Wholesome Green Bean Casserole Recipe by Ina Garten

Comfort food takes a delightful turn with Ina Garten’s green bean casserole that redefines classic holiday side dishes.

Crisp green beans dance beneath a golden, creamy sauce that promises pure satisfaction.

Her recipe brings restaurant-quality flavor right to your dining table.

Every bite offers a perfect balance of tender vegetables and rich, seasoned topping.

The caramelized onions add a delicate crunch that makes this dish irresistibly tempting.

Elegant yet approachable, this green bean casserole will have everyone asking for seconds at your next gathering.

You’ll love how simple ingredients come together to create something truly memorable.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Calories: 330 kcal

Servings: 8

Ingredients for Ina Garten Green Bean Casserole

• Sliced Onions: The star of the crunchy crown, choose fresh, firm onions with no soft spots for ultimate crispiness.
• All-Purpose Flour: Creates a light, golden coating that ensures perfectly crisp fried onions.
• Buttermilk: Helps tenderize and adds tangy flavor to the onion coating.

• Olive Oil, Butter: Provide rich, luxurious foundation for sauce with deep, comforting flavor.
• Diced Onions: Builds aromatic base with subtle sweetness and depth.
• Mushrooms: Adds earthy, umami-packed complexity to the sauce.
• Garlic: Brings intense, pungent notes that elevate the entire dish.
• All-Purpose Flour: Thickens sauce and creates smooth, velvety texture.
• Chicken Stock: Adds savory liquid base with rich, deep flavor profile.
• Heavy Cream: Creates luxurious, silky sauce with incredible richness.
• Nutmeg: Provides warm, subtle background spice that complements cream.
• Parmesan Cheese: Delivers sharp, salty punch and incredible depth.

• Green Beans: Fresh, crisp vegetable that serves as the recipe's hearty core.

Tools That Make Ina’s Casserole Foolproof

• Large Pot: Essential for deep-frying crispy onions and heating oil to the right temperature.
• Skillet: Perfect for sautéing onions, mushrooms, and creating the creamy sauce.
• Baking Dish (9×13): Ideal for assembling and baking the casserole.
• Mixing Bowls: Needed for soaking onions and mixing ingredients.
• Plate: Used for dredging onion slices in flour mixture.
• Paper Towels: Great for draining fried onions and removing excess oil.
• Colander or Strainer: Helpful for blanching and draining green beans.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient quantities.
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Useful for stirring and mixing ingredients.

How to Bake Green Bean Casserole Ina’s Way

• Onion Preparation

Soak sliced onions in tangy buttermilk while getting ready to fry them crispy and golden.

• Crispy Onion Coating

Dust onion slices with seasoned flour mixture, then carefully fry until they turn a beautiful amber color and become wonderfully crunchy.

• Green Bean Blanching

Quickly plunge fresh green beans into boiling salted water, then shock them in ice water to keep their vibrant green color and crisp texture.

• Flavor Base

Gently sauté diced onions and mushrooms in a blend of olive oil and butter, creating a rich and aromatic foundation for the casserole.

• Creamy Sauce Creation

Build a silky sauce by whisking flour into the vegetable mixture, then slowly adding stock and cream to develop a luxurious, velvety texture.

• Casserole Assembly

Combine blanched green beans with the creamy sauce, nestling them into a baking dish and generously topping with nutty Parmesan and those irresistible crispy fried onions.

• Final Bake

Slide the casserole into a hot oven, letting the edges bubble and the top turn a gorgeous golden brown, creating a mouthwatering side dish that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.

Flavor Tweaks for Ina Garten’s Green Bean Casserole

• Soak onions in buttermilk for extra tangy flavor and tenderness before frying, ensuring a more flavorful and crunchy topping.
• Prepare fried onions and blanch green beans a day before, storing separately in airtight containers to save time on cooking day.
• Swap chicken stock with vegetable broth and add sautéed mushrooms for a hearty, meat-free version that's equally delicious.
• Experiment with different cheese varieties like gruyère or sharp cheddar to create unique flavor profiles and add depth to the casserole.
• Add red pepper flakes or herbs like thyme and rosemary to the sauce for a personalized touch and extra aromatic dimension.

