As an Allrecipes editor, I’ve learned that “best” is a bold claim. Hundreds of users tag their recipes that way each year—and while most are absolutely delicious, only a few truly earn the title. One such recipe? Best Green Bean Casserole. The holiday side dish, which is beloved by more than 1,000 rave reviewers, is shockingly easy to make with just four (count ‘em, four!) budget-friendly ingredients. The formula is so simple, it feels like magic.
The Magic Ingredients
Green beans: You can use whatever canned variety you like, but most reviewers opt for French-style green beans. Since they’re sliced lengthwise, they cook quickly for a more tender texture.
Canned soup: This store-bought staple is the glue that holds this green bean casserole together with a simple stir. A cheap can of condensed cream of mushroom soup creates a creamy texture and adds savory flavor. Of course, it’s easy enough to substitute cream of chicken or cream of celery soup depending on your flavor preferences.
Cheese: This recipe calls for shredded Cheddar cheese (sharp, mild, or a blend of both is fine), but you can easily spice things up by mixing in Pepper Jack. For the most even melt, opt for freshly grated block cheese instead of the pre-grated stuff.
French-fried onions: The green bean casserole gets its crunch from a French-fried onion topping. If you don’t like or don’t have packaged French-fried onions at your disposal, store-bought or homemade breadcrumbs make an excellent substitute.
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How to Make Our Best Green Bean Casserole
You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe here—but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make our top-rated green bean casserole:
Mix the beans and soup in a microwave-safe bowl, then stir in half the cheese. Microwave until melted.Transfer to a prepared baking dish. Top with fried onions and remaining cheese.Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted and the onions are brown.
Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise
“AWESOME! Truly the best green bean casserole ever. Followed the recipe exactly save for sprinkling on the second 1/2 c of cheese and THEN onions (so they’d stay crispy). Everyone went back for seconds. We’re making this again for Christmas, if not sooner!” —Lyss Elle“This is so delicious! I have made it many times and it is perfectly tasty every time! It’s not just for the holidays! Goes great with a Mississippi pot roast as a side dish!” —kridenour01“My family loved it. It was quick, easy and absolutely delicious!!! From now on, this is the green bean casserole I am making!!!” —Grace Gregory
Get the recipe: Best Green Bean Casserole
Dining and Cooking