Smoky Green Bean Casserole With Bacon Recipe: Family Favorite

Crafting a delectable green bean casserole with bacon promises a mouthwatering adventure that transforms ordinary side dishes into extraordinary culinary experiences.

Crisp vegetables mingle with smoky, salty bacon pieces to create irresistible layers of flavor.

Comfort food enthusiasts will adore this reimagined classic that brings excitement to traditional recipes.

Creamy textures complement the crunch of fresh green beans and crispy bacon bits.

Each forkful delivers a perfect balance of savory ingredients that dance across your palate.

Seasonal gatherings demand memorable dishes that spark conversation and delight everyone around the table.

You’ll want to savor every single bite of this crowd-pleasing masterpiece that elevates simple ingredients into something truly spectacular.

Why Green Bean Casserole With Bacon Feels Like Home

• Maximize Flavor Complexity: Combines crispy bacon, creamy sauce, and crunchy fried onions for a multi-layered taste experience that elevates traditional green bean casserole.
• Simplify Cooking Process: Uses one-skillet technique for sautéing green beans and creating base, reducing kitchen cleanup and streamlining meal preparation.
• Create Crowd-Pleasing Comfort: Delivers a rich, indulgent side dish that appeals to both adults and kids, perfect for family gatherings and holiday meals.
• Customize with Ease: Allows simple ingredient swaps or additions like different cheeses or adding sliced almonds for personal culinary creativity.

What Goes Into Green Bean Casserole With Bacon

• Green Beans: Fresh vegetables that provide a crisp and nutritious base for the casserole.

• Bacon: Crispy meat that adds a smoky and savory depth to the dish.
• Minced Garlic: Aromatic ingredient that provides a rich and pungent flavor profile.

• Mushroom Cream Sauce: Smooth sauce that adds a rich and earthy undertone to the casserole.
• Heavy Cream: Luxurious dairy product that creates a velvety and indulgent texture.
• Sour Cream: Tangy ingredient that contributes a subtle zesty flavor and creamy consistency.
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Sharp and melty cheese that provides a golden and flavorful topping.

• Salt and Pepper: Basic seasonings that enhance the overall taste of the dish.
• Crispy Fried Onions: Crunchy topping that adds a delightful textural contrast to the casserole.

• Olive Oil: Light coating to prevent sticking and add a subtle flavor to the baking dish.

How To Make Green Bean Casserole With Bacon

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly coat a 9×13 inch baking dish with olive oil to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Prep the Green Beans

Thoroughly wash green beans, trim off the ends, and slice into bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking.

Step 3: Cook the Bacon

Fry bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp and golden. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease and cool completely.

Step 4: Sauté Garlic

Using the same skillet with leftover bacon fat, quickly sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds until wonderfully fragrant, being careful not to burn.

Step 5: Cook Green Beans

Add green beans to the skillet, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for 3-4 minutes until they become vibrant green and slightly tender.

Step 6: Prepare Cream Mixture

• Mushroom cream sauce
• Heavy cream
• Sour cream

Blend until smooth and fully incorporated.

Step 7: Assemble the Casserole

Transfer sautéed green beans to the prepared baking dish. Pour cream mixture over the beans and gently fold to ensure even coating.

Step 8: Add Toppings

• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Most of the crumbled bacon

Distribute evenly across the surface.

Step 9: Create Crunchy Topping

Spread crispy fried onions over the casserole, ensuring an even layer for maximum crunch.

Step 10: Bake to Perfection

Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the top turns golden brown and the sauce bubbles around the edges.

Step 11: Final Touch

Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with remaining bacon bits just before serving.

Tips To Improve Green Bean Casserole With Bacon

• Optimize Bacon Crispness: Cook bacon slowly over medium heat to achieve maximum crunchiness without burning, ensuring perfect texture throughout the dish.
• Prevent Soggy Beans: Sauté green beans quickly at high heat to maintain their bright color and crisp-tender texture, avoiding overcooking that leads to mushy results.
• Cream Sauce Smoothness: Whisk cream ingredients thoroughly to eliminate lumps, creating a silky, well-incorporated sauce that coats the green beans evenly.
• Cheese Melting Trick: Sprinkle cheese in an even layer to ensure consistent melting and prevent clumping, delivering a creamy, uniform topping.
• Layer for Maximum Flavor: Distribute bacon, cheese, and fried onions carefully to guarantee each bite contains a perfect balance of crispy, creamy, and savory elements.

