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This gluten-free green bean casserole is the only gluten-free side dish you need on your holiday menu this year.
Green bean casserole is literally one of my favorite side dishes to have at Thanksgiving. Even before going gluten-free, I would always make a double batch, even if it was just the four of us for Thanksgiving because I could eat all the leftovers. This classic Thanksgiving side dish needed a gluten-free makeover because there was no way I was going to have my menu without it.
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What is green bean casserole?
Traditional green bean casserole is a side dish that is made with green beans mixed with a can of cream of mushroom soup and topped with french fried onions.
Is green bean casserole gluten-free?
No, traditional green bean casserole that is made with canned cream of mushroom soup is not typically gluten-free. Unless the person has stated that they used a gluten-free cream of mushroom soup and gluten-free french fried onions, it is not gluten-free.
Ingredients.
Making green bean casserole gluten-free is easier than you think with only a few simple ingredients.
- Green Beans
- Mushrooms - Use mushrooms that you like; I prefer white or baby Bella mushrooms.
- Garlic
- Gluten-free Cream of Mushroom Soup
- Spices - Salt, pepper, onion powder, and thyme.
- Gluten-free French Fried Onions - You can buy these or make your own. I promise making them yourself is really quick and easy to do, and they taste so much better.
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How to make gluten-free green bean casserole.
- Make an easy homemade gluten-free cream of mushroom soup.
- Saute some mushrooms.
- Add the green beans, garlic, and spices.
- Stir in the gluten-free soup.
- Transfer to a baking dish.
- Top with some gluten-free french fried onions and bake.
Tips and tricks.
- Your green beans matter. - I know traditional green bean casserole is made with canned beans, but using canned beans can make this side dish very mushy because the beans are already very soft. I prefer to use fresh green beans if possible. My second choice is frozen green beans. If you use frozen green beans, be sure to let them defrost before using them.
- Make the gluten-free cream of mushroom soup. - Yes, there are brands that sell it these days, but trust me, don't waste your money. Let me show you just how easy it is to make in only a few minutes. You will have the best gluten-free side dish doing so.
- French fried onions. - Again, you could buy them, but they are not typically sold in mass quantities and tend to be very expensive for what they are. Making our own gluten-free french fried onions takes only a few minutes and adds so much flavor and texture to your casserole.
- Season each layer. - Because there are so many different layers coming together to make this casserole, it's important to make sure each layer is seasoned well and to your liking. I always taste and adjust as I put it together.
- Make this a dairy-free green bean casserole by making a dairy-free cream of mushroom soup and some dairy-free french fried onions.
Green bean casserole FAQ
No, green bean casserole should be baked uncovered until the center of the casserole is hot and bubbly.
Your cream soup should be thick, not runny when you add it to your green beans for making green bean casserole.
If your green bean casserole is runny, there is usually too much liquid present. This can happen if the vegetables have not been cooked long enough on the stove or the cream soup is too thin.
To fix a runny green bean casserole, stir in a little bit of corn starch and place it back into the oven to cook for another 10 minutes, or until the casserole is thicker and the center is bubbly.
Topping suggestions.
Usually, the first instinct to make a gluten-free green bean casserole is to skip the french fried onion topping because you can't find gluten-free ones at the store. I get it; they are not always easy to find.
Making some homemade gluten-free french fried onions are beyond super simple to make with only a few simple ingredients.
If you really don't want to go through trying to find them or making your own, you can top your gluten-free green bean casserole with a few different things.
- Gluten-free bread crumbs
- Gluten-free Panko
- Crushed Pork Rinds
- Blanched Almond Flour
I would suggest tossing these with a little bit of fat like avocado oil or melted butter to help them crisp up better.
Prepping side dishes ahead of time.
I love making this gluten-free green bean casserole ahead of time, so it's ready for Thanksgiving when I want it to be, while also making sure I am not doing everything the morning of. You can prep it ahead of time in a few different ways.
- Prep the ingredients separately and assemble them on the day.
- Prep the cream of mushroom soup ahead of time - The soup can be made and stored in the fridge for up to three days or frozen for longer.
- Make the gluten-free french fried onions ahead of time - Just like the soup, these can be made ahead of time and stored on the counter for up to three days.
- On the day, saute the vegetables, assemble, top and bake.
- Make it entirely ahead of time - You can make and assemble the entire side dish ahead of time. Let it cool, and then place it in the fridge for up to three days before baking it.
Make and freeze for later.
If you really want to make and freeze this green bean casserole, you can.
- Make and assemble the entire gluten-free casserole as if you were going to bake it.
- Let it completely cool.
- Tightly cover the dish in foil and then in plastic wrap to keep the air out.
- Place the casserole into the freezer and freeze for up to three months.
- When you are ready to bake it, let it defrost in the fridge overnight.
- Bake as if it was fresh.
Tip: I suggest using a disposable baking dish if you plan on freezing this casserole. If you are using a regular baking dish, be sure to let it defrost in the fridge and then sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes prior to baking. If you place a cold baking dish into a hot oven, it has a higher chance of cracking.
