• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Southern Discourse

Southern Discourse

Food, Faith & Southern Hospitality!

  • Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Casseroles
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches
    • Sauces & Dressings
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
    • All Recipes
    • Recipe Collections
  • Hospitality
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Everyday
  • Shop
  • About
  • Subscribe
Home › Recipes
3 Comments

Creamy Green Bean Casserole Without Soup

Stacey Pirtle

by Stacey Updated: Nov 19, 2024

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links.

Rich and creamy Green Bean Casserole is even better without canned soup! Fresh vegetables, cream, bacon and a crispy onion topping make this classic side dish a star, not just at Thanksiving, but at every holiday, Sunday dinner, potluck and cookout!

an easy from scratch recipe for green bean casserole without canned soup or canned beans


This from scratch recipe makes THE BEST green bean casserole around! And while it doesn’t use any canned shortcuts, it isn’t a difficult recipe at all. Fresh sliced mushrooms, half & half cream, and cream cheese cook up quickly and easily with bacon, garlic and onions to create a thick, smooth, extra creamy sauce that beats canned cream of mushroom soup by a mile!

Related Recipe: Sauteed Green Beans with Bacon & Mushrooms

Fold in frozen green beans and top it with crisp, fun fried onions and you have a traditional green bean casserole that tastes better than you could have ever imagined!

green bean casserole with fresh vegetables and a creamy homemade sauce

It seems that Green Bean Casserole has forever been a favorite Thanksgiving side dish. And I guess in my life time that would be true. This tried and true comfort food favorite was created in the Campbell’s soup test kitchen in 1955.

But there’ nothing wrong with giving an old recipe new love. And a homemade touch focuses on using delicious ingredients that you choose to make an old favorite even more tasty than it was before!

frozen green beans, white mushrooms, cream, beef broth, cream cheese and a crunchy fried onion topping make the best green bean casserole

I’ll walk through an overview of ingredients & steps in this section along with helpful tips!

Look for specifics at the end of the post in the recipe card.

Ingredients

  • frozen cut green beans (These are added to the casserole frozen.)
  • thick sliced bacon
  • white, or button, mushrooms
  • yellow onion
  • beef broth
  • half & half cream
  • cream cheese
  • butter
  • flour
  • salt, pepper, minced garlic
  • French fried onions
easy steps to make homemade cream of mushroom soup
steps to make creamy green bean casserole without canned soup

How To Make Green Bean Casserole Without Canned Soup

Make Sauce Base. Sautee bacon pieces, onions and mushrooms together in bacon drippings. Stir in butter and minced garlic.

Make Creamy Mushroom Sauce. Add flour and stir until mushroom mixture is coated. Whisk in beef broth, stirring until flour is dissolved. Whisk in half & half, salt, pepper and cream cheese until sauce is thick and smooth.

Assemble Casserole. Fold frozen green beans and 1 cup of fried onions into sauce. Remove from heat. Spoon beans & sauce into a 9×13 dish. Top with fried onions. Drizzle with melted butter.

Bake. Bake 20-25 minutes or until onion topping is golden brown and the edges of the casserole is bubbly.

homemade green bean casserole is a traditional Thanksgiving side dish

Can It Be Made Ahead of Time

This casserole is ideal for making ahead of time, making prepping for the holidays or a potluck so much easier! Simply make the sauce and put the casserole together EXCEPT for the topping. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

When you’re ready to cook your casserole, simply add the topping, drizzle with butter and bake as directed. The cook time might have to be extended by 10 minutes since the casserole will be cold.

Does Green Bean Casserole Freeze Well?

This casserole is also a great candidate for freezing. Simply follow the instructions for “making ahead.” Cover tightly and freeze for 2-3 months. Allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bake as directed allowing extra time since the casserole will be cold.

traditional green bean casserole has loads of fresh flavor and texture without canned soup and canned beans

How to Thicken Green Bean Casserole

No one wants a runny a green bean casserole. Make sure your sauce is thick before you put your casserole together. It should be the texture of a thick gravy.

To make sure the sauce is thick: After you whisk the flour into the sauce in step #3, continue to whisk & allow the sauce to bubble and thicken. The longer the sauce simmers, the thicker it will get. If it still is not thickening as you would like it, whisk in an extra tablespoon of flour and allow to simmer and thicken before you move to the next step.

Serve Green Bean Casserole at Thanksgiving, Christmas, at cookouts and for potlucks

Main Dishes to Serve with Green Bean Casserole

Green Bean Casserole is always a favorite when served and goes with just about everything! Here are a few tried and true favorites to serve with this side dish.

