Healthier Green Bean Casserole from Scratch.
This creamy green bean casserole is made completely from scratch — it's the side dish that your guests will rave about!
Ingredients
Baked Onions
- 1 large sweet onion
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 and ¼ cup Panko
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 2 Tablespoons unsweetened almond milk*
Casserole
- 2 Tablespoons + 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1 and ½ pounds fresh green beans, rinsed, trimmed and halved
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter or ghee*
- 12 ounces mushrooms, sliced in halves or quarters
- ½ small onion, diced (about ¾ cup)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 and ¼ cups unsweetened almond milk
- 5 Tablespoons cornstarch
Equipment needed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.
- For the baked onions: (You can start step 3— the green beans— while the onions bake.) Cut the onion in half, then thinly slice. Add the flour into a large zip top bag. Pour the Panko, salt, and pepper into a medium bowl, and whisk the egg and milk together in another medium bowl. To make things a bit easier, use one hand for wet and the other for dry. First, seal the bag and shake until all the onion slices are coated evenly. Then, dunk a few onion slices into the egg mixture. And then, give them a dunk into the Panko, coating them well, pressing to ensure it sticks. Place onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the onions. Bake the onions until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Flip them twice during this time. Set aside. Reduce the oven to 425°F.
- Bring a pot of water and 2 Tablespoons of salt to a boil. Add the green beans and blanch for 3 minutes. Drain and immediately place into a large bowl filled with ice water to stop the cooking process— this helps the green beans stay a vibrate color. Drain again and set aside.
- For the casserole: Over medium-high heat, melt the ghee in a large 10-12 inch ovenproof skillet. Add the mushrooms, onion, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms begin to give off some moisture and the onions soften— about 5 minutes. Add the chicken broth and simmer for 3 minutes. Lower the heat to medium-low.
- Combine the milk and cornstarch by stirring until no lumps remain. The best way to do this: add the cornstarch to a large measuring cup or bowl, then add the milk slowly while stirring. Add the milk/constarch mixture to the skillet. Stirring occasionally, cook until the mixture is thick— about 10 minutes or longer if you prefer a thicker sauce.
- Remove from the heat and add the green beans and ¼ of the baked onions. Give it a stir, then top with the remaining onions and bake until bubbly, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and enjoy!
- Leftovers keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat as desired.
Notes
Make ahead tip: Can be prepared up to 1 day in advance. Prepare through step 5, except turn off the oven after the onions are done. Allow the baked onions to cool completely, place in an airtight container or bag and refrigerate overnight. After the sauce is finished, combine the casserole but leave out the baked onions (this will prevent them from getting soggy.) Cover tightly at refrigerate overnight. The next day, stir in ⅓ of the baked onions to the casserole and top with the remaining. Bake at 425°F for 15-20 minutes until bubbly.
1. For those that want to make this without unsweetened almond milk, use 1 cup half-and-half and 4 Tablespoons of cornstarch.
2. To make this paleo, omit the baked onions and use ghee.
3. If gluten-free you can, omit the baked onions or sub the all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour all-purpose flour and use gluten-free bread crumbs.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!