Loaded Green Bean Casserole Recipe with Cream Cheese (2024)

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This Loaded Green Bean Casserole Recipe is the perfect way to cook up green beans for an everyday dinner or a special holiday. Not only does this delicious side dish have loads of flavor, but it's one of those easy recipes that the whole family will love.

Loaded Green Bean Casserole Recipe with Cream Cheese (1)

Green bean casserole is a favorite side dish for any time of year. Creamy green beans at Thanksgiving dinner are a staple, and let's not forget the rest of the holiday season, too. But this delicious green bean casserole recipe is a new favorite for the summertime months. You can literally make this any day of the week and take a simple meal to the next level of flavor.

What I love about this green bean casserole recipe with cream cheese is that it takes a classic side dish and turns it into a loaded version that includes cheese, bacon, and more. Delicious recipes like this prove that it doesn't take a lot to create.

Be sure to check out thisAir Fryer Frozen Green Beans recipe for another fun way to cook this healthy vegetable and an easy way to add veggies to your daily intake. Find out how to get tender green beans from frozen in no time at all.

Loaded Green Bean Casserole Recipe with Cream Cheese (2)

Ingredients

Green beans - You can use fresh green beans or frozen green beans. Whatever works best for your needs.

French fried onions - These are the crispy addition to the casserole and on top.

Shredded cheese - You can mix and match cheese options every time you make this dish. We normally use white cheddar cheese.

Crumbled bacon - If you want to cut out some of the fat, crumbled turkey bacon works well.

Cream of mushroom soup - This is the creamy texture that holds everything together.

Sour cream - Adds richness to the dish.

Mayonnaise - You can use light mayonnaise as well.

Cream cheese - This will melt nicely and add a rich creaminess to the cheese sauce in the casserole.

Salt - To taste. You can also add a little black pepper if you want.

​Garlic powder - For flavor. Dried minced garlic also works well.

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How to Make Loaded Green Bean Casserole Recipe with Cream Cheese

Step One: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8X8 baking dish with butter or non-stick cooking spray.

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Step Two: Mix the ingredients for the sauce (follow the recipe card below) in a large mixing bowl.

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Step Three: Once mixed, fold in the green beans, ½ cup of the onions, cheese, and bacon.

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Step Four: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.

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Step Five: Add the rest of the french-fried onions, bacon, and cheese on top.

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Step Six: Place the pan on the middle rack in the oven and bake the green bean casserole recipe with cream cheese for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Expert Tip: Be sure to let the casserole cool some before serving because it will firm as it cools down.

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Variations

The best thing that you can do for this loaded casserole recipe is to experiment with the flavors. You can up the cheese, lower the cheese, add more spices - anything that you'd like. Any way that you make this casserole dish is going to yield great flavor results and will be a win-win.

Use canned green beans - We really prefer fresh or frozen green beans but if you need to you can use canned. Just use canned green beans or French style beans instead.

Use a different canned soup - Cream of mushroom is my choice, but you can also use cream of chicken soup, too.

Change the type of cheese - You can use sharp cheddar, Monterey jack, white cheddar, pepper jack, or any other pre-shredded cheese.

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Common Questions

Can I make my own homemade crispy onions?

You can! Since the flavor and texture are a great addition to this classic green bean casserole, why not kick up the flavor by making your own? If you slice the onions thin and then cook them in the air fryer, you can make your own crispy onions in no time at all.

This can also happen with crispy bacon, too. Add the bacon in a single layer to your air fryer or deep skillet and cook the bacon until it is nice and crispy. You then crumble and add.

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What else would I pair with this for a holiday meal?

Anything that you want. This traditional green bean casserole would pair well with ham, turkey, and anything cranberry. Did I mention that this not only looks great on the Thanksgiving table, but it tastes great as leftovers as well?

For any time of year try it along with ourUltimate Chicken Casserole Recipe.

How do I store leftovers?

Once the casserole has cooled down, store any leftovers in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge. When you are ready to eat, you can reheat for 2-3 minutes or however long it takes to heat the dish all the way through. The crunchy onions will likely no longer be crunchy once reheated, but the flavor and taste will be there.

Loaded Green Bean Casserole Recipe with Cream Cheese (12)

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Recipe

Loaded Green Bean Casserole Recipe with Cream Cheese (13)

Loaded Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Loaded Green Bean Casserole Recipe with cream cheese, cheddar, & bacon takes a traditional green bean casserole to a new level.

5 from 27 votes

Print Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Calories 241.1 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1.5 lb green beans fresh or frozen, steamed
  • 1 cup french fried onions divided
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese divided
  • 1 cup crumbled bacon divided

Sauce:

  • ½ cup cream of mushroom soup
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • ½ cup mayo
  • 4 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350. Grease an 8x8 baking dish.

  • Combine the sauce ingredients in a large bowl.

  • Fold in the green beans, ½ cup onions, ½ cup cheese, and ½ cup bacon.

  • Add the green bean mixture to the prepared pan.

  • Top with the remaining onions, cheese, and bacon.

