The Best Green Bean Casserole Recipe From Scratch (without Mushroom Soup)
If you usually pass on this dish, try my Green Bean Casserole recipe without mushroom soup or canned green beans!
A house divided. On one side, you have my husband. He LOVES green bean casserole. It’s one of his favorite things to eat on Thanksgiving and he is a purist when it comes to the recipe. He likes it just like his Grandma used to make it with canned soup, canned green beans, and French’s crispy onions.
And then there’s me. I always intentionally avoided green bean casseroles. To be honest, I like most green bean recipes, but I avoid canned green beans in ANYTHING, let alone with canned cream of mushroom soup. It is NOT for me. Why are canned green beans are so… waxy?
BUT after a heated conversation about the subject one day, I realized I should just try to make my own version. I promised I wouldn’t even try to make it “healthier” – no non-dairy milk or vegan anything. And I’ll even keep the crispy onions! He’s gotta go for that, right?
Well… he refused to tell me it was on par with his grandma’s, but he still ate it! And I liked it, which we can’t really say for the OG recipe. So, without further ado…. here’s how to make green bean casserole with fresh green beans – and NO canned soup!
How to Make Green Bean Casserole without mushroom soup or canned green beans!
Ingredients
24 oz green beans, ends trimmed, and cut into bite sized pieces
1 tsp salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 oz white button mushrooms, stems removed, wiped clean and cut into small pieces (about 3 cups chopped)
½ cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and pepper
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups chicken broth
1 cup half and half (I like to use Ripple’s Half & Half – it’s non dairy!)
Store bought crispy onions (measure with your heart!)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and fill a large bowl with ice water.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil with 1 tsp salt. Once boiling, add green beans and cook until tender, about 7 minutes.
- Drain the beans and add them to the ice bath.
- Add butter to pot over medium heat. Once melted, add chopped mushrooms, chopped onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook for about 8 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Add flour and stir constantly, adding little bits of broth at at time.
- Once the flour has dissolved, gradually stir in the rest of broth. Continue stirring.
- Add half and half, and bring the mixture to a simmer. Let it reduce for about 10-15 minutes.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed.
- Add green beans to the sauce and stir until all of them are coated.
- Add to a baking dish and bake for 10 minutes.
- Take out and top with crispy onions, then bake for another 5 minutes.
- Serve immediately!
I’m on board now…
The key to this recipe for me, is the mushroom sauce. I may not understand love for the canned version, but I figured few things can rival mushrooms, onions, and garlic sautéed in butter, right? I can get on board with THAT. Especially since after the mushrooms, onion, and garlic cook, you whisk in some flour and broth to create a little rue… and then add half & half. See?! I told you I wasn’t going to try to make it too healthy! Even the purists can’t deny that this is still rich and indulgent and comforting.
And as I’ve been told, no green bean casserole is complete without crispy onions! I totally wanted to make my own crispy onion topping, but then I thought… baby steps. We’ll introduce this version first, and then see what else I can get away with 😉
Are you a fan of green bean casserole?
Do you make it with canned green beans/soup or do you make it from scratch? I love to hear everyone’s preferences and traditions – especially around the nostalgic holidays!

Green Bean Casserole with Fresh Green Beans (and NO canned soup!)
Ingredients
- 24 oz green beans, ends trimmed, and cut into bite sized pieces
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 12 oz white button mushrooms, stems removed, wiped clean and cut into small pieces (about 3 cups chopped)
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- 1 cup half and half (I like to use Ripple's Non Dairy Half & Half)
- Store bought crispy onions (this amount is up to you!)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and fill a large bowl with ice water.
2. Bring a pot of water to a boil with 1 tbsp salt. Once boiling, add green beans and cook until tender, about 7 minutes.
3. Drain the beans and add them to the ice bath.
4. Add butter to pot over medium heat. Once melted, add chopped mushrooms, chopped onion, salt, and pepper. Cook for about 8 minutes.
5. Add minced garlic and cook for another 2 minutes.
6. Add flour and stir constantly, adding little bits of broth at at time.
7. Once the flour has dissolved, gradually stir in the rest of broth. Continue stirring.
8. Add half and half, and bring the mixture to a simmer. Let it reduce for about 10-15 minutes.
9. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed.
10. Add green beans to the sauce and stir until all of them are coated.
11. Add to a baking dish and bake for 10 minutes.
12. Take out and top with crispy onions, then bake for another 5 minutes.
13. Serve immediately!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 174Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 1380mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 5gSugar: 8gProtein: 6g
Want to remember how to make green bean casserole without mushroom soup or canned green beans on Thanksgiving? Pin the image below!
PS. You might also like Crockpot Cranberry Apple Sauce, Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts, and The Best Vegetarian Stuffed Mushrooms.
November 8, 2018 @ 10:32 am
Looks delicious! I love making my own Green bean casserole! My relatives ask for it each year!
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November 16, 2018 @ 2:04 pm
I usually pass on this, but my best friend is joining us this year and this was her one request. I’m going to with your approach…will report back!
November 19, 2018 @ 7:53 am
Let me know how it goes!!
November 24, 2020 @ 1:10 pm
Can this be made in advance?
November 24, 2020 @ 2:31 pm
Hey! If you want to make it in advance, I would stop at Step 11 – before you add the crispy onions. Then, when you’re getting closer to dinnertime, put it in the oven to reheat and then add the crispy onions. That way you won’t end up with a soggy topping!
December 1, 2020 @ 8:24 am
I’m usually a canned green bean casserole person, but gave this a try for thanksgiving this year and they turned out so much better! Will never go back to the canned version. Even my guests who don’t usually like green bean casserole loved this!
December 1, 2020 @ 9:04 am
OMG this just made my WHOLE DAY!!!! I am so glad you and your guests loved it!! Thanks so much for sharing!!!
November 13, 2023 @ 6:32 am
This was yummy but I had trouble w the sauce being too thin anyone have any tips?
Thank you
November 13, 2023 @ 8:05 am
Hi Shari, Thanks for trying out the recipe and commenting!! If your sauce is thin, try letting the broth reduce a little bit more before you add the half and half in. Then let it reduce again for that full 10-15 minutes I mention in the recipe. I also personally like using Ripple Half and Half instead of dairy half and half (it’s just a high protein/non dairy alternative) which works really well if you have any interest in trying that. And lastly, if you are prepping this to store in the fridge before baking it for the actual dinner, pull it out of the fridge to bring it to room temperature before you bake. Hope those tips help!!
November 20, 2023 @ 3:28 pm
Can it be the white or baby bella mushroom?
November 21, 2023 @ 8:35 am
Yup, those will work too!