How to make green bean casserole with canned beans

This fresh green bean casserole with air fried onions, homemade sauce and parmesan cheese is a flavorful alternative to the traditional version. It has just enough cream to leave room for the green beans and mushrooms to shine in this dish.

Why you'll love this recipe

You can make your own air fried onions to go on top or use store bought.
Both kids and adults will love these green beans.
This green bean casserole is so flavorful and delicious.
It uses minimal ingredients and pantry staples.

What air fryer do you use?

What vegetables are used in this dish?

This green bean casserole has green beans, onions and mushrooms.

Can you make this diary free and gluten free?

To make this dairy free use a dairy free alternative to half and half like full fat canned coconut milk and a dairy free parmesan cheese, you could also omit the cheese. To make this green bean casserole gluten free simply use a gluten free flour as tapioca flour is already gluten free.

I completely respect and understand the desire to keep traditions going and continue to make the traditional version of green bean casserole with canned beans and canned cream soup. However, this fresh and delicious alternative might is a great option if you’re wanting a change at the holidays.

Can I use store bought crispy onions?

Definitely! Making your own crispy onions is a big time consuming. It is not hard but does take time to cook. You can use store bought French’s Crispy onions in place of air fried. Use some on the mixture and add some on top similar to directed below in the green bean casserole recipe card.

Can I make it ahead of time?

If you make this ahead of time do note your onions will start to become soggy as they sit. I would suggest making this without the top onions. Reheat in the oven until warm and fresh onions on top of the green bean casserole before serving.

Ingredients and Substitutes:

These are the main ingredients and substitutions. See recipe card below for full ingredients list and instructions for this green bean casserole recipe.

Green Beans: this recipe uses one pound of trimmed fresh green beans. You can also use the ready store bag of fresh trimmed beans.

Onions: for this recipe you will air fry one full yellow onion cut into thin slices. You can substitute with French’s Fried Onions.

Flour and Panko: to make your air fryer onions crispy we are coating them in a mixture of all-purpose flour and tapioca flour. Half the green beans will also be coating with a bit of panko bread crumbs to really add some extra crunch on top.

Cajun Seasoning: season the onions with cajun seasoning to give them some flavor. You can use store bought seasoning of make the seasoning from the Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta with Sausage recipe.

Parmesan Cheese: the parmesan cheese adds so much flavor to this dish and just the smallest amount of cheesiness throughout.

Fat Free Half and Half: to soak your onions before breading and to make your homemade sauce you will need to use half and half. I am using fat free to cut down on the fat but you could use full fat or heavy cream. To make this dairy free use a full fat canned coconut milk.

Chicken Broth: the sauce requires some broth. If you have turkey stock that would be a great alternative.

Worcestershire Sauce: to add a bit of savory and salty flavor to the green bean casserole sauce this sauce uses a bit of worcestershire sauce.

How to make this green bean casserole:

Air Fryer Onions

Slice one full yellow onion into thin slices. Place them in a bowl with 1 cup of fat free half and half and let them sit while you prep your air fryer and trim your beans (approximately 5-10 minutes). Note: you will have excess half and half once you remove the onions, this has been considered in the nutrition facts. Transfer the onions to a ziplock bag pre loaded with flour, tapioca flour and cajun seasoning. Shake until completely covered.

Remove half the onions and place them in the air fryer pan. Air fry at 370 degrees Fahrenheit for 8-10 minutes until crispy. Half way through cooking open the air fryer to give a good shake and separate the onions, be careful not to burn. Set aside for later. This half will go in the casserole mixture.

Add 1/4 cup of panko breadcrumbs to the remaining half of the onions and shake. Air fry at 370 degrees Fahrenheit for 8-10 minutes until crispy. Half way through cooking open the air fryer to give a good shake and separate the onions. Set aside for later. This half will go on top of the green bean casserole.

Blanch the green beans

Bring a large pan of water to a rolling boil over high heat and add the green beans. Cook for 5 minutes until bright green, drain and transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.

Make the sauce

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and make your sauce. Add 2 tbsp. butter to the same pan you cooked the green beans over medium heat. Once melted add the minced garlic and mushrooms. Cook over medium to medium high for 5 minutes until the mushrooms are down brown and soft.

Once soft add 2 tbsp. tapioca flour and mix to fully coat the mushrooms. The tapioca is going to help thicken your sauce. Add chicken broth, half and half, worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Simmer the sauce until it thicken approximately 5-8 minutes stirring often so it does not burn.

Combine casserole ingredients

Using a slotted spoon remove the green beans from the ice bath and add to the homemade sauce. Add the first batch of onions and stir everything to fully combine evenly throughout.