  • Bake on the middle rack for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. If the topping gets too brown cover with foil or move to the lowest rack.

Nutrition

Calories: 241.1kcalCarbohydrates: 7.8gProtein: 8.7gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 8.2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4.6gMonounsaturated Fat: 3.7gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 42.5mgSodium: 746.6mgPotassium: 168mgFiber: 1.6gSugar: 2.6gVitamin A: 678.3IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 107.8mgIron: 0.7mg

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Loaded Green Bean Casserole Recipe with Cream Cheese (2024)

FAQs

Which is better in green bean casserole canned or frozen? ›

When I make green bean casserole, I skip canned beans all together. Frozen green beans are the best green beans to use for green bean casserole.

Should green bean casserole be soupy before cooking? ›

Green Bean Casserole from Scratch FAQs

Cover and freeze until you are ready to bake. You can bake start from frozen without adding the onions until the casserole has already baked for about 20 minutes. Should green bean casserole be soupy? No, your green bean casserole should not be soupy.

How do you keep green bean casserole from getting mushy? ›

Green Bean Casserole Tips

Don't overcook the green beans: Remember when you are blanching the green beans that they will continue to cook and soften while baking in the oven with the rest of the casserole. So it's important to undercook them slightly during this first step so that they don't get mushy in the oven.

How to add flavor to canned green beans? ›

Instructions
  1. Pour the cans of green beans into a pot liquid and all.
  2. Add the beef bouillon, bacon bits, dried minced onion, salt and pepper.
  3. Stir everything together, bring to a simmer and let cook for 10-15 minutes.
  4. Serve and enjoy!
Jul 25, 2023

Can you overcook green bean casserole? ›

The Green Beans Are Mushy

The first is simply that you overcooked them, and they lost their shape and texture.

Are canned green beans less healthy than fresh? ›

Only have canned on hand? Don't worry — they're still nutritious. “Canned green beans have a similar nutrient content to fresh or frozen,” says Whitson. “But choose low-sodium varieties, or rinse them before cooking to remove any added salt.”

How do I thicken up my green bean casserole? ›

Before you add your topping, try to thicken the casserole with flour or cornstarch so the topping sits on top and doesn't sink to the bottom. If you're freeing up your oven by making your casserole in a slow cooker or a pressure cooker (like an Instant Pot), don't add your topping until it hits the serving dish.

How many ounces are 4 cups of green beans? ›

✿ 4 cups of green beans is about 1½ pounds fresh or 16 ounces frozen or 2 cans (15 ounces each) drained.

How long can green bean casserole sit out before baking? ›

How Long Can Green Bean Casserole Sit Out? The casserole can sit out at room temperature for about an hour, then it should be reheated or stored in the fridge.

Do you drain canned green beans? ›

If you're trying to limit your salt intake, draining and rinsing your canned beans before using them is never a bad idea. If you're a purist like me–who wants to be in control of the amount of added salt (while skipping the glossy film) in your dish–then yes, drain and rinse those beans first.

Why do my green beans taste rubbery? ›

Undercooked green beans are rubbery; overcooked are mushy. If you are boiling beans, simply begin tasting them after a few minutes. At first you will have a hard time biting through them. As the texture softens, the green beans are closer to being perfectly cooked.

Why do my canned green beans taste funny? ›

You may have noticed something off in the taste of canned vegetables — a metallic essence that throws the whole flavor profile out of whack. The reason for this metallic taste lies in the canning process. Canned vegetables are packed in saltwater, which can pick up the flavor from the metal around it.

How to jazz up green beans? ›

11 Ways To Upgrade Your Green Beans
  1. Sauté in a skillet. From_my_point_of_view/Getty Images. ...
  2. Boil and serve cold. Margouillatphotos/Getty Images. ...
  3. Make them crispy in the air fryer. Cavan-Images/Shutterstock. ...
  4. Roast them with lemons. ...
  5. Steam in a foil pack. ...
  6. Season with multiple spices. ...
  7. Add a savory taste with bacon. ...
  8. Go nuts.
Jan 30, 2023

Which is better frozen or canned green beans? ›

Green Beans: Depends

Sure, frozen green beans may be higher in nutrients than canned, but we feel the optimal choice depends on how you're going to utilize them. If you're serving them solo, frozen green beans are the way to go. If they're being added to a cooked dish or casserole, canned green beans are just as handy.

Is canned or frozen better? ›

Frozen produce is blanched (cooked in hot water quickly) and that affects the nutritional value slightly. Canning requires a lot more processing. Aside from certain fruits like tomatoes and pumpkins, canned goods are likely to have less nutritional value than frozen.

Are canned vegetables more nutritious than frozen? ›

"Fresh veggies often taste the best, especially if the vegetable is in season. But the good news is that the nutritional value of a vegetable isn't reduced during either the canning or freezing process — making canned or frozen veggies just as healthy as fresh ones.

Can green bean casserole be frozen? ›

Stored properly, your leftover green bean casserole will last 3-4 days in the fridge. Freezing: Wrap your green bean casserole tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil, freezer wrap or transfer to an airtight container and keep in the freezer for 6 months.

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