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Skillet Green Bean Casserole

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Skillet Green Bean Casserole is a sure-fire way to wow your guests for the holidays. Step up your game from the classic casserole by using all fresh ingredients, and making the mushroom sauce.

This post and recipe card updated September 29, 2019
overhead shot of finished green bean casserole on a wooden board

Thanksgiving is about family, traditions, and food. Growing up, we went to a family friend’s home every year, for a big celebration. As I’ve gotten older it’s gotten much more low-key for me.

But even the years when I just relax at home, it’s still all about food. It’s always about the food. When I cook for myself I’ll do Roasted Cornish Game Hen, plus of course Baked Homemade Mac and Cheese.

One Thanksgiving dish I never liked was Green Bean Casserole. I could eat fresh green beans by the pound, but the traditional casserole uses canned beans, and they get mushy. I don’t like mushy. So I decided to try my hand at on a delicious twist with Skillet Green Bean Casserole

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS
  • The homemade mushroom sauce has incredible flavor
  • It’s just as easy as the traditional casserole, and it is easy to adjust the portions as needed
  • The beans don’t get mushy
close up shot of finished skillet green bean casserole

Oh. My. Goodness. Fresh ingredients take this Skillet Green Bean Casserole to amazing heights. Yes, it’s a more labor-intensive process, but it’s worth it.

I recommend a Cast Iron Skillet for Skillet Green Bean Casserole. It holds heat really well and goes from stovetop to oven.

ABOUT THE GREEN BEANS

Use fresh green beans! Yes, it’s extra work, but it only takes minutes to prep. You could also buy bagged fresh beans, as they’re already trimmed and sliced.

Blanching fresh beans is critical, or the beans won’t cook enough in the oven. It takes 8 minutes once the water boils, and the beans retain the vibrant green color.

I originally poured the beans into a colander and then into the ice bath. But that’s an extra step. I finally got smart and now use a Spider Strainer to scoop the beans out of the hot water and straight into the cold.

MUSHROOM SAUCE IS THE KEY TO SKILLET GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

The traditional casserole uses cream of mushroom soup. But you can make an easy, fabulous mushroom sauce from scratch in about 15 minutes. I got the idea from the mushroom sauce in my Biscuit Chicken Pot Pie

I use baby portobello mushrooms, but you can use your favorite variety.

All-purpose flour creates a base to help thicken the sauce.

I use Homemade Vegetable Broth. If you use store-bought broth, look for unsalted or low sodium

I use half & half, but heavy cream is an option for a richer sauce.

Worcestershire Sauce, fresh-cracked black pepper, and sea salt round out the seasonings

close up shot of finished Skillet Green Bean Casserole
ONION RINGS ON TOP OF SKILLET GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

It’s not officially Skillet Green Bean Casserole until you add fried onions on top! And since I made everything else from scratch, I use Crispy Fried Onion Straws for the crowning glory.

NOTE: I make a few small adjustments to the onion straws for this recipe, and they are included below and in the recipe card

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Slice the onions 1/4″ thick with a mandolin, and soak in buttermilk for 20 minutes. Drain onions and set aside.

While onions soak, add flour and seasonings to a large plate for a breading station. Mix together and set aside.

Wash beans, trim ends, and cut beans into 2-3 pieces. Add beans to a pot of boiling, salted water for 8 minutes. Drain beans into a colander and immediately transfer to an ice bath to stop the cooking.

While beans blanch, bread the onions and set aside.

close up shot of seasoned onions on a white plate

Melt butter over medium heat in a cast-iron skillet. Add mushrooms, salt, and pepper and saute for 5 minutes. Add roasted garlic and combine. Next, add flour and stir

overhead process shots: 3 stages of mushroom preparation

While mushrooms saute, add 1/4″ oil to another skillet. Working in batches, fry onions until golden brown. Immediately transfer to paper towels

close up shot of finished fried onion straws

Add broth and Worcestershire sauce to the mushrooms and stir until the liquid thickens slightly. Slowly add half and half, stir, and allow the sauce to thicken well. Add 1/4 of the onion straws to the mixture and combine

overhead process shots: 3 stages of mushroom preparation

Add the beans to the mushroom sauce and mix well. Top with remaining onion straws and bake for 10-12 minutes, until bubbly.

overhead shot of finished green bean casserole on a wooden board
MAKE-AHEAD OPTIONS FOR SKILLET GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

Prep the beans and sauce up to 8 hours ahead.

  • Make the mushroom sauce in the skillet, cover with aluminum foil, and store in the fridge.
  • Blanch the beans and store in a separate container in the fridge
  • Remove the skillet from the fridge 30-45 minutes before baking to return to room temperature
  • Stir the sauce, add the beans, and mix well to combine

I don’t recommend making the fried onions ahead of time, as they won’t crisp back up in the oven. If you won’t have time to make the onion straws just before baking, this would be the time to use Crispy Fried Onions.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I have to use fresh green beans? I highly recommend it, but you could substitute frozen.

