Green Bean Casserole Recipe, Southern Style

A green bean casserole recipe can vary from region to region, but wherever it is served it is one of the most beloved Thanksgiving side dishes. In this southern variation Cayenne pepper gives the casserole just a little kick.

Also see Thanksgiving recipes: southern cornbread stuffing

Green bean casserole ingredients:

Topping:

• 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 Tbsp bread crumbs
• 1 tsp sea salt

Beans and Sauce:

• 2 Tbsp sea salt
• 1 ½ tsp Cayenne pepper
• 1 pound fresh green beans rinsed, trimmed and halved
• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 12 oz button mushrooms
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg freshly ground
• 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1 cup chicken broth

Green bean casserole instructions:

1. Heat the oven to 475 degrees.

2. Make the topping: Combine the onions, flour, bread crumbs and sea salt in a large bowl and toss to combine. Coat a half sheet pan with nonstick olive oil cooking spray and evenly spread the onions in the pan. Bake on the middle rack of the oven until golden brown, approximately 30 minutes, tossing the onions 2 or 3 times during cooking. Set aside until ready to use. Turn the oven temperature down to 400 degrees.

3. While the onions are cooking, make the beans and sauce: Bring 1 gallon water and 2 tablespoons sea salt to a boil in an 8-quart saucepan. Add the green beans and blanch for 5 minutes. Drain in a colander and immediately plunge the beans into a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Drain and set aside.

4. Melt the butter in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms begin to release some of their liquid, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the Cayenne pepper, nutmeg and garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute. Add the broth and simmer for 1 minute. Decrease the heat to medium-low and add the half-and-half. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens, 6 to 8 minutes.

5. Remove from the heat and stir in one-quarter of the onions and all of the beans. Top with the remaining onions. Bake green bean casserole until bubbly, approximately 15 minutes. Serve immediately. Southern green bean casserole serves 4 to 6.

For many more southern recipes see my blog A Dash of Salty