Description
A rich and creamy twist on the classic holiday side, this Ina Garten-style Green Bean Casserole features fresh green beans, sautéed mushrooms, and a luscious Dijon cream sauce topped with crispy fried onions. A must-make comfort dish for any gathering.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds fresh green beans, trimmed
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 ½ cups French-fried onions
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 2-quart baking dish and set aside.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add trimmed green beans and cook for 3–4 minutes until slightly tender but still crisp. Drain and plunge into ice water. Set aside.
3. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for about 5 minutes until translucent.
4. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
5. Add mushrooms, salt, black pepper, and optional cayenne. Cook 6–8 minutes until mushrooms are browned and moisture is released.
6. Stir in heavy cream, Dijon mustard, and soy sauce. Simmer 3–4 minutes to thicken slightly.
7. In a large bowl, combine blanched green beans and cream sauce. Toss until beans are well coated.
8. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Top with French-fried onions and sprinkle Parmesan cheese if using.
9. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.
10. Remove from oven, let cool slightly, and garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
Blanching the green beans ensures they stay vibrant and crisp-tender after baking.
Cayenne pepper adds a subtle heat—feel free to skip or adjust to taste.
For a more indulgent finish, use freshly grated Parmesan and broil the top for the last 2 minutes.
This casserole can be assembled ahead and baked just before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Side Dish, Holiday, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 65mg