Name: Paula Deen’s Southern Green Bean Casserole Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients: 2 cups green beans (fresh, frozen, or canned – use 2 cans, drained); 3 cups chicken broth (skip if using canned green beans); 2 ½ tablespoons butter; ½ cup diced onions; 1 cup sliced mushrooms; 10.5 ounces cream of mushroom soup (1 small can); 2.8 ounces French fried onions, divided (about 1 ½ cups); ½ teaspoon garlic powder (more or less, to taste); ¼ teaspoon black pepper; 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided

Introduction

Paula Deen’s Southern Green Bean Casserole is a comforting classic that brings together tender green beans, savory mushrooms, and crispy fried onions topped with melted cheddar cheese. This dish is perfect for holidays or any family dinner when you want a rich, flavorful side that pleases a crowd.

A white rectangular baking dish filled with a creamy casserole that has three visible layers; the bottom layer is a white creamy base mixed with green beans and some brown mushroom slices, the middle layer is melted yellow and orange cheddar cheese spread unevenly, and the top layer is crispy light brown fried onions scattered generously. A silver spoon rests inside the dish with a portion scooped out, showing the creamy texture of the casserole. The dish sits on a white marbled surface next to a white cloth with black stripes. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

2 cups green beans (fresh, frozen, or canned; if canned, use 2 cans drained)

3 cups chicken broth (skip if using canned green beans)

2 ½ tablespoons butter

½ cup diced onions

1 cup sliced mushrooms

10.5 ounces cream of mushroom soup (1 small can)

2.8 ounces french fried onions, divided (about 1 ½ cups)

½ teaspoon garlic powder (adjust to taste)

¼ teaspoon black pepper

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2: In a large saucepan, bring the chicken broth to a boil. Add the green beans and boil for 10 minutes for fork-tender texture, or up to 20 minutes if you prefer them very soft. If you are using canned green beans, skip this step.

Step 3: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onions and sliced mushrooms, sautéing for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat.

Step 4: In the skillet or a large bowl, combine the cream of mushroom soup with the sautéed onions and mushrooms.

Step 5: Add the cooked green beans, garlic powder, black pepper, half of the french fried onions, and half of the shredded cheddar cheese. Stir everything until well mixed.

Step 6: Pour the green bean mixture into a greased 1 ½ quart casserole dish.

Step 7: Bake for 20 minutes or until the casserole is hot and bubbling.

Step 8: Remove from oven, sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese and french fried onions on top, then bake for an additional 5 minutes to melt the cheese and crisp the onions.

Tips & Variations

If your mushrooms are large, slice them bite-sized for better texture.

For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and a cream of mushroom soup without animal products.

Reserve the chicken broth used to cook the green beans for soups or stuffing recipes to add extra flavor.

Adjust garlic powder and black pepper to suit your taste preference.

FAQs

Can I use canned green beans instead of fresh or frozen?

Yes, canned green beans can be used to save time. If using canned, skip boiling them and drain well before mixing into the casserole.