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Extraordinary Green Bean Casserole

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Upgrade your Thanksgiving dinner with this irresistible Green Bean Casserole! Fresh green beans, savory mushrooms, and crispy bacon come together in a rich, creamy sauce, all topped with crunchy fried onions. It’s easy to make ahead and loaded with flavor!

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 pound fresh green beans, cleaned
  • 8 ounces bacon
  • 8 ounces fresh mushrooms
  • 4 ounces unsalted butter
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1 cup half-n-half
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup French fried onions

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Bring a gallon of water and 1 tablespoon of kosher salt to a boil in a large saucepan.  Once the water is boiling, add the green beans and boil for 5 minutes.  Drain and immediately place in a large bowl that is filled with ice water to stop the cooking.  After the beans are cooled, drain, and set aside to dry.
  3. Slice the bacon into 1/4 inch strips (see photo above in “How-to” section), then add the strips to a preheated skillet and fry until crisp.  Remove from the pan to a paper towel lined plate and set aside to cool.
  4. Chop the mushrooms into small pieces.  Set aside.
  5. Dice the onion.  Set aside.
  6. Melt the butter in a large stockpot (6-8 quart) over medium heat. Add the mushrooms to the melted butter with 2 teaspoons of Kosher salt.  Stir the mushrooms to coat them in butter, then spread them into an even layer.  Resist the urge to stir for about 4-5 minutes—this step is crucial. At first, they’ll release a lot of moisture, but as that liquid evaporates, the mushrooms begin to caramelize, creating a concentrated, flavorful base. Stir occasionally, letting them sit in between, until they turn a beautiful golden brown.
  7. Add the onions and garlic to the mushrooms  and cook until softened, letting those flavors blend together perfectly.  Then sprinkle with flour and stir in the chicken stock, half-and-half, the soy sauce, nutmeg and red pepper flakes. Lower the heat to medium-low and continue to cook, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens, about 5-10 minutes.  Longer if you prefer a thicker sauce.
  8. When the sauce is at the desired consistency, remove from the heat.  Add the green beans and bacon then stir to evenly coat.  Transfer the bean mixture to a 13-9 baking dish.  Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over the beans, then top with the French Fried Onions.  Bake until the sauce is bubbling, about 15-20 minutes.  Remove from oven and serve hot.

Notes

Find it online: https://foodienoise.com/extraordinary-green-bean-casserole/