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Pioneer Woman Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Pioneer Woman Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Craving creamy comfort with crispy topping? This Pioneer Woman green bean casserole recipe delivers Thanksgiving magic. Fresh green beans in cheesy mushroom sauce.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Side Dish
Cuisine  Southern American
Servings 10
Calories 285 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs fresh green beans trimmed
  • Ice water bath
  • 6 slices bacon chopped
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 2½ cups whole milk
  • ½ cup half-and-half
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar grated
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • ⅛ tsp cayenne
  • 1½ cups French fried onions
  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs

Instructions
 

Blanch Green Beans

  • Bring large pot salted water to boil. Add trimmed green beans. Cook 3-4 minutes. Bright green, crisp-tender. Drain immediately. Plunge ice water. Stops cooking. Drain dry.

Cook Bacon Base

  • Heat skillet medium. Add chopped bacon. Cook 2 minutes. Add diced onion, red pepper. Cook 4 minutes until soft. Add minced garlic last minute. Remove from heat. Golden delicious.

Make Cheese Sauce

  • Melt butter separate pan medium heat. Whisk flour. Cook 1-2 minutes. No raw flour taste. Slowly whisk milk, half-and-half. Cook thick 3 minutes. Add cheese. Melts smooth.

Season Creamy Sauce

  • Stir salt, pepper, cayenne into cheese sauce. Taste first. Adjust seasoning. Creamy golden perfection. Sauce coats spoon nicely. Sets foundation.

Combine All Filling

  • Mix blanched beans, bacon-veggie mix into cheese sauce. Gentle stir. Even coating. Green flecks peek through white sauce. Beautiful layers form.

Assemble Casserole

  • Pour mixture 9x13 baking dish. Spread even. Sprinkle half French onions, all panko. Golden topping contrast. Ready oven magic.

Bake Until Golden

  • Preheat 350°F. Bake 25 minutes. Sauce bubbles. Topping crisps. Add remaining onions last 10 minutes. Extra crunch. Perfectly browned.

Rest and Serve

  • Let sit 10 minutes. Sauce sets. Easier to serve. Steam rises gently. Holiday aroma fills house. Ready feast!

