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Easy Lighter Cheesy Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Onions

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A lighter, homemade version of the classic green bean casserole, featuring a creamy cheese sauce and crispy fried onions. This recipe skips the canned soup for a fresh, flavorful side dish perfect for holidays or weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ pounds (680 grams) fresh green beans, trimmed and halved
  • 2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons (24 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups (480 ml) low-fat milk
  • ½ cup (120 ml) low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 ½ cups (170 grams) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • ½ cup (50 grams) Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced into rings
  • 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
  • 1 cup (120 grams) all-purpose flour (for coating)
  • ½ cup (60 grams) panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
  • Vegetable or canola oil for frying (about 2 cups / 480 ml)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Trim and halve the green beans, then blanch for exactly 3 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking. Set aside.
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute until nutty. Slowly whisk in the milk and broth in three additions, whisking constantly. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until thickened.
  3. Reduce heat to low and stir in the cheddar and Parmesan until melted and smooth. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
  4. Separate onion rings and soak in buttermilk for 10 minutes. In a shallow bowl, mix flour, panko, smoked paprika, and garlic salt.
  5. Heat oil in a deep skillet to 350°F (175°C). Working in batches, dredge onion rings in the flour mixture and fry for 2-3 minutes until golden. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt.
  6. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large bowl, toss blanched green beans with cheese sauce. Transfer to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
  7. Bake for 20 minutes until bubbly. Top with crispy onions and bake for another 5-7 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

For best results, shred your own cheese from a block to avoid grainy sauce. Add the crispy onions only during the last 5-7 minutes of baking to keep them crunchy. The casserole can be assembled (without onions) up to 24 hours in advance; add 10 minutes to baking time if starting cold.

Nutrition

Keywords: green bean casserole, cheesy green bean casserole, lighter green bean casserole, crispy onions, Thanksgiving side dish, holiday side dish, easy green bean casserole

Find it online: https://cookluma.com/easy-lighter-cheesy-green-bean-casserole-with-crispy-onions/