Traditional green bean casserole is amped up in flavor with Parmesan cheese and garlic. A fun variation for your holiday table from scratch.  Parmesan Garlic Green Bean Casserole adds something special to your feast!
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The “typical” green bean casserole that a lot of people find on their holiday tables is traditionally made with cream of mushroom soup and canned fried onions. I grew up on this and there is definitely a nostalgia to it. One year I decided to make it from scratch instead and OH MY! It is just amazing and completely worth the additional steps and time to make it. Sometimes I will skip making my own fried onions and use the canned kind, but I will ALWAYS make the sauce from scratch now.
This Parmesan Garlic Green Bean Casserole boasts some extra flavor from adding Parmesan cheese and a heavy hand of garlic. The flavors are prominent but do not overpower the rest of the foods on your plate.
There is always SO MUCH COOKING happening on holidays, but I will always make a green bean casserole from scratch now. What I really love about this recipe is you can easily make the fried onions (or use the canned version) and the casserole itself ahead of time. Just keep the onions separate. Then when you are ready to serve, pop the onions on top and finish baking the casserole. I will spend at least one day making absolutely everything I can in advance for holiday meals so when the day comes, I can spend more time with friends and family, and less time in the kitchen.
This Parmesan Garlic Green Bean Casserole is such a fun and delicious twist on a classic recipe. A green bean casserole is one of my favorite traditional dishes to have at the holiday table. It just doesn’t feel like the holidays without it!
Find more of our holiday recipes and leftover recipe ideas here!
Parmesan Garlic Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients
Fried Onion Topping
- 1 large yellow onion,
- 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons milk approximately
Green Bean Casserole
- 1 pound green beans
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 8 ounces mushrooms sliced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup vegetable stock
- 1 cup milk
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese divided into 1/2 and 1/4 cups
- 4 ounces sliced water chestnuts (1/2 of 8 ounce can)
Instructions
- Prepare the fried onion topping. Preheat the oven to 475F. Slice the onion thinly. Place onion in a small bowl. Add the remaining fried onion topping ingredients and toss to combine. Use as much milk as is necessary for it to just stick together.
- Spread the dredged onion out on a silicone baking mat lined baking sheet. Bake until just golden brown, approximately 20-30 minutes. Toss the onions at least once during baking to toast all sides. When done, set aside.
- While the onions are cooking, prepare the green beans. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Trim the beans and cut into 1-2 inch long pieces. Add the green beans to the boiling water and cook until just blanched, 5 minutes. Remove the beans from the hot water. Immediately drain the beans and put them in a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
- Make the sauce. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium high heat. Add the mushrooms, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine and cook until the onions just start to release some liquid, approximately 3-5 minutes.
- Add the garlic cloves and nutmeg. Stir and cook another 1 minute until fragrant.
- Sprinkle the flour on top of the mushrooms and stir to combine. Cook for one minute to slightly toast the flour.
- Add the vegetable stock and cook for one minute. Reduce the heat to medium low and add the milk. Cook until the sauce has slightly thickened, approximately 5 minutes.
- Remove the sauce from the heat and add the water chestnuts and 1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Stir to combine until the cheese is melted.
- Add the green beans to the sauce and stir. Season the sauce to taste as needed with salt or pepper.
- When ready to serve, heat oven to 400F. Place the green bean mixture in a casserole dish. Top with the fried onions and remaining 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Bake until bubbling, approximately 10-15 minutes. Serve immediately.