Easy Green Bean Casserole Side Dish with French Fried Onions

Green bean casserole with cream of mushroom soup topped with french fried onions is a favorite in most American homes. Not just for a holiday dinner, this creamy casserole has become a regular side dish at picnics, barbecues, and 4th of July family gatherings. Super simple to mix together, even made and assembled the night before. Bring this side dish to your next party and watch it vanish.

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History of Green Bean Casserole using Cream of Mushroom Soup

Campbell’s tells us that this recipe was developed by Campbell’s in the 1950s for a newspaper article by Dorcas Reilly.  Dorcas Reilly, who is credited with this recipe, submitted an original yellowed recipe card to the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame in Akron Ohio, in 2002. We all have a great debt of appreciation to Ms. Reilly for a tradition that will live on for years.

No matter where the recipe was created, families have been serving up this side dish for years and will for years to come.

Ingredients for Traditional Green Bean Casserole

• Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup
• Milk 1% or 2%
• Soy Sauce
• Dash of Pepper
• Frozen Green Beans
• French’s French Fried Onions

How to Make Green Bean Casserole with French Fried Onions

I would recommend making this with frozen green beans, as they are freshly picked by the manufacturer before freezing.  You can put it in the refrigerator to thaw the night before.

This classic side dish is super easy, and we make it year-round. So yummy with any chicken dish perfect to take along for a summer picnic or backyard barbecue. For your summer events, you can also make it the day before and pop it in the oven an hour and a half before you leave.

If I am making this dish to take to a party or picnic, I would suggest you mix the casserole the night before. I mix all the ingredients together and put it in a casserole. (Leave off the topping until you are ready to bake) This way, I  have the side dish prepared early in the morning to be put in the oven an hour and a half before I leave.

The basic time for cooking is about 25 minutes; however, if you have a lot of dishes in the oven and the casserole is cold from the refrigerator, I put it in for one hour.  Watch that the topping does not get too brown.

Start by defrosting the green beans; they can be put in the refrigerator the day before or defrosted in the microwave.  I microwave them just enough to make sure they are not frozen.  I have tried to mix the casserole when the green beans are too cold, and it starts to freeze the cream of mushroom soup. The green beans are very hard to mix and look like a mess, so make sure they are not frozen when you begin to mix.

Remember, this is just 5 ingredients.  The holidays are the perfect time to get the younger generation interested in cooking the family traditions. So get the kids in the kitchen and use this recipe as a good starter for your little ones who want to cook with you.

In a large bowl, mix the cream of mushroom soup, soy sauce, milk, and pepper to make a creamy sauce. Add the defrosted green beans and stir.

Now is the time when you can change up the recipe as your family likes by adding in the french fried onions. Add a little or a lot (our family likes it a lot).

Spray your baking dish and add the green bean mixture. Top with as many french fried onions. The traditional recipe has you only topping with one-third cup on top, but as you can see, we cover the casserole with crunchy goodness.  Pop in a preheated oven and bake.

Can You Microwave Green Bean Casserole?

The traditional recipe for green bean casserole made with cream of mushroom soup calls for it to be baked in the oven. When it is baked in the oven, you get the delicious crispy fried onions on the top. And baking in the oven is the better option.

The good news is that if you are in a pinch for time, you can use the convenient way of a microwave. If you can make your recipe in a microwave-safe dish, you most definitely microwave green bean casserole.

Prepare the casserole as you would for baking. Combine the green beans, creamy mushroom sauce, and all the other delicious ingredients in a microwave-safe casserole bowl and transfer to a microwave-safe casserole dish.

Start by microwaving the casserole for 8 to 10 minutes without the French’s french fried onions. At the end of 8 minutes, check for the proper temperature by using an instant-read thermometer to at least 160 degrees. Add more time if needed.

At this point, add the crispy onion topping or cheese, and add one or two more minutes.

Keep in mind that if you choose the microwave over the oven the texture of the recipe while still having that creamy sauce, may not have the most crunchy topping.

Can I Freeze Green Bean Casserole?

You definitely can freeze green bean casserole after your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. I like to make a big batch, if not two whole casseroles. That was I have a lot of leftover green bean casserole.

You will first want to put the leftover green bean casserole in an airtight container. If you are going to use the casserole dish you baked in, you can cover it tightly with plastic wrap. But I have found that the best way is to transfer to a smaller airtight container. I prefer a glass container that can then be reheated in the microwave.

You can freeze green bean casserole up to 2 to 3 months in the freezer. However, in our family, it would never last that long. When you are having leftover frozen turkey or ham, you have to grab leftover green bean casserole.

The next day, when microwaving small portions of leftover,s I like to use my reheat setting on the microwave. Check your oven’s complete guide for the best setting.

How long Does Green Bean Casserole Last in the Fridge?

As with most baked foods and side dishes, I recommend only leaving the green bean casserole in the fridge for no more than 3 days. After 3 days follow the directions for freezing leftovers above.

How to Reheat Green Bean Casserole From Frozen

If you are going to bake the leftover casserole, have a preheated oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove any plastic lid or plastic wrapping. Make sure you have an oven-safe dish. At this point, it may take an hour to 1.5 hours, depending on how big of a casserole you are reheating.

If reheating in the microwave, again, remove any plastic wrapping or covering and make sure the casserole is in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave on medium to medium-high power for about 5 minutes. If using a reheating setting, follow the directions for your microwave. Test for doneness, and you may want to stir to make sure the casserole is heated through.

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