  • Creole Roasted Turkey Breast
  • Southern Pecan Chicken
  • Holiday Prime Rib
  • Pepper Crusted Pork Tenderloin
  • Pineapple Mustard Glazed Ham
  • Cast Iron Skillet Steak
  • Crispy Southern Fried Chicken

More Green Bean Recipes to Love

  • Southern Green Beans & New Potatoes
  • Italian Green Bean Salad
  • Sauteed Green Beans with Bacon & Mushrooms
If You Love Classic Comfort Food & Have Made This Recipe, Give It All The Stars & Leave A Fun Comment! Or Tag Me @SouthernDiscourse On Social Media To Be Featured. I Love Hearing From You!
an easy from scratch recipe for green bean casserole without canned soup or canned beans

Creamy Green Bean Casserole Without Canned Soup

Rich and creamy Green Bean Casserole is even better without canned soup! Fresh vegetables, cream, bacon and a crispy onion topping make this classic side dish a star!
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Christmas, classic, comfort food, holiday, potluck, thanksgiving
Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Author: Stacey | SouthernDiscourse.com

Ingredients

  • 5-6 slices thick cut bacon, cut into ½ inch pieces
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 8 ounces white, or button, mushrooms, sliced
  • 3 tablespoons butter, divided into 2 tablespoon + 1 tbsp
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 cup half & half cream
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into pieces
  • 20 ounces frozen cut green beans, unthawed
  • 3 cups French fried onions (6 ounce can), divided into 1 cup + 2 cups
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
  • In a large skillet, begin to cook bacon pieces over medium heat. When bacon is almost done, add in diced onion. Sautee bacon and onion together until onion is translucent. Add in sliced mushrooms. Sautee until mushrooms begin to reduce (about 1-2 minutes).
  • Add 2 tablespoons of butter and minced garlic to mushroom mixture. Stir until butter is melted. Stir in flour until all of the mixture is coated. Gradually stir in 1 cup of beef broth. Whisk until there are no flour lumps. Mixture will begin to bubble and thicken.
  • Turn heat down to low. Whisk in half & half cream, salt & pepper. Add cream cheese pieces. Stir until melted.
  • Fold frozen green beans and 1 cup fried onions into creamy mushroom sauce. Remove from heat.
  • Spoon green bean mixture into a 9×13 casserole dish. Top with remaining 2 cups fried onions. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Pour over onion topping. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until topping is golden brown and the edges are bubbly.
an easy from scratch recipe for green bean casserole without canned soup or canned beans
Did you make my Creamy Green Bean Casserole Without Canned Soup?Show me how it went! Share on Instagram, tag @southerndiscourse, and use the hashtag #SouthernDiscourse!
Tag on Insta Leave a Rating

Share this!

  • Facebook
  • Email

Filed Under: Holidays, Recipes, Side Dishes Tagged With: Christmas, comfort food, Easter, holidays, southern staples, southern Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving

Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Mail

Join Southern Discourse

Subscribe today to never miss a post!

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Rate & Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Avatar photoTheresa

    November 19, 2022 at 10:42 am

    Hi there! Do you have any recommendations for people who don’t care for mushrooms? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Stacey Pirtlestacey

      November 21, 2022 at 11:29 am

      Hi, Theresa!

      Try adding a little bit of French onion soup mix to your sauce for flavor instead of mushrooms, salt and pepper. I would add a little mix at a time until the sauce suits your taste.

      Reply
    • Avatar photoAdele Aiken

      July 29, 2024 at 5:35 pm

      Leave them out of the recipe

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Mail

Join Southern Discourse

Never miss a new post!

Reader Favorites

  • A finished skillet of Dirty Rice.Louisiana Dirty Rice
  • traditional chicken and dressing for a southern holiday mealSouthern Chicken and Dressing
  • Whipped Feta Dip with honeyWhipped Feta with Honey Dip
  • A forkful of sweet potato casserole to show the fluffy texture of the potatoes.Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping
  • pecan pie bars turn traditional pie into an easy dessertBest Ever Pecan Pie Bars
  • Spicy Italian Sub Crescent Ring TitleSpicy Italian Crescent Ring

Recipes by Category

  • Appetizers
  • Beverages
  • Bread
  • Breakfast & Brunch
  • Casseroles
  • Desserts
  • Main Dishes
  • Salads
  • Sandwiches
  • Sauces & Dessings
  • Side Dishes
  • Soups
Southern Discourse
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Mail

Join Southern Discourse

Subscribe today to never miss a post!

© 2025 · Southern Discourse · Privacy · Cookies

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required