Vegan Green Bean Casserole « Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes (2024)

By Sarah 23 Comments

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My Vegan Green Bean Casserole has all of the classic flavors—crispy fried onions, creamy sauce, bright green beans—everything you remember from your Grandma’s Thanksgiving table. This traditional dish is perfect for the holidays, but simple enough to throw together for a weeknight meal. I first posted this recipe three years ago and it is still a favorite of mine. I’ve now updated it with new pictures to show off what a delicious dish this is!

Vegan Green Bean Casserole « Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes (2)

I am so excited for the Mad Men premier this Sunday! It took me a while to get into this show—I watched part of an episode in the very beginning and wasn’t very excited about it—Irving went ahead and watched it without me and kept telling me that I would really like it and that I should try it again. Then, about a year and a half ago my friend hosted a Mad Men Halloween party. I spent time online looking for 1960’s era clothing ideas and had fun making a jello poke cake for the party. I can’t remember if it was vegan—this was 2 months before I made the switch—but it did use vegan jello. Oh, what’s a poke cake? A poke cake is when you take the cake, poke holes all over the top of it, and then pour the liquid jello over it. When you slice it open there are stripes of colors going through it. So last year, while Irving was on a business trip I decided to give it a shot. I watched entire seasons during each of Irving’s 1 week business trips. And then I caught up—ahh—now I have to watch in real time! I love the costumes, the 1960’s decor, the ad agency dynamics, and the idea of martinis in the middle of the day isn’t so bad either! Reminds me a little of my old graphic design days.

Many of the classic foods from the 1960’s are heavy on milk and butter, but it’s not too hard to veganize them. I got the idea to veganize green bean casserole this past Thanksgiving. My sister in law (who’s vegetarian!!!) was making the classic green bean casserole with Cream of Mushroom soup. I pulled out a few of the green beans and topped them with my mom’s onion gravy (that she had made with vegan butter just for me!), and topped it with a few of the crispy fried onions. The combination of the crispy green beans, crunchy fried onions, and flavorful onion gravy was so delicious, and it really reminded me of the real thing. I’ve made this a few times since then and it never lasts long!

BTW, can you believe that the fried onions are accidentally vegan? Healthy, no, but technically vegan (if you really want to make them “less bad,” make your own!)!

Are you a fan of Mad Men? Are you doing anything special for the premier? VegNews has a whole list of veganized 1960’s Mad Men era dishes that would be perfect for a Mad Men party. And definitely make these green beans—they are delicious, easy, and use only really basic ingredients!

I hope that this delicious casserole lands a place on your Thanksgiving menu this year! If you make it, please take a picture and tag me on social media— @frieddandelions // #frieddandelions —I love to see what you’re working on in the kitchen!

Vegan Green Bean Casserole « Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes (9)

Print Recipe

Green Bean Casserole

My Vegan Green Bean Casserole has all of the classic flavors—crispy fried onions, creamy sauce, bright green beans—everything you remember from your Grandma's Thanksgiving table. This traditional dish is perfect for the holidays, but simple enough to throw together for a weeknight meal.

Prep Time25 minutes mins

Cook Time35 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr

Course: Casserole

Cuisine: American

Author: Sarah De la Cruz

Ingredients

  • 1 large onion
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¼ cup flour sub 2 tablespoons of corn starch for a gluten free option
  • 2 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 bags frozen green beans 10 ounces each, no need to thaw
  • 1 can French's fried onions 3 ounce size is plenty, but feel free to splurge with the 6 ounce can (for a gluten free option make your own, or sub gluten free bread crumbs for a crispy topping)

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a shallow pan. Add onions and stir occasionally while the onions soften and turn translucent. This takes a good 20 minutes, don’t rush it because it gives so much flavor! Once onions are well cooked, add flour and stir well to cook flour, making a roux of sorts. It will be a dry mixture. Add salt and garlic powder. Add water and let simmer for a few minutes and allow mixture to thicken, turning into a gravy. Remove from heat.

  • Preheat oven to 350°.

  • Pour green beans into a square baking dish and add 1/2 cup of onions. Add all of the gravy and stir well to combine (if you think it will be too full to stir, go ahead and mix in a large bowl and then transfer to a baking dish). Place in oven and cook for 30 minutes, gravy mixture will be bubbly. Top with remaining fried onions (1/2 - 1 cup) and cook for 5-10 minutes more. Serve immediately!

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Vegan Green Bean Casserole « Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes (2024)

FAQs

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

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.

What foodborne illness can you get from green bean casserole? ›

Green bean casserole

These are all potential signs of Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium that produces the dangerous botulism toxin.

Why is my green bean casserole always runny? ›

Green bean casserole should have a nice thick sauce that coats the green beans—it should not resemble soup. One common cause of a watery casserole is not adding enough thickener, such as flour or cornstarch, to your sauce.

Which onions are best for casseroles? ›

Yellow onions are perfect for stews, soups, barbecues, roasts and sauces. Avoid eating them raw as they have a strong flavour.

Should you cook onions before putting in casserole? ›

Not par-cooking vegetables, pasta, grains, or rice.

Often a quick 2-5 minutes in the microwave will just give them that great head-start. And if you're using onions in your casserole, you can sauté them for a few minutes to deepen their flavor and avoid any raw onion taste in your finished dish.

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.

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.

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.

Is it safe to eat green bean casserole left out overnight? ›

According to the USDA, food that has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours should be thrown away. That's because between 40° F and 140° F (what the USDA calls the "Danger Zone"), bacteria grows incredibly fast and can make you sick.

Why do I feel nauseous after eating beans? ›

Lectin is a protein which can be found in many types of beans, but it's most highly concentrated in kidney beans. Ingesting high doses of lectin can cause diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Lectin in kidney beans is so concentrated that some individuals can become sick after consuming just four or five beans.

How many days can you eat green bean casserole? ›

Green Bean Casserole Leftovers

Your creamy green bean casserole will last about four days in the fridge. The crunchy topping will get softer as time goes by; pop it into the oven to reheat to crisp it up a bit. While casseroles have a reputation for being freezer-friendly, green bean casseroles don't freeze so well.

How do I thicken up my green bean casserole? ›

Start making a slurry, a tool for thickening sauces, by whisking a small amount of cornstarch or flour with water or broth. Whisk until there aren't visible lumps. It should be thick but drizzly in consistency. As you constantly stir, add small amounts of the slurry to the filling.

Are canned or fresh green beans better for casserole? ›

Canned green beans have already been cooked to an inch of their life. Expecting them to not be mushy after you've cooked them into a casserole is a fantasy. Start with fresh green beans, cook them until they are just tender and turn them into a casserole. If green beans aren't in season, use frozen.

What goes well with green bean casserole? ›

Stuffing, cornbread, and rice are also great options that will add some variety to your meal. If you're looking for something a little lighter, a shaved Brussels sprouts salad or roasted sweet potatoes might be just what you need. Another great option is to serve a protein alongside your green bean casserole.

How to cook onions without frying? ›

If you want to sauté onions without oil, use a nonstick pan and add a small amount of water or vegetable broth to help keep onions from sticking. Add chopped or sliced onions and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula.

Can you fry spring onions instead of onions? ›

The spring onion is an immature onion. It has a less pungent taste than a mature onion. They can be eaten raw or cooked. Cooking over a low to medium heat develops their sweetness.

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