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Healthy Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Onion Topping Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 81 reviews

This Healthy Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Onions is a lighter twist on the classic Thanksgiving side dish. Featuring fresh green beans blanched to perfection and enveloped in a creamy mushroom sauce, it is topped with crunchy, golden-brown crispy onions made from scratch with parmesan and panko for extra texture and flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

Crispy Onion Topping

  • 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Green Beans and Sauce

  • 24 oz fresh green beans, trimmed and cut in half
  • 1 Tbsp salt (for blanching)
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1 Tbsp garlic, minced
  • 4 oz mushrooms, diced small
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups half and half
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt (for sauce)
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves

Instructions

  1. Prepare Crispy Onions: Thinly slice the yellow onions. Toss them with olive oil, then dredge in the mixture of flour, panko breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and salt. Spread the coated onions in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 375°F (190°C) until golden and crispy, about 15-20 minutes, stirring halfway through for even cooking.
  2. Blanch Green Beans: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil (using 1 Tbsp salt). Add the trimmed and halved green beans and blanch for 3-4 minutes until bright green and just tender. Drain and immediately plunge into ice water to stop cooking and maintain color. Drain again and set aside.
  3. Make Mushroom Sauce: In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and diced mushrooms, cooking until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour to make a roux, cooking for 1-2 minutes while stirring continuously to eliminate raw flour taste.
  4. Add Liquids and Seasonings: Gradually whisk in the half and half and chicken broth to the roux, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Cook until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 5-7 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, onion powder, and fresh thyme leaves.
  5. Combine Green Beans with Sauce: Add the blanched green beans to the mushroom sauce, stirring gently to coat the beans evenly.
  6. Assemble and Bake Casserole: Transfer the green beans and sauce mixture to a casserole dish. Sprinkle the crispy onion topping evenly over the surface. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes until bubbly and onions are extra crispy.

Notes

  • For extra crispy onions, spread them out well on the baking sheet to avoid steaming.
  • You can substitute half and half with whole milk for a lighter version, though sauce may be less creamy.
  • Use fresh green beans when possible for the best texture and flavor.
  • To make it vegetarian, substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth.
  • This casserole can be prepared a day ahead; prepare sauce and beans and store separately, then assemble and bake before serving.

Keywords: green bean casserole, healthy side dish, crispy onions, mushroom sauce, Thanksgiving recipe

Find it online: https://busyrecipe.com/healthy-green-bean-casserole-with-crispy-onion-topping-recipe/