Million Dollar Green Bean Casserole Is Our Best Version of the Beloved Dish

Million Dollar Green Bean Casserole Is Our Best Version of the Beloved Dish

from bhg.com
81 min
8 servings

There's green bean casserole, and then there's million dollar green bean casserole. Crispy bacon, a garlicky cheese sauce, and crispy onions help set this green bean casserole recipe apart from the rest.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds haricots verts or thin green beans, trimmed and cut in 2-inch lengths
  • 6 slices bacon
  • 9 cups sliced stemmed fresh shiitake mushrooms and/or sliced fresh cremini or button mushrooms (1 1/2 lb.)
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 3/4 cups half-and-half
  • 1 5.2-ounce pkg. semisoft cheese with garlic and fine herbs, broken into pieces
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 1 cup canned French-fried onions

Directions

  1. 1

    Cook the Green Beans Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 2-qt. baking dish. In a large skillet cook beans in enough lightly salted boiling water to cover 3 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain. Transfer beans to a large bowl of ice water to stop cooking; drain. Return beans to bowl.

  2. 2

    Cook Bacon In the same skillet cook bacon 8 minutes over medium or until crisp. Using tongs, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain, reserving drippings. Finely crumble or chop bacon.

  3. 3

    Cook Mushrooms Meanwhile, add mushrooms, garlic, and thyme to drippings in skillet; cook and stir 5 minutes or until mushrooms are tender and liquid has evaporated.

  4. 4

    Mix Ingredients Stir in bacon, the 1/2 tsp. salt, and the 1/2 tsp. pepper. Add mushroom mixture to beans, tossing gently to combine.

  5. 5

    Make Roux For sauce, in the skillet melt butter over medium. Stir in flour; cook and stir 1 minute.

  6. 6

    Make Sauce Add half-and-half all at once. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Whisk in cheese, the 1/8 tsp. salt, and the 1/8 tsp. pepper. Remove from heat; stir in wine.

  7. 7

    Assemble Pour sauce over green bean mixture, stirring gently just until combined. Transfer green bean mixture to the prepared baking dish.

  8. 8

    Bake and Serve Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly and beans are tender. Top with the French-fried onions (if using). Bake 5 minutes more to heat through. Let stand 10 minutes.