Can I use low fat, skim or nut milk for the mushroom sauce? I don’t recommend it, because you won’t get the same richness or consistency.

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Skillet Green Bean Casserole - Karyl's Kulinary Krusade

Skillet Green Bean Casserole

Yield: 8
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Skillet Green Bean Casserole is a sure-fire way to wow your guests for the holidays. Step up your game from the classic casserole by using all fresh ingredients, and making the mushroom sauce. It’s well worth the extra work, and you won’t regret it!

Ingredients

GREEN BEANS & MUSHROOM SAUCE

  • 1 pound fresh green beans
  • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 6 ounces baby portobello or white button mushrooms, sliced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh-cracked black pepper
  • 3 teaspoons sea salt
  • 4 cloves garlic, raw or roasted, minced
  • 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup vegetable or chicken broth, low sodium
  • 1 cup half & half or heavy cream
  • 2 teaspoons Worchestershire sauce

ONION STRAWS

  • 1/2 cup yellow onion
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Canola oil, for frying

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees

GREEN BEANS

  1. Trim the ends off of green beans. Slice beans into 2-3 pieces, depending on size. I cut mine at an angle
  2. Prepare an ice bath. Add cold water and ice cubes to a large bowl. Set aside. 
  3. Bring a pot of water to a boil, and add 2 teaspoons salt. Add green beans and blanch for 8 minutes.
  4. Use a spider strainer to transfer the green beans directly into the ice bath to stop the beans from cooking. After 5 minutes, drain the beans into a colander and set aside

MUSHROOM SAUCE

  1. Melt butter over medium heat in a cast iron skillet. Add mushrooms, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and salt. Saute for 5 minutes, until soft. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  2. Sprinkle in flour, and stir to combine
  3. Slowly add broth and Worchestershire sauce, stirring well for 2 minutes until broth thickens slightly. Slowly add half & half, stirring well for 1-2 minutes. The sauce will continue to slightly thicken. Cook for 3-4 minutes, until it reaches desired consistency
  4. Add 1/4 of onion straws to sauce mixture, and combine well. Add beans, and mix well. Top with remaining onion straws. 
  5. Bake Skillet Green Beans for 10-12 minutes, until bubbly. Remove from oven, and allow to rest for a couple of minutes before serving

ONION STRAWS

  1. Slice onion into 1/4" slices using a mandolin. Separate onion pieces and place into a large bowl. Add buttermilk and rest in the fridge for 20 minutes. Drain well. 
  2. Add flour, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, and chili powder into a plate and mix well to combine
  3. Using tongs or a fork, transfer onions in batches into the flour mixture. Toss well to coat the onions. Tap off excess flour and transfer to a clean plate
  4. Add oil to a large fry pan, and heat. You only need about 1/4" depth of oil, since onions are very thin. Test the oil with a small piece of onion. When onion immediately begins to bubble and raises to the surface, the oil is hot enough
  5. Add onions in batches to fry pan. Don't overcrowd the pan, or the onions won't cook properly
  6. Watch carefully, as onions will only take about 2 minutes to cook. Remove onions as they finish, and lay on paper towels to drain

Notes

Blanching fresh beans is critical, or the beans won’t cook enough in the oven

Use a spider strainer to transfer the beans from the hot water to the ice bath. It's the easiest and cleanest method I've found.

Make-Ahead Options

Prep the beans and sauce up to 8 hours ahead.

  • Make the mushroom sauce in the skillet, cover with aluminum foil, and store in the fridge.
  • Blanch the beans and store in a separate container in the fridge
  • Remove the skillet from the fridge 30-45 minutes before baking to return to room temperature
  • Stir the sauce, add the beans, and mix well to combine

I don’t recommend making the fried onions ahead of time, as they will get gummy and they won’t crisp back up in the oven. If you won’t have time to make the onion straws just before baking, this would be the time to use crispy fried onions. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I have to use fresh green beans? I highly recommend it, but you could substitute frozen.

Can I use low fat, skim or nut milk for the mushroom sauce? I don’t recommend it, because you won’t get the same richness or consistency.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 8 Servings
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 155Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 1036mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 5g

Nutrient values are estimates only. Variations may occur due to product availability and food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients, etc

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Jamie

Sunday 19th of November 2023

Totally love this dish already! It got an amazing twist on it! The crispy and chewy stuff will make you want more! Looks incredibly delicious and very yummy too!

Amy Liu Dong

Sunday 19th of November 2023

Bean casserole just hits different! It’s so delicious and convenient to make!

Des

Monday 26th of November 2018

I have never tried to make this in a skillet, but after reading your blog I might have to give this a whirl. Possibly never go back to the pan ;)

Karyl

Saturday 8th of December 2018

Lol! It really is very easy in the skillet, Des, and I hope you get the chance to try it

Jacque Hastert

Monday 26th of November 2018

What a delicious traditional side dish. Perfect for the holidays and comes together quickly and easily.

Jagruti Dhanecha

Monday 26th of November 2018

Such a heartwarming green bean casserole, a perfect recipe to brighten up a dinner table!

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