Our green beans recipe is simple and easy to follow. It is a classic Thanksgiving recipe you can keep around for any occasion.
Plus, green beans are versatile; you can boil, sauté or steam them, all while retaining nutrients. We combined them with cheese and a creamy mushroom sauce to create a crunchy casserole rich in umami flavor.
Nutritionwise, it will provide you with fiber to boost digestion. And it’s excellent for incorporating into various diets for its low-carb and low-calorie features.
If that sounds enticing to you, why not try it with us? Read on to find out more about this healthy casserole and how you can prepare it.
String Beans vs Green Beans
“Green” beans is a generic term referring to varieties of similar-colored beans, and string beans can fall under this category.
But “string” more signifies an earlier era, one where we grew up being assigned odd jobs at the kitchen counter. Especially during the frenzy of preparing for Thanksgiving (even with the help of canned mushroom sauce).
Watching grandma— or yourself— snap a bean in half, you’d notice a piece of string unraveling down its middle. These were the common type of beans.
But now they’re outdated and replaced by a stringless variety that shares the same “snap” feature. This is why most green beans are also known as snap beans.
Yet that’s not the only interesting fact about green beans. Here’s where their versatility kicks in.
Are Green Beans Keto?
You may have heard that beans are forbidden in a keto diet, but green ones are among the few exceptions. In fact, they are excellent for the keto diet because they are low in carbohydrates.
The bonus is that 40% of those carbs are fiber, giving you a further boost for digestion and weight loss.
But they’re not only keto. They are low-carb, gluten-free, paleo, vegan, and vegetarian.
It explains why they are one of the most popular home-grown produce. You can incorporate them into almost any diet with added health benefits, some of which we explain below.
Is This Recipe Healthy?
Our recipe is a healthy one that we’ve successfully balanced with flavor and nutrition for a remarkable Thanksgiving. It contains plenty of nutrients, including vitamin C and fiber.
Here are some other essential nutrition points concerning our green beans casserole.
1. Carbs
We recommend this recipe for keto as well as low-carb diets because of its low carbohydrate profile. A cup of green beans contains about 10 grams of carbohydrates, a relatively low amount.
That said, carbs aren’t bad at all. They can fuel you with energy, and if you incorporate them in moderate amounts, they will help, not harm you.
2. Calories
This green bean casserole contains 228 calories per serving. We’ve cut off a big chunk of calories by using fresh ingredients and homemade mushroom soup.
Don’t let the festive season rush hour get to you. It’s worth shaving off calories by spending a little more time making your own casserole.
Plus, this dish includes plenty of fiber and protein to create a healthy, balanced dish.
What Goes Well With Green Beans?
We can admit that green beans, healthy as they are, taste better combined with more full-flavored ingredients. The following are some easy additions to this green bean dish.
1. Bacon
Bacon adds rich flavor to any dish. The greatest part is you never need it in large amounts.
A little will add enough fat, saltiness, and umami to complete a green bean dish. So use it sparingly for a tasty and well-balanced meal.
2. Mushroom
To hit the right notes, our classic green bean casserole had to include mushrooms. The two are an age-old combination that’s stuck around for a good reason.
Most can agree that mushrooms are chewy, they add savory flavor, and they make an excellent creamy soup.
3. Carrot
Carrots go great with green beans because of their similar textures. You can saute them together and preserve their crunch, adding a subtle sweetness to the finished dish.
4. Onion
Chopping onion is definitely worth the tears, especially when sauteed like we did in this green beans recipe. It releases a sweet flavor that compliments the beans and ties this dish together.
How to Cook Green Beans
Green beans are super simple to cook, and there are a couple of ways to do so. Boiling and sauteeing are two quick methods you can use; here we employ both methods.
1. How Long to Boil?
Your preference matters most when it comes to boiling greens.
Some like softer green beans to match the mushroom texture. If you’re one of those people, boil them for up to 10 minutes until they’re slightly pale.
You can tell they’re done if they’re limp and give way when stirred.
If you enjoy beans with a crunch, boil for only 5 minutes until they’re tender but still firm. The result is a crunchy green bean that’s not too tough and adds an interesting texture to the overall dish.
2. Sauteed Green Beans
Sauteeing green beans is a great way to impart flavor while preserving their crunch. Get a large pan and heat it over high heat, and add butter or olive oil along with the beans.
Mix and toss them for 5 minutes until they’re cooked, and add any seasonings like garlic while they’re sizzling hot. Stir once more to mix them in and serve the dish hot.
How Long Do Cooked Green Beans Last in the Fridge?
Cooked green beans can last up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
They may still be edible by the fourth day if you limit their air, heat, and light exposure. But taste a bit to completely make sure they are fresh and uncontaminated.
How to Freeze
You can store both uncooked and cooked green beans in the freezer. You just need a Ziploc bag to ensure that they are not exposed to air.
Once secured, keep them frozen for a maximum of 3 months, or until you’re ready to use them. Leave the green beans at room temperature to thaw, and then cook or reheat them before serving with a meal.
What to Serve With Green Beans
Our creamy green-bean casserole is sufficient to serve essential vegetables (and fungus, too) in one skillet. But to make a rounded meal, pair it with comparatively filling dishes.
Here are some of our suggestions:
1. Mashed Potatoes
The evoked sense of creamy and smoothness is a beautiful sensation. And because mashed potatoes are mellow on the palate, they accompany the crunchy casserole with a pleasantly relieving texture.
Sweet potato mash, or fries, also pair well with this casserole.
2. Roast Turkey/Chicken
You can also turn this dish into a main by adding some high-protein foods. Turkey is a typical Thanksgiving pairing, but if you’re not feeling overly festive, use chicken instead.
Meat always goes well with veggies; there’s a reason for the stereotypical meat and 2 veg. But you can also pair it with one of our healthy vegetable dishes for a full vegetarian meal.
It’s always a good idea to pair a vegetable dish with foods that fulfill other food groups such as carbs and proteins. Most importantly, pick a dish that you and your family will love and enjoy with this green beans casserole.
Green Beans Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz green beans halved
- 7 oz carrots sliced and halved
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 10 oz mushrooms sliced
- 7 oz onions sliced
- 3 tsps garlic minced
- 2 tsps fresh thyme
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp heavy cream
- 1 1/4 cups unsalted chicken broth
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 3/4 tsp chicken bouillon
- 1/2 oz grated parmesan
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Instructions
- Bring a medium-sized pot of water to boil. Add carrots and cook for 4 minutes. Remove carrots (leave the water on the heat) and drain using a slotted spoon. Add green beans to the boiling pot and boil for 4 minutes. Remove and drain.
- Heat a skillet to high heat. Add ½ the olive oil, all the garlic, thyme, flour, black pepper, chicken bouillon, and only 1 cup of chicken broth. Cook for 3 minutes. Add heavy cream and stir for 30 seconds. Remove from heat.
- Heat a skillet to low heat and add the remaining olive oil and onions. Cook for 6 minutes until they turn a caramel-brown color. Add mushroom and increase heat to medium. Cook for 10 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low and add carrots and green beans. Stir then add the sauce and the remaining chicken broth. Cook for 3 minutes. Sprinkle parmesan over the casserole and stir to mix well. Serve hot.
Nutrition
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