Lightened up Green Bean Casserole with tender green beans, a homemade mushroom cream sauce and crunchy panko onion topping! No canned soup mix required!

Love casseroles as much as I do? Then give my Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe or my Broccoli Rice Casserole Recipe a try!

Green bean casserole in a white baking dish, topped with crispy fried onions.

This Green Bean Casserole is the perfect side dish to bring to any gathering. I took this casserole and made it healthier with all homemade ingredients. There is no cream of mushroom soup or french fried onions in this casserole.

Instead of using canned soup I opted for my own homemade mushroom cream sauce. It is the best part of this recipe! I saute mushrooms in butter and add flour to thicken the sauce along with milk, chicken stock and parmesan cheese.

To give this easy green bean casserole lots of crunch I top it with toasted panko breadcrumbs and diced onions for my homemade crispy onion topping. It is so much better than the canned version!

Green bean casserole topped with crispy fried onions in a white baking dish.

Fresh green beans are best in this recipe however I have tried it with frozen green beans in a pinch. If you are using frozen make sure to drain any excess moisture out of the beans before adding to the mushroom sauce.

Recipe Update November 2026

We originally shared this recipe back in 2018, and since then, we’ve made a little upgrade to the onion topping! Instead of our original crunchy onion and panko topping, we decided to make homemade crispy onion straws, just like French’s! They’re golden, crunchy, and take this casserole to the next level. Don’t worry, though! I’ve included instructions for both toppings so you can choose your favorite!

An assortment of ingredients for green bean casserole including a bag of green beans, flour, milk, broth, mushrooms, spices, onion, garlic, butter, and a wedge of cheese.

How to make (THE BEST!) Green Bean Casserole

  • Saute green beans: Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a large skillet. Add in green beans and sauté for 3-4 minutes. Set aside. (They will still be crunchy that is fine they will continue to cook in the oven.)
Fresh green beans cooking in a white pot on a stovetop for a green bean casserole.
  1. Make the crispy onion topping: Add 1/2 tablespoon of butter to the same skillet as the green beans. Add onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes or until slightly tender (they continue to cook in the oven). Set aside in a medium bowl. Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of butter to the same skillet. Add panko and cook until golden brown and toasted, 1-2 minutes. Remove from the pan and toss with the onions along with the parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Set aside.
A metal mesh strainer containing thin strands of dough for a green bean casserole sits over a bowl filled with flour.
A hand uses a slotted spoon to lift crispy fried onions for a green bean casserole from a speckled saucepan on a stovetop.
A pile of crispy fried shallots, a staple for green bean casserole, resting on a paper towel-lined baking sheet.
  1. Make the mushroom cream sauce: Heat butter in a medium sauce pan. Add mushrooms and saute for 3-4 minutes or until tender and golden brown. Add garlic and sauté for 1 additional minute. Whisk in flour and stir constantly for 1 minute. Slowly pour in chicken stock and milk. Allow the sauce to simmer stirring constantly until thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.
Sliced mushrooms sautéing in a white pot for a green bean casserole.
A wooden spoon rests in a pot of creamy green bean casserole mushroom soup.
  1. Assemble: Toss the green bean mixture in the mushroom sauce and spread in a 9 x 13 baking dish. Top with the crispy onion panko topping.
Green beans and sliced mushrooms in a creamy sauce for a green bean casserole, served in a cooking pot with a wooden spoon.
Green bean casserole with sliced mushrooms in a white rectangular baking dish.
  1. Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and warmed through. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Can this green bean casserole recipe be made ahead?

Yes! Along with my Creamy Mashed Potatoes this is one of my make ahead thanksgiving recipes to make! Simply make all of the components as directed and assemble. Cover and place in the refrigerator overnight. When you are ready to eat bake in a 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes!

What to serve with Green Bean Casserole

A white plate served with mushroom and fried onion green bean casserole.

More easy side dish recipes to try!

Save this Recipe

Enter your email to get it straight in your inbox! Plus, receive new recipes weekly!

    Green bean casserole in a white baking dish, topped with crispy fried onions.
    Recipe

    Green Bean Casserole

    5 from 2 votes
    Lightened up Green Bean Casserole with a homemade mushroom cream sauce and crunchy onion straws!
    Author: Kelley Simmons
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Serves 6
    Rate Print

    Ingredients 

    Green Bean Casserole

    • 2 lbs fresh green beans

    Homemade Crispy Onion Straws

    • 1 medium onion, sliced super thin (we recommend a mandoline)
    • 2 cups peanut oil
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • 1/4 tsp pepper
    • 1/4 tsp mustard powder
    • 1/4 tsp paprika
    • 1 cup all purpose flour

    Mushroom Cream Sauce

    • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
    • 8 ounces mushrooms, thinly sliced
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
    • 2 ounces sherry
    • 3/4 cup chicken stock
    • 1 cup milk
    • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
    • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions

    Blanch Green Beans

    • Bring 1 cup of water to a boil in a large pot. Add the green beans, cover with a lid, and steam for 2 minutes. Drain in a colander and immediately rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.

    Crispy Onion Topping

    • Thinly slice the onion using a mandoline, making sure to wear a cut-resistant glove for safety. Place the sliced onions on paper towels and gently squeeze to remove excess moisture.
      In a shallow bowl, whisk together the flour and seasonings.
    • Heat 2 cups of oil in a medium saucepan to 350°F. Toss the onions in the seasoned flour until evenly coated, then transfer to a mesh strainer and shake off any excess flour.
    • Fry the onions in batches for 60–90 seconds, or until lightly golden brown and crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon or spider strainer and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Immediately sprinkle with salt while still hot.

    Mushroom Cream Sauce

    • In the same pot used to cook the green beans, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden brown.
    • Add the garlic and sauté for an additional minute, until fragrant. Sprinkle in the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly to remove the raw flour taste.
    • Deglaze the pan with sherry and chicken stock. Whisk in milk and bring to a boil.
    • Remove from heat and add in parmesan cheese.

    Assembly

    • Toss the green beans in the mushroom sauce and spread in a 9 x 13 baking dish.
    • Bake for 15-20 minutes or until warm and bubbly.
      Sprinkle crispy onion straws on top right before serving.
      Serve immediately and enjoy!

    Notes

    Original Recipe for Crispy Panko Onion Topping

    Crispy Onion Topping

    • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
    • 1 medium onion, diced
    • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
    • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
    • 1/8 tsp salt
    • 1/8 tsp pepper
    Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the same skillet as the green beans. Add onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes or until slightly tender (they continue to cook in the oven). Set aside in a medium bowl.
     
    Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of butter to the same skillet. Add panko and cook until golden brown and toasted, 1-2 minutes. Remove from the pan and toss with the onions along with the parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Set aside.

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 226kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 10gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 340mgPotassium: 399mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 860IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 237mgIron: 2mg
    Green bean casserole in a white baking dish, topped with crispy fried onions.

    Did You Make This?

    I’d love to hear your feedback! Leave a review and make sure to share your pictures on social media! Don’t forget to follow @thechefsavvy.

    Leave a Review Follow Chef Savvy