Fresh Ingredient Green Bean Casserole

4 from 2 votes

Fresh Ingredient Green Bean Casserole

Green bean casserole is a holiday classic. This recipe is a fresh take on this crowd favorite. Made from scratch using 100% FRESH ingredients, the taste cannot be beaten!

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Total Time45

Course: Side Dishes

Cuisine: Kid-Friendly

Keyword: green bean casserole

Servings:

Ingredients

2 lbs fresh green beans
4 slices bacon cut into 1/4" pieces
3 cloves garlic minced
8 oz sliced white mushrooms
1/2 large onion chopped
4 tbsp butter
2/3 cup flour
2 1/2 cups whole milk plus extra for thinning if needed
1/2 cup half and half
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp cardamom
1 cup sharp cheddar grated
1 cup panko bread crumbs
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Blanch the green beans: Cook the trimmed beans in boiling, salted water for about 3-5 minutes until they are bright green.Immediately plunge them into an ice bath to stop the cooking and preserve their color and texture. Set to the side.
Add the bacon pieces to a skillet over medium heat. Cook the bacon for 2 minutes, and then add the sliced white mushrooms, garlic and onions, and continue cooking until the bacon is done (but not crisp) and the onions are golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
In a separate saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Sprinkle the flour into the pan and whisk immediately to evenly mix it into the butter. Cook for a minute or 2, and then pour in the milk and half-and-half. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, while the sauce thickens, about 2 minutes. Add salt, black pepper, cayenne, cardamom and and then add the grated cheese. Stir while the cheese melts. Turn off the heat.
Add the bacon/onion mixture and stir to combine. Add in the green beans and stir gently to combine. Pour into a baking dish and top with panko. Bake until the sauce is bubbly and the panko is golden – approximately 30 minutes.

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