Side Dishes
The 3 Top-Rated Green Bean Casseroles, Compared (Plus the 5 Fixes Reviewers Swear By)
The highest-rated versions of Thanksgiving’s most-searched side, and the from-scratch upgrades reviewers swear by.
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Why this ranks: green bean casserole is the #1 trending Thanksgiving recipe on Google Trends’ Thanksgiving page.
The top-rated originals (ratings checked Nov 1, 2026)
We read the reviews on each of these recipes and summarized the changes cooks make most, in our own words. Click through for the full original recipe. Ratings change over time.
- 3 top-rated originals
- 7,304 combined ratings
- 5 reviewer-tested fixes
- Nov 1 ratings last checked
1
Best Green Bean Casserole
Rating checked Nov 1, 2026. Ratings change over time.
A reader favorite on Allrecipes, this version holds a 4.7-star average from 1,137 ratings. Here is what the cooks who made it changed most often.
What reviewers change
- Use fresh green beans, partly cooked so they stay crisp.
- Stir the cheese into the beans, or tuck it under the fried onions so the top stays crunchy.
- Add sautéed mushrooms and garlic, chopped water chestnuts or bacon.
- A splash of soy sauce or Worcestershire deepens the flavor.
- Skip the microwave step and just bake it, about 30 minutes at 350°F.
2
Grandma’s Green Bean Casserole
Rating checked Nov 1, 2026. Ratings change over time.
Pin: Allrecipes on Pinterest
A reader favorite on Allrecipes, this version holds a 4.6-star average from 3,030 ratings. Here is what the cooks who made it changed most often.
What reviewers change
- Sauté the onion in butter (or bacon fat) before making the sauce.
- Cut the sour cream back a little, and add garlic powder and black pepper.
- Use fresh steamed beans or thin haricots verts.
- Swap or mix the cracker topping with crispy fried onions or buttered panko.
3
Roasted Mushroom and Green Bean Casserole
NYT Cooking shows whole stars only. Ratings checked Nov 1, 2026.
Developed by Millie Peartree for NYT Cooking, this version holds a 4-star average from 3,137 ratings and 228 reader comments. Reviewer notes for this one are still being summarized.
The 5 changes reviewers make most, across all three
- Fresh beans, not canned, blanched just until crisp-tender.
- Sauté onions and mushrooms in butter before making the sauce (some use bacon fat).
- Go easy on the sauce. Hold some back and add to taste so it isn’t soupy.
- Crispy fried onions on top, or panko with Parmesan, and a handful stirred into the beans too.
- Assemble a day ahead, but add the topping right before baking.
What you’ll need
- 3-quart casserole dish with a lid. Shop on Amazonor the new release
- Flat whisk, for a lump-free sauce. Shop on Amazon
- Insulated casserole carrier, if you’re bringing it to someone else’s. Shop on Amazonor the new release
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
- 2 lb fresh green beans, trimmed and halved
- 4 tbsp butter
- 10 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 1/2 small onion, minced, and 2 garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 cup chicken broth and 1 cup whole milk (or half-and-half)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan or shredded Gruyère
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg, salt and pepper
- 1.5 cups crispy fried onions, divided
Directions
- Boil the beans in salted water 4 to 5 minutes, then plunge into ice water and drain well.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet and cook the mushrooms until browned and their liquid is gone, about 8 minutes. Add the onion and garlic for 2 minutes.
- Sprinkle in the flour and stir 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the broth, then the milk, and simmer until thick, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the cheese and nutmeg; season.
- Fold in the beans and 1/2 cup fried onions. Spread in a buttered 3-qt dish.
- Bake at 375°F for 15 minutes, top with the remaining onions, and bake 10 more until bubbling.
FAQ
Make ahead? Refrigerate the assembled casserole (no topping) up to a day; add 10 minutes to the bake.
Frozen beans? They work; thaw and pat dry, and skip the boiling.