Description
A creamy and comforting Butter Bean Casserole featuring tender vegetables, seasoned butter beans, and a rich cheesy sauce topped with a crisp breadcrumb crust. Perfect for a hearty family dinner or potluck.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Beans
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup sliced carrots
- 1 cup onions, finely diced
- 3 stalks celery, chopped
- 3 (15 oz) cans butter (or lima) beans
Seasonings
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt (for sauce)
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
Topping
- 2 cups bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare dish: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Sauté vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced carrots, diced onions, and chopped celery. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until vegetables start to soften.
- Season and add beans: Season the sautéed vegetables with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder. Stir in the drained butter beans and cook for an additional 5 to 7 minutes until the veggies are tender.
- Make roux: Add 3 tablespoons butter to the pan and stir until melted. Sprinkle the flour evenly over the mixture, stirring constantly, and cook for 1 minute to eliminate the raw flour taste.
- Make sauce: Gradually add 1 1/2 cups milk while stirring continuously. Cook the mixture until it thickens into a creamy sauce.
- Add cheese to sauce: Stir in half of the grated parmesan cheese (1/2 cup) and 1 teaspoon salt into the sauce mixture until well combined.
- Transfer to baking dish: Pour the entire vegetable and cheese sauce mixture into the prepared 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading it evenly.
- Prepare topping: In a small bowl, combine the remaining parmesan cheese (1/2 cup), bread crumbs, and melted butter. Mix until the ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Add topping and bake: Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top of the casserole. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until the casserole is bubbling and the topping is golden brown.
- Serve: Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Serve warm and enjoy your comforting Butter Bean Casserole.
Notes
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend and use gluten-free bread crumbs.
- You can add herbs like thyme or rosemary for extra flavor.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, cook it a bit longer until desired consistency is reached before adding to the baking dish.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Use fresh parmesan cheese for best flavor rather than pre-grated for topping and sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
