This Bacon and Green Bean Casserole was created to give a classic holiday side dish a little extra flavor with smoky bacon, sautéed mushrooms, garlic, and creamy Monterey Jack Cheese. This takes traditional green bean casserole to a whole new level!
My family loves how the fresh green beans and creamy, cheesy sauce pair with the savory bacon. This is the kind of tried-and-true, fool proof recipe you can count on year after year. It's an easy, crowd-pleasing side dish that fits right in at Thanksgiving, Christmas dinner, or any family gathering.
If you love this comforting casserole, be sure to try our corn casserole and creamy baked mac n cheese.
Reader Review: "This casserole taste just like my mama made it! I am so happy I found this recipe for my Thanksgiving dinner." - Stacy
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Bacon makes everything better! Cooked bacon adds a smoky, savory flavor that takes this dish to the next level.
- Fresh Ingredients: Fresh green beans, mushrooms, onion and garlic give this casserole wonderful flavor and texture.
- A holiday favorite: This casserole is right at home on your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner table!
Ingredients
- Bacon: Cooked and diced, adding smoky flavor throughout the casserole.
- Bacon Grease: Reserved from cooking the bacon to sauté the vegetables.
- Onion: Diced onion adds a little sweetness and savory depth.
- Mushrooms: To add an earthy flavor!
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic adds extra flavor.
- Cream of Mushroom Soup: The classic to create a rich, creamy base for the casserole.
- Milk: To help thin the sauce to the perfect consistency.
- Monterey Jack Cheese: Melts into the sauce for a creamy, cheesy finish.
- Salt and Pepper: Season to taste
- Green Beans: Fresh green beans are blanched before being mixed into the casserole.
- French's Fried Onions: Add that classic, crispy, crunchy topping that everyone loves!
Tim's Tip: Save the bacon grease after cooking the bacon! Sautéing the onions and mushrooms in the drippings will add flavor you cant get from oil or butter alone.
How to Make Green Bean Casserole with Bacon
1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Blanch Fresh Green Beans: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the fresh green beans and cook for 3-4 minutes, until they are bright green and slightly tender. Drain well and set aside.
3. Sauté the Vegetables: In a large skillet over medium-low heat, cook the diced onions in the bacon grease for about 5 minutes or until softened. Add the mushrooms and cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until they are golden brown. Stir in the garlic, salt and pepper and cook for an additional minute.
4. Make the creamy Sauce: Stir in the mushroom soup and cooked, diced bacon to the vegetable mixture. Turn off the heat and stir in the milk and cheese until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
5. Combine the Casserole: Fold the blanched green beans into the creamy bacon mixture, stirring gently until everything is evenly coated. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish and spread it into an even layer. Top evenly with French's fried onions.
6. Bake the casserole: Bake at 350°F uncovered for 30 minutes or until the casserole is hot and bubbling. Fried onions should be crispy.
7. Serve and Enjoy: Let the casserole rest for a few minutes before serving!
Made this recipe? Let me know!
Expert Tips
- Cook the Bacon in Oven: Baking bacon is an easy way to get evenly cooked bacon with less mess on the sotovetop. Let it cool slightly before dicing, and save 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease to sauté the vegetables.
- Don't skip blanching. A quick 3-4 minute blanch gives the fresh green beans a head start on cooking while helping them keep their bright green color.
- Drain the Green Beans Well. Excess water can thin out the creamy sauce. Drain the beans thoroughly after blanching before adding them to the casserole.
- Keep and Eye on the Topping. The French fried onions bake the full 30 minutes, so check that they are not browning too quickly in your oven. If they are browning too quickly, loosely cover the dish with foil. Personally, I love a crispy, golden-brown topping, so I keep an eye on it to get that perfect crunch.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use a smoked Cheese: Swap the Monterey Jack for a smoked Gouda or another smoked cheese to add an extra layer of smokey flavor in the casserole.
- Swap the Green Beans: Fresh green beans are my favorite for this casserole, but you can use canned green beans or frozen green beans if that is what you have on hand. Drain canned green beans well and thaw and drain frozen green beans before adding them to the sauce.
- Change the Cheese: Try sharp cheddar for a bolder, tangier flavor, or use Colby Jack for another creamy, melty option.