Tasty Ways To Change Green Bean Casserole With Bacon

• Vegetarian Green Bean Casserole: Replace bacon with crispy tempeh strips or smoky roasted nuts for protein and crunch. Swap heavy cream for unsweetened almond milk and use plant-based cream cheese for a dairy-free version.
• Low-Carb Green Bean Bake: Eliminate fried onions and use crushed pork rinds or almond flour crumbs as a crunchy topping. Reduce cream sauce quantity and add extra herbs for enhanced flavor profile.
• Herb-Infused Green Bean Casserole: Incorporate fresh thyme, rosemary, and sage into the cream sauce. Add caramelized shallots instead of garlic for a more sophisticated taste experience. Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley on top before serving for added brightness.
• Mediterranean-Style Green Beans: Replace cheddar with crumbled feta cheese.

Perfect Pairings For Green Bean Casserole With Bacon

• Complement with Crisp White Wine: Select a chardonnay or sauvignon blanc with bright acidity to cut through the rich, creamy green bean casserole and balance its decadent flavors.
• Pair with Hearty Red Meat: Serve alongside roasted beef tenderloin or prime rib, which will match the casserole's robust bacon and cheese elements while creating a satisfying main course combination.
• Match with Classic Holiday Protein: Roasted turkey or herb-crusted chicken provide perfect protein companions that enhance the casserole's creamy texture and savory bacon undertones.
• Serve with Crusty Bread: Offer a rustic sourdough or French baguette to soak up the delicious cream sauce and provide a delightful textural contrast to the tender green beans.

How To Store Green Bean Casserole With Bacon

• Transfer leftover green bean casserole to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor preservation.
• Wrap the casserole tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 2 months. Place in a freezer-safe container to prevent freezer burn and maintain quality.
• Thaw frozen casserole in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat uncovered at 350°F for 20-25 minutes. Cover with foil if the top browns too quickly to prevent burning.

FAQs For Green Bean Casserole With Bacon

• How do I know when the green beans are perfectly cooked?

The green beans are ready when they turn bright green and become slightly tender, which takes about 3-4 minutes of sautéing. They should maintain a crisp texture and not become mushy.

• Can I use frozen green beans instead of fresh?

Fresh green beans are recommended for the best texture and flavor, but you can use frozen green beans. Just thaw and drain them completely before sautéing to prevent excess moisture.

• What if I don't have bacon?

You can substitute bacon with pancetta, prosciutto, or even turkey bacon. For a vegetarian option, use crispy shallots or smoked almonds to provide a similar crunchy texture.

Green Bean Casserole With Bacon Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 37 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Crispy bacon elevates classic green bean casserole to new heights of comfort. Creamy, crunchy, and packed with savory goodness, this dish promises to become your ultimate side dish companion at any gathering.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 1 lb green beans, fresh
• 1/2 lb bacon
• 1 cup mushroom cream sauce

Dairy and Binding:

• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Topping and Seasoning:

• 1 cup crispy fried onions
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish with a light coating of olive oil to prevent sticking.
2. Thoroughly wash green beans, trim the ends, and cut into bite-sized pieces, ensuring uniform length for even cooking.
3. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp and golden, then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease and cool.
4. In the same skillet with residual bacon fat, sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
5. Add green beans to the skillet, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for 3-4 minutes until they become bright green and slightly tender.
6. Crumble the cooled bacon and set aside, reserving some for topping.
7. Combine mushroom cream sauce, heavy cream, and sour cream in a mixing bowl, whisking until smooth and well-incorporated.
8. Transfer the sautéed green beans to the prepared baking dish, pour the cream mixture over the beans, and gently fold to ensure even coating.
9. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese and most of the crumbled bacon over the beans, creating an even layer.
10. Top the casserole with crispy fried onions, distributing them evenly for maximum crunch.
11. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling around the edges.
12. Remove from the oven, let rest for 5 minutes, then garnish with remaining bacon bits before serving.

Notes

• Optimize bacon crispiness by starting with cold skillet and gradually increasing heat, allowing fat to render slowly for maximum crunch and flavor.
• Prevent green beans from becoming mushy by blanching them briefly in boiling salted water before sautéing, maintaining vibrant color and crisp texture.
• Create dairy-free alternative by substituting heavy cream with coconut milk and using plant-based cheese options for lactose-intolerant or vegan preferences.
• Enhance flavor complexity by experimenting with different bacon varieties like applewood-smoked or pepper-crusted, adding unique depth to the classic casserole.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 22 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 18 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg