$pent Millennial

Green Bean Casserole, Just the Way You Like It

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spentmillennial

It is that time of year again… Green Bean Casserole Season! Love it, or Hate it there is a good chance this dish will be served at your holiday gatherings this year. 

I was never a big fan. Unfortunately for me, as a pescatarian, there were often times when green bean casserole was one of the only dishes I could eat at Thanksgiving gatherings. Eventually, I came around and used it as a type of gravy for mashed potatoes. Hey, it beat the ambrosia, marshmallow, and jello salad dishes that were my other option… If ambrosia is your jam, no offense- you do you, but it isn’t for me. 

So, when I got old enough to bring dishes to Thanksgiving, I was determined to find a way to like Green Bean Casserole. After all, at least at my family’s gatherings, it is often the closest thing to a vegetable on the table- not that these recipes exactly hold up as a health food… 

Anyways, here I share 3 ways to make the loved (and hated) green bean casserole. Give one a try and let me know what you think! 

The Classic: Keep It Simple, Sweetheart 

Ingredients: 

  • 2 cans of Cream of Mushroom Soup – just like the Campbells’ Commercials 
  • ¼ Cup of Milk 
  • 2 Cans of Green Beans (Substitute Frozen or Fresh as preferred) 
  • ½ Cup of Fried Onions for topping 
  • Salt, Pepper, and other seasonings to taste ( I use garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and creole seasoning) 
  • Optional: 1 box of pasta to add texture to the casserole 

Steps: 

  1. Grease a casserole dish 
  2. In a pot on the stove, heat soup and milk, bring just to a boil, then remove from heat 
  3. Fold in green beans
  4. Add Salt, Pepper, and other seasonings  to taste
  5. Optional: In a separate pot, cook boxed pasta (I use elbow or leftover pasta from boxed mac and cheese) – This will add a bit of texture to the casserole for those who find typical green bean casserole too soupy. Feeling really creative? Add the cheese packet from the mac and cheese into the soup mix for a cheesy flavor. 
  6. Pour soup mix, and pasta if desired, into the casserole dish
  7. Top with fried onions 
  8. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 – 30 minutes, until fried onions are golden brown 

A Step Above: Bring in the Tots (And Cheese)

Ingredients: 

  • 2 cans of Cream of Mushroom Soup – just like the Campbells’ Commercials 
  • ¼ Cup of Milk 
  • 2 Cans of Green Beans (Substitute Frozen or Fresh as preferred) 
  • ½ Cup of Fried Onions for topping 
  • Salt, Pepper, and other seasonings to taste ( I use garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and creole seasoning) 
  • 2lb bag of tater tots
  • Optional: Cheese packet from boxed mac and cheese 
  • Optional: Shredded Cheese to top the casserole with 

Steps: 

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees, pre-bake tater tots for about 20-25 minutes to get them a crispy flavor. Taste the tots when they come out to see how salty/ pre-flavored they are. This will help you know how much seasoning to add later. 
  2. If using fresh or frozen green beans, prepare and pre-cook them by steaming them on the stove top, or microwave. 
  3. On the stove heat Cream of Mushroom soup and milk just to a boil, fold in green beans, and season to taste. 
  4. Optional: Add in the cheese flavoring for an additional cheesy taste. 
  5. Layer the pre-baked tater tots in a greased casserole dish
  6. Pour soup mix over the tots mixing in to make sure all the tots are covered and soaking in the mix 
  7. Top with fried onions 
  8. Optional: Add shredded cheese 
  9. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes until the fried onions are golden brown 

Fully Loaded: Make a Meal of It, Why Don’t Ya!? 

Ingredients: 

  • (Meatless) beef crumbles or bacon 
  • ½ White Onion, finely diced 
  • Optional: 1 ½ cup chopped button mushrooms ( I leave these out bc my family is not a fan) 
  • 3 cloves of minced garlic 
  • 1 Cup Shredded Montery Jack Cheese
  • 2 cans of Cream of Mushroom Soup – just like the Campbells’ Commercials 
  • ¼ Cup of Milk 
  • 16 oz Fresh Green Beans 
  • ½ Cup of Fried Onions for topping 
  • Green Onions (Optional) 
  • Salt, Pepper, and other seasonings to taste ( I use paprika and creole seasoning) 
  • 2lb bag of tater tots

Steps: 

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees, pre-bake tater tots for about 20-25 minutes to get them a crispy flavor. Taste the tots when they come out to see how salty/ pre-flavored they are. This will help you know how much seasoning to add later. 
  2. Chop the onion and green onions as well as mushrooms if you choose to use them, and mince garlic 
  3. Shred the cheese, if not pre-shredded
  4. Prepare and pre-cook (steam) green beans on the stovetop or microwave 
  5. Defrostmeatless crumbles in the microwave
  6. In a skillet, finish cooking meatless crumbles, sauteeing with the onion (white and bottom, bulb parts of green- keep the green parts for topping) and add in the garlic for the last 1 minute of cooking
  7. Stir in the soup, milk, and cheese (leave about ¼ cup of the cheese to use as topping) 
  8. Stir until the cheese is melted i
  9. Add seasoning to taste 
  10. Fold in green beans until well combined
  11. Layer pre-baked tots into a greased casserole dish 
  12. Pour cheesy soup mix over the tots and mix until all are well covered 
  13. Top with fried onions, cheese, and green onions
  14. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes until cheese is melted and fried onions are golden brown. 

What about you? How do you make Green Bean Casserole? Do you love it or hate it? Let me know in the comments or reach out to me @spentmillennial on Instagram or hello@spentmillennial.com 

Happy Thanksgiving Week, Don’t Forget Your Stretchy Pants! 

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