Print

Easy Kid-Approved Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Fried Shallots

green bean casserole with crispy fried shallots - featured image
Print Recipe

A quick and easy green bean casserole with a homemade cream sauce and crispy fried shallots. Perfect for family dinners, potlucks, and holiday gatherings, this dish is a crowd-pleaser that comes together in about 45 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ pounds fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups whole milk
  • ½ cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
  • ½ cup heavy cream (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 4 large shallots, thinly sliced into rings (about 1 ½ cups sliced)
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour (for shallots)
  • ½ teaspoon salt (for shallots)
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper (for shallots)
  • ½ cup buttermilk (or regular milk mixed with 1 teaspoon lemon juice)
  • Vegetable or canola oil, for frying (about 2 cups)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Trim and cut green beans into 2-inch pieces. Boil for exactly 3 minutes, then transfer to an ice water bath. Drain and pat dry.
  2. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add sliced mushrooms and cook for 5-6 minutes until browned. Add diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until soft. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
  3. Sprinkle flour over the mushroom mixture and stir for 1-2 minutes. Slowly pour in milk and broth, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens (3-4 minutes). Stir in heavy cream (if using), salt, pepper, garlic powder, and nutmeg. Remove from heat.
  4. For the shallots: In a shallow bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and pepper. In another bowl, pour buttermilk. Heat 2 inches of oil to 350°F. Dip shallot rings in buttermilk, then dredge in flour. Fry in batches for 2-3 minutes until golden. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt.
  5. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread blanched green beans in the dish, pour cream sauce over, and stir to coat. Top with two-thirds of the fried shallots.
  6. Bake for 20-25 minutes until bubbly and hot. Let rest for 5 minutes. Top with remaining fried shallots before serving.

Notes

Don’t skip blanching the green beans for best texture. Watch oil temperature when frying shallots (350°F). Make sauce up to 2 days ahead. Add most shallots during last 5 minutes of baking to keep them crispy. For dairy-free, use olive oil and oat milk. For gluten-free, use gluten-free flour blend.

Nutrition

Keywords: green bean casserole, crispy fried shallots, kid-approved, easy side dish, holiday side dish, comfort food, potluck recipe

Find it online: https://bitesienna.com/easy-kid-approved-green-bean-casserole-with-crispy-fried-shallots/