Serve It Hot – Ina Garten Green Bean Casserole Style

• Serve with Hearty Protein Pairings: Complement the green bean casserole with roasted turkey, juicy chicken, or succulent beef roast for a complete meal that satisfies every hunger.
• Create Elegant Dinner Presentation: Garnish the casserole with fresh chopped parsley or chives, adding a pop of color and bright herbal notes that enhance the dish's rustic charm.
• Craft Perfect Side Dish Combinations: Pair with creamy mashed potatoes, roasted butternut squash, or a crisp winter salad to balance the rich, savory flavors of the casserole.
• Offer Crowd-Pleasing Potluck Option: Transport this dish to holiday gatherings or family reunions, keeping it warm in a covered casserole dish to maintain its delicious temperature and texture.

Storage and Leftovers for Casserole Lovers

• Prep Ahead Strategy: Chop vegetables and make fried onions up to 2 days before assembling the casserole, storing each component separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator.
• Refrigerate Wisely: Store leftover casserole in sealed containers for 3-4 days, keeping the crispy onion topping separate to maintain its crunchiness when reheating.
• Freeze with Caution: Wrap unbaked casserole tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, storing in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking.
• Reheat Perfectly: Warm individual portions in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes, adding fresh fried onions on top to restore the crispy texture and maximize flavor.

Incredible Ina Garten Green Bean Casserole Recipe

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4.6 from 24 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Green bean casserole by Ina Garten offers a sophisticated twist on classic comfort cuisine. Crispy shallots and rich mushroom sauce elevate this traditional side dish, creating an irresistible holiday favorite that home cooks will savor.

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Ingredients

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• 2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed and snapped in half
• 16 oz (454 g) cremini mushrooms, chopped
• 2 sweet onions, thinly sliced
• 1 large sweet onion, diced
• 1 ½ cups (360 ml) heavy cream
• 2 cups (480 ml) buttermilk
• ½ cup (50 g) freshly grated parmigiano reggiano cheese, plus more for topping
• 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsps flour
• 1 ½ cups (360 ml) chicken or vegetable stock
• 2 tbsps unsalted butter
• 4 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• vegetable or canola oil for frying
• ¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
• kosher salt and pepper

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Instructions

1. Onion Preparation: Soak thinly sliced onions in buttermilk for 15-20 minutes, simultaneously heating vegetable oil to 375°F (190°C) in a deep pot.
2. Coating Creation: Mix flour, salt, and black pepper on a flat plate to form a seasoned dredging mixture.
3. Onion Frying: Drain onion slices, coat thoroughly in seasoned flour, and fry in hot oil until crispy and golden brown (2-3 minutes). Rest on paper towels to remove excess oil.
4. Green Bean Blanching: Prepare boiling salted water and ice bath. Blanch green beans for 4-5 minutes, then immediately cool in ice water to preserve color and texture.
5. Sauce Foundation: Melt butter and olive oil in a skillet, sauté diced onions until translucent. Add mushrooms and garlic, cooking until tender and fragrant.
6. Roux Development: Dust vegetable mixture with flour, stirring to create a smooth base. Gradually whisk in stock, simmering until the sauce thickens and becomes creamy.
7. Flavor Enrichment: Blend in heavy cream, nutmeg, and Parmesan cheese. Gently incorporate blanched green beans, ensuring complete sauce coverage.
8. Casserole Assembly: Transfer to a 9×13 inch baking dish, top with additional Parmesan and crispy fried onions.
9. Final Baking: Roast in a 400°F (204°C) oven for 20-25 minutes until bubbling and golden. Rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow sauce to set.

Notes

• Buttermilk Soak Trick: Marinating onion slices in buttermilk tenderizes and adds depth, creating a more flavorful and softer crispy topping.
• Blanching Brilliance: Quickly transferring green beans from boiling water to ice water preserves their bright color, crisp texture, and prevents overcooking.
• Temperature Precision: Maintain oil at exactly 375°F for perfectly golden, crispy fried onions without burning or greasiness.
• Sauce Smoothness: Whisk constantly when adding stock to prevent lumps, ensuring a silky, creamy sauce that coats green beans evenly.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 330
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 32 g
• Fiber: 5 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg