Sometimes, dishes become classics because they have that classically delicious, timeless quality that ensures they will live on into eternity.
There’s a good chance this is one of your family members’ favorite casseroles. It sure has become one of America’s favorite Thanksgiving and Christmas vegetable-based casseroles. In fact, some 20 million people make some version of this classic casserole each Thanksgiving, according to The Campbell’s Company.
Dishes like this become classics because they’re so delicious that changing them would mean fixing something that works beautifully. And sheer perfection like this needs no tinkering with.
Timeless dishes always have something so flavorful, so undeniably good about them, that they become favorites for generations. Our grandmothers fixed it for holidays … our mothers fixed it for holidays … So we come to associate green bean casserole with all kinds of lovely things. In this way, our meals are important because they evoke precious memories that fill our hearts with joy, love, and appreciation for all of those we hold dear. They help us recapture those precious times and keep our loved ones alive in our hearts.
This is why dishes like green bean casserole, your grandmother’s red-sauced meatloaf, Salisbury steak, and escalloped potatoes live on into eternity. The memories we’ve built around these dishes give them their awesome power over our senses. Their aroma, taste, and texture trigger our associations with home, comfort, family, friends, and love.
The Timeless Appeal Of Green Bean Casserole And Its Story
The delicious, vibrant flavor of green beans steamed in their own juices, combined with the flavors that exude from the cream of mushroom soup, milk, and seasonings, against those onions crisped to perfection on top—well, that’s why this dish is so incredible. Everything here complements everything else, flavor against delicious flavor.
This recipe works great for the busy holidays or any day you want a delicious side dish because it’s prepped and ready for your oven in 10 minutes or less.
The story behind how green bean casserole came into being is a good one—and it teaches us something about experimenting with new things to keep dishes ever-tasty. Way back in 1955, this casserole was invented by Dorcas Reilly, who was then working for Campbell’s Test Kitchen. She was tasked with inventing a recipe that would be AMAZING with green beans and cream of mushroom soup as a way of promoting the brand’s new cream soup. The addition of crispy fried onions on top was completely her idea—and what a good one it was.
Serving green bean casserole to your family ensures that you’re carrying on family traditions that your children will pass on to their children through the powerful, evocative, shimmering memories great meals can imprint on the heart.
How Do I Store Leftovers?
If kept under loosely wrapped foil, this dish lasts 3-4 days in the refrigerator. After refrigerating, your onions will get a bit soggy, so add some more for crunchy goodness right before reheating in the oven. You can also cover and freeze the baked casserole for up to 3 months, but I suggest waiting until later to sprinkle on the crispy fried onions if you know you will be freezing it. Add the onions when reheating so they have an ideal texture.
Serving Suggestions
I have mini-Thanksgivings many times a year because the combination of turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, and stuffing (plus cranberry sauce) is one of my favorite meals. I also enjoy a day-after-Thanksgiving Dagwood sandwich with cranberry sauce and all. You can try this meal: Slow-Cooker Turkey Breast, Apple and Sausage Stuffing, mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, and this delicious green bean casserole. For dessert, try these delicious Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting.
Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients
- 4 cups cut green beans drained
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 1/3 cups crispy fried onions divided
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a casserole dish, mix together the green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and milk until well combined.
- Stir in half of the crispy fried onions.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes or until the mixture is hot and bubbling.
- Remove the casserole from the oven, stir it, and sprinkle the remaining crispy fried onions on top.
- Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes or until the onions are golden brown.
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