Description
A classic and comforting Ultimate Green Bean Casserole featuring crispy bacon, sautéed mushrooms and onions, creamy mushroom soup, melted Monterey Jack cheese, and topped with crunchy French fried onions baked to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 6 strips bacon
- 1/2 yellow onion (finely diced)
- 1 1/2 cups chopped button mushrooms
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 (10.5-ounce) cans cream of mushroom soup
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- 4 (14.5-ounce) cans cut green beans (drained)
- 1 1/2 cups French fried onions
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly spray a 9X13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook Bacon and Onions: In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium-low heat until crisp. Remove bacon strips and drain on paper towels, then crumble. Leave about 2 tablespoons of bacon grease in the pan, discard the rest. Return pan to medium heat and add diced onions; cook, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes until onions become translucent.
- Sauté Mushrooms and Garlic: Add chopped mushrooms to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes until golden brown. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Combine Soup Mixture: Stir in the undiluted cream of mushroom soup. Add the crumbled bacon back into the skillet and mix well. Then stir in milk and shredded Monterey Jack cheese until the cheese has melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Mix Green Beans: Fold in the drained green beans gently until evenly combined with the creamy mixture.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the combined mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top evenly with French fried onions. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until the casserole is hot, bubbly, and the topping is golden.
Notes
- For a lower-fat version, use turkey bacon and reduced-fat cheese.
- Fresh green beans can be used instead of canned; blanch them briefly before mixing.
- You can substitute Monterey Jack cheese with cheddar for a sharper flavor.
- If you prefer a less creamy casserole, reduce the amount of soup or milk slightly.
- Make sure to drain canned green beans well to avoid a watery casserole.
- Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
