Upgrade Your Green Bean Casserole With One Simple Ingredient

You can’t have Thanksgiving without green bean casserole! This classic easy recipe has a twist that makes it so much better—bacon.

Nov 6, 2024 - 13:36

Upgrade Your Green Bean Casserole With One Simple Ingredient

Angled view of a beige casserole dish with green bean casserole along with a serving spoon — Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood

My mom was quite the hostess when it came to holiday gatherings. She set the table better than anyone, always with a crisp linen tablecloth and a beautiful centerpiece with candles. She pulled out her best napkins and napkin rings as well as her collection of china and polished silverware—all to make our dining experience one to remember.

She took pride not just in the table but in the food she served, all made from scratch and all delicious. The turkey was often the star, but I looked forward to my mom’s bacon green bean casserole the most.

My mom would plan ahead where each dish would be placed on the table. My brother and I would beg her to use the empty spots by our seats for the bacon green bean casserole and the basket of warm dinner rolls. She happily obliged, making it easy for us to pile casserole on our plates and devour it, using rolls to sop up any extra bacon-enriched sauce.

Luckily, my mom’s dish is easy to make. If you’ve ever made green bean casserole, then you’re already familiar with the process. The only difference is the addition of a few strips of crispy bacon. A little bacon fat adds flavor to the green beans, and bacon on top adds even more delicious crunch.

Overhead view of a beige casserole dish with green bean casserole along with a red-handled serving spoon resting on a pink hot pad and beige table cloth — Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood

Green Bean Options

My mom always used canned green beans, but fresh or even frozen green beans are great alternatives. To prepare fresh green beans for the dish, you’ll need to blanch them in boiling water for a few minutes and then shock them in ice water first. Drain well, then follow the recipe as written.

If you’re using frozen green beans, thaw and drain any liquid before making the recipe.

Make It Ahead

If this casserole is part of a large multi-dish dinner (like Thanksgiving), consider making it ahead of time. Prepare the recipe up to baking, then cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day. Let the casserole come to room temperature before proceeding with the recipe as written.

More Thanksgiving Classics

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Line a plate with paper towels.

Cook the bacon:

Add the bacon to a large skillet. Turn the heat to medium-low and cook, flipping as needed, until crispy, 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer the bacon to the lined plate to drain.

Warm the green beans:

Remove all but 1 tablespoon of the rendered fat from the skillet. Add the green beans and toss until just warm, about 3 minutes.

Mix and bake:

Meanwhile, mix the soup, milk, Worcestershire sauce and 1/3 cup fried onions together in the bottom of a 1 1/2 quart baking dish (any shape will work). Add the green beans and toss to combine. Bake 20 minutes, then stir.

Crumble the bacon and scatter across the top along with the remaining 1 cup of fried onions. Bake until the onions are golden-brown and crispy, about 5 minutes.

Cover and refrigerate any leftovers and enjoy within 3 days.