Bake

Add the green bean mixture to a 9 x 13 baking dish, stop with parmesan cheese and bake uncovered for 10 minutes. Remove, add the second batch of onions and cook for an additional 10 minutes uncovered. The casserole is done when the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is melted.

Serve

What to serve with this recipe?

This green bean casserole is perfect for the any holiday dinner! Serve it at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Friendsgiving, Easter, New Years Eve dinner, you name it and it works!

Serve with turkey, Greek Yogurt Mashed Potatoes, salad, Holiday Stuffing or just make it during the week to go with chicken or steak.

What is a serving size for this casserole?

Nutrition facts are a estimate. As always, for the most accurate measurement per serving weigh your final dish and divide by the serving amount.

This green bean casserole makes approximately 8 servings. The size is approximately 145 grams or 1 cup.

If you like this recipe be sure to check out some of our other easy recipes!

Holiday Stuffing
Greek Yogurt Mashed Potatoes
Big Mac Casserole
Pumpkin French Toast Casserole
Dairy Free Egg Casserole

MyFitnessPal

“ohsnapmacros – Green Bean Casserole”

Green Bean Casserole

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Servings 8 servings

Calories 159 kcal

Ingredients

Crispy Air Fried Onions

1 yellow onion sliced thin
1 cup fat free half and half
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tbsp. tapioca flour
1 tsp. cajun seasoning

Green Bean Casserole

1 lbs. fresh green beans trimmed
2 tbsp. butter
8 oz. baby bella mushrooms sliced
2 garlic cloves minced
2 tbsp. tapioca flour
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup fat free half and half
1 tsp. worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. salt add more to taste
fresh cracked pepper
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded 56g

Instructions

Crispy Air Fried Onions

Preheat your air fryer.
Slice one full yellow onion into thin slices. Place them in a bowl with 1 cup of fat free half and half and let them sit while you prep your air fryer and trim your beans (approximately 5-10 minutes). Transfer the onions to a zip lock bag pre loaded with flour, tapioca flour and cajun seasoning. Shake until completely covered.
Remove half the onions and place them in the air fryer pan. Air fry at 370 degrees Fahrenheit for 8-10 minutes until crispy. Half way through cooking open the air fryer to give a good shake and separate the onions, be careful not to burn. Set aside for later. This half will go in the casserole mixture.
Add 1/4 cup of panko breadcrumbs to the remaining half of the onions and shake. Air fry at 370 degrees Fahrenheit for 8-10 minutes until crispy. Half way through cooking open the air fryer to give a good shake and separate the onions. Set aside for later. This half will go on top of the casserole.

Green Bean Casserole

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Bring a large pan of water to a rolling boil over high heat and add the green beans. Cook for 5 minutes until bright green, drain and transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.
For the sauce, add 2 tbsp. butter to the same pan you cooked the green beans over medium heat. Once melted add the minced garlic and mushrooms. Cook over medium to medium high for 5 minutes until the mushrooms are down brown and soft.
Once soft and browned add 2 tbsp. tapioca flour and mix to fully coat the mushrooms. The tapioca is going to help thicken your sauce. Add chicken broth, half and half, worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Simmer the sauce until it thicken approximately 5-8 minutes stirring often so it does not burn.
Using a slotted spoon remove the green beans from the ice bath and add to the homemade sauce. Add the first batch of onions and stir everything to fully combine evenly throughout.
Add the green bean mixture to a 9 x 13 baking dish, stop with parmesan cheese and bake uncovered for 10 minutes. Remove, add the second batch of onions and cook for an additional 10 minutes uncovered. The casserole is done when the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is melted.
Remove from the oven and serve immediately for the crunchiest onions.

Notes

Onions: will have excess half and half once you remove the onions after soaking, this has been considered in the nutrition facts.

All nutrition facts are an estimate.

Nutrition

Serving: 145gCalories: 159kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 8gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 825mgPotassium: 109mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2g

Is green bean casserole better with canned or fresh?

I would stick to fresh green beans with this recipe! Canned green beans tend to be mushy and tasteless once baked into the casserole, but using fresh beans cooked in chicken broth makes them perfectly crisp-tender and full of flavor! I just grab a few big handfuls of beans, chop off the ends, and cut them in half.

How do you make canned green beans taste good?

Pour the green beans and the reserved half of the canning liquid into a skillet. Add butter, onion powder, salt and pepper. Simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until almost all of the cooking liquid has evaporated. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.

Are you supposed to cover green bean casserole when baking?

Bake in the preheated oven, uncovered, until hot and bubbly in the center, about 30 to 40 minutes.

What can I put in canned green beans for flavor?

Bacon Grease – a little bacon grease adds additional flavor to canned green beans and is a staple in savory Southern dishes. Garlic – adds flavor to the beans and broth. Seasonings – salt, pepper and a little onion powder are my go to for green beans.