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Green bean casserole recipe is flavorful, easy to make and deserves room at your Thanksgiving table along.
This green bean recipe makes a wonderful Thanksgiving side dish to turkey recipes including Smoked Turkey, and Boneless Turkey Breast.
Green Bean Casserole Recipe
Green bean casserole with bacon is extremely flexible and can be made with fresh, canned or frozen green beans, depending on your green bean preference.
Fresh beans are my go-to because I can control the sodium, crispness and keep the bright green color.
Bean Options
There are three types of green beans you can use to make this casserole:
Green Beans Casserole With Fresh Green Beans
This is the perfect recipe for fresh green beans and is my preferred method. You can steam, blanch or sauté them to your preferred crispness.
- How to Blanch – Bring a large stockpot of water to a boil. Add the green beans and boil for 3-5 minutes, until crisp yet tender. Drain well and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. The green beans in the pictures are blanched.
- How to Steam – Fill a large stockpot with 2″ of water and bring to a simmer. Place the green beans in a steamer basket and place inside the large stockpot. Place the lid on the pot, turn the heat down to medium and let steam for 5-7 minutes, until crisp yet tender.
- How to Sauté – Pre-heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the green beans and cook for 6-8 minutes until crisp yet tender.
Green Beans Casserole With Frozen Green Beans
To make this frozen green beans recipe, no edits to the below recipe are needed. You’ll just need to cook the dish a bit longer to ensure the beans get to temp.
Green Beans Casserole With Canned Green Beans
This is a great canned green beans recipe. To prepare just add the drained beans when indicated in the recipe. It’s the fastest version to make as you don’t have to cook the beans.
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How To Make Green Bean Casserole
Here’s how to make this recipe for green been casserole:
- Cook the green beans, if using fresh green beans.
- Cook the bacon in a skillet until crisp (about 10 minutes) or use your preferred method for making bacon.
- Add the glaze ingredients to the skillet and cook to thicken.
- Add the beans and half the bacon and let the beans cook.
- Top off with the rest of the bacon and serve.
Variations
Here are a few variations you may consider making:
- For a spicy kick, add in a teaspoon of red pepper flakes when simmering the glaze.
- Use turkey bacon or microwavable bacon if that’s what you prefer. Both would be great substitutions.
- Use coconut aminos in place of the soy sauce for a low carb or low sodium version.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- Snag a huge package of green beans at Costco for high quality beans at a low price.
- Add a tablespoon or two of water if you see the sauce evaporating more than preferred.
- Store the leftover casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- To re-heat, just add the leftovers to a skillet pre-heated over medium heat. Add a tablespoon or two of water, if needed. Cook until heated throughout.
More Thanksgiving Side Dishes
A few more Thanksgiving recipes that would pair well with turkey and this green been casserole recipe:
Green Bean Casserole With Bacon
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2½ lb fresh green beans, trimmed (*Note 1)
- 10-12 slices bacon + reserved bacon grease (*Note 2)
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter (*Note 3)
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
Instructions
COOK THE FRESH GREEN BEANS (SKIP FOR CANNED OR FROZEN)
- Steam – Fill a large stockpot with 2" of water and bring to a simmer. Place the green beans in a steamer basket and place inside the large stockpot. Place the lid on the pot, turn the heat down to medium and let steam for 5-7 minutes, until crisp yet tender. Blanch – Bring a large stockpot of water to a boil. Add the green beans and boil for 3-5 minutes, until crisp yet tender. Drain well and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.Sauté – Pre-heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the green beans and cook for 6-8 minutes until crisp yet tender. 2½ lb fresh green beans, trimmed
COOK THE BACON
- Pre-heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the strips of bacon and cook until crisp (approx. 10 minutes), cooking in batches if needed. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside. Keep 2-3 tablespoons of bacon grease in the skillet, and discard the rest. 10-12 slices bacon + reserved bacon grease
COOK THE CASSEROLE
- Add the brown sugar, butter, soy sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder to the skillet and stir to combine. Cook for 4-5 minutes until the sugar has dissolved and the glaze thickens. ½ cup brown sugar, packed 4 Tbsp unsalted butter ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce 2 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp onion powder
- While the sauce is thickening, crumble the cooked bacon.
- Add half the crumbled bacon and green beans to the skillet and toss to coat. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the green beans are heated through out.
- Taste and add salt and pepper, if desired. Add the rest of the crumbled bacon to the top and serve immediately for best texture. black pepper, to taste salt, to taste