half. Stir occasionally and cook until the mixture thickens, about 6–8 minutes.
7. Assemble the casserole: Remove from heat and mix in ¼ of the crispy onions along with all of the green beans.
8. Bake the casserole: Sprinkle the remaining crispy onions on top, then bake for 15 minutes or until bubbly.
9. Serve: Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

Recipe Tips:

• Get the onions crispy: To ensure crispy onions, spread them evenly on the baking sheet and toss them a few times while baking. If they start browning too quickly, lower the oven temperature slightly.
• Blanch the green beans right: Blanching in boiling salted water for exactly 5 minutes keeps them bright green and tender-crisp. Immediately transfer them to ice water to stop cooking and lock in color.
• Use fresh mushrooms for the best flavor: Fresh mushrooms release moisture and add depth to the sauce. Avoid canned mushrooms, as they won’t give the same rich, earthy taste.
• Don’t skip the flour in the sauce: The flour helps thicken the mushroom sauce, giving it a creamy texture. Cook it for about a minute before adding liquid to remove the raw taste.
• Let it rest before serving: After baking, let the casserole sit for 5 minutes. This helps the sauce thicken slightly so it isn’t runny when you serve it.

How To Store & Reheat Leftovers?

• Refrigerate: Let the Green Bean Casserole cool to room temperature before storing. Transfer it to an airtight container or cover the baking dish tightly with foil or plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Freeze: Green Bean Casserole is not recommended for freezing because the creamy sauce can separate, and the crispy onions will become soggy. If you must freeze it, store it without the crispy topping in an airtight container for up to 2 months
• Reheat: Heat a pan over medium-low heat and add a small amount of butter or broth. Stir occasionally and cook for 5–7 minutes until warmed through. This method works best if you mix the topping into the casserole.

Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 142
• Total Fat: 8g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Cholesterol: 23mg
• Sodium: 583mg
• Potassium: 173mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 12g
• Dietary Fiber: 2g
• Sugars: 4g
• Protein: 4g

Check out More Recipes:

• Alton Brown Pot O’Greens
• Hominy Casserole​
• Green Bean Casserole
• Squash Casserole