Storage
- Refrigerator: Allow leftover casserole to cool, then transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate within 2 hours. Enjoy within 3-4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat individual portions in the microwave until hot throughout. For larger portions, cover the casserole dish with foil and warm in a 350°F oven until hot throughout. The French fried onion topping may soften during storage, but reheating uncovered for the last few minutes can help bring back some of its crispiness.
FAQs
The mushrooms contribute to the savory flavor and texture, but you can omit them if preferred!
You can prepare the green bean mixture ahead and refrigerate it in a covered dish. For the best texture, add the French fried onions just before baking. The baking time may need adjusting if the casserole cold from the refrigerator.
Drain the blanched green beans thoroughly before combining them with the sauce. Cooking the mushrooms until golden also helps release excess moisture before the casserole goes in the oven.
What to Serve with Bacon and Green Bean Casserole
This hearty side dish pairs beautifully with classic comfort food and holiday favorites.
- Roasted Turkey
- Pulled Ham
- Prime Rib
- Other holiday sides like sweet potato casserole, make-ahead mashed potatoes and cornbread dressing.
More Green Bean Recipes
- Crispy Baked Green Beans
- Country Style Green Beans
- Kielbasa and Potato Dinner
- Crock Pot Green Bean Casserole
Made this recipe? Let me know!
Recipe
Bacon and Green Bean Casserole
Equipment
- 12 Inch Skillet
- Oven
Ingredients
- 6 Strips Cooked Bacon Diced
- 2 tablespoon Bacon Grease
- ½ Cup Yellow Onion Diced
- 1½ Cups Button Mushrooms Sliced
- 3 Cloves Garlic
- 2 Cans Cream of Mushroom Soup
- ¼ Cup Milk
- 1 Cup Monterey Jack Cheese Shredded
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 2 lbs Fresh Green Beans
- 1½ Cups French Fried Onions
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Blanch Fresh Green Beans: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the fresh green beans and cook for 3-4 minutes, until they are bright green and slightly tender. Drain well and set aside.
- Sauté the Vegetables: In a large skillet over medium-low heat, cook the diced onions in the bacon grease for about 5 minutes or until softened. Add the mushrooms and cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until they are golden brown. Stir in the garlic, salt and pepper and cook for an additional minute. 2 Tbsp Bacon Grease ½ Cup Yellow Onion 1½ Cups Button Mushrooms 3 Cloves Garlic ½ tsp Salt ½ tsp Pepper
- Make the creamy Sauce: Stir in the mushroom soup and cooked, diced bacon to the vegetable mixture. Turn off the heat and stir in the milk and cheese until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. 2 Cans Cream of Mushroom Soup 6 Strips Cooked Bacon ¼ Cup Milk 1 Cup Monterey Jack Cheese
- Combine the Casserole: Fold the blanched green beans into the creamy bacon mixture, stirring gently until everything is evenly coated. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish and spread it into an even layer. Top evenly with french fried onions. 2 lbs Fresh Green Beans 1½ Cups French Fried Onions
- Bake the casserole: Bake at 350°F uncovered for 30 minutes or until the casserole is hot and bubbling.
- Serve and Enjoy: Let the casserole rest for a few minutes before serving!
Video
Notes
- Cook the Bacon in Oven: Baking bacon is an easy way to get evenly cooked bacon with less mess on the sotovetop. Let it cool slightly before dicing, and save 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease to sauté the vegetables.
- Don't skip blanching. A quick 3-4 minute blanch gives the fresh green beans a head start on cooking while helping them keep their bright green color.
- Drain the Green Beans Well. Excess water can thin out the creamy sauce. Drain the beans thoroughly after blanching before adding them to the casserole.
- Keep and Eye on the Topping. The French fried onions bake the full 30 minutes, so check that they are not browning too quickly in your oven. If they are browning too quickly, loosely cover the dish with foil. Personally, I love a crispy, golden-brown topping, so I keep an eye on it to get that perfect crunch.
Storage
- Refrigerator: Allow leftover casserole to cool, then transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate within 2 hours. Enjoy within 3-4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat individual portions in the microwave until hot throughout. For larger portions, cover the casserole dish with foil and warm in a 350°F oven until hot throughout. The French fried onion topping may soften during storage, but reheating uncovered for the last few minutes can help bring back some of its crispiness.
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