More gluten-free side dishes
This gluten-free green bean casserole is the perfect gluten-free side dish for Thanksgiving and all your holiday menus. See more delicious sides to go with it below.
📖 Recipe
Gluten-free Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients
Gluten-free Cream of Mushroom Soup
- 1 ½ Cups Diced Mushrooms
- 1 Small Shallot Small diced.
- 3 Tablespoons Butter
- 3 Tablespoons Cornstarch You can also use rice flour or arrowroot starch.
- 1 Cup Chicken Stock You can also use vegetable stock for vegetarian.
- ½ Cup Milk Or use a dairy-free alternative.
- ¾ Teaspoon Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Pepper
- ¼ Teaspoon Thyme
For the gluten-free french fried onions.
- 2 Medium White or Yellow Onions
- 1 ½ Cups Buttermilk See my full gluten-free french fried onion post for a dairy-free alternative.
- 1 ¼ Cups !;! Gluten-free Flour This works best with a rice based blend.
- 1 ½ Teaspoons Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Pepper
- Oil for frying. See full post for alternative cooking methods.
For the gluten-free green bean casserole.
- 4 Cups Green Beans Fresh are best.
- 1 ½ Cups Sliced Mushrooms
- 2-3 Cloves Minced Garlic 2 Teaspoons dried garlic.
- 2 Tablespoons Butter You can also use olive oil.
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
- ½ Teasopoon Pepper
- ¼ Teaspoon Thyme
Instructions
Make the gluten-free cream of mushroom soup.
- Add half of the butter to a skillet over medium-high heat and let it melt.3 Tablespoons Butter
- Once the butter is melted, add the diced mushrooms and shallot. Let them saute until they become soft and they get some color.1 ½ Cups Diced Mushrooms, 1 Small Shallot
- Once the vegetables have cooked some, add the remaining butter and the corn starch. Stir the vegetables and starch until no dry starch is visible.3 Tablespoons Butter, 3 Tablespoons Cornstarch
- Whisk in the chicken stock and milk.1 Cup Chicken Stock, ½ Cup Milk
- Add the spices and let it simmer until it thickens and starts to look like a thick gravy that will coat the back of a spoon.¾ Teaspoon Salt, ½ Teaspoon Pepper, ¼ Teaspoon Thyme
- Set the cream soup aside while you make the rest of the casserole.
Make the french fried onions for topping.
- Slice the onions.2 Medium White or Yellow Onions
- Soak the onions in the buttermilk for at least 15 minutes.1 ½ Cups Buttermilk
- Slightly dry the onions on some paper towels.
- Combine the gluten-free flour and spices into a bowl.½ Teaspoon Pepper, 1 ¼ Cups !;! Gluten-free Flour, 1 ½ Teaspoons Salt, ½ Teaspoon Pepper
- Dredge the soaked onions into the flour to coat.
- Warm your oil until it reaches about 350 °FOil for frying.
- Quick fry the coated onions until they are golden.
- Remove the onions from the oil and let them cool on some paper towels to remove any excess oil.
Make the gluten-free green bean casserole.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, add half the butter and mushrooms2 Tablespoons Butter, 1 ½ Cups Sliced Mushrooms
- Once the mushrooms have softened and gotten some color, add the remaining butter and green beans.2 Tablespoons Butter, 4 Cups Green Beans
- Let the mushrooms and green beans saute until the green beans start to soften, about 5-7 minutes. You want them to release some of their liquid, so you don't end up with a watery casserole.
- Add the minced garlic, and let them cook for another minute, just until the garlic becomes fragrant.2-3 Cloves Minced Garlic
- Add the spices. - Taste your vegetables to make sure they are seasoned to your liking.½ Teaspoon Salt, ½ Teasopoon Pepper, ¼ Teaspoon Thyme
- Stir in your reserved cream of mushroom soup into your green beans and mushrooms.
- Transfer the mixture to a lightly greased baking dish.
Top and bake.
- Top the casserole with your gluten-free french fried onions.
- Preheat your oven to 375 °F.
- Place your green bean casserole into the oven uncovered.
- Bake the casserole in the oven for about 45 minutes or until the center of the casserole is bubbly.
- Let it rest for about 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Your green beans matter. - I know traditional green bean casserole is made with canned beans, but using canned beans can make this side dish very mushy because the beans are already very soft. I prefer to use fresh green beans if possible. My second choice is frozen green beans. If you use frozen green beans, be sure to let them defrost before using them.
- Season each layer. - Because there are so many different layers coming together to make this casserole, it's important to make sure each layer is seasoned well and to your liking. I always taste and adjust as I put it together.
- Make this a dairy-free green bean casserole by making a dairy-free cream of mushroom soup and some dairy-free french fried onions.
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag a photo #grainfreetable or @grainfreetable on Instagram. I'd love to see what you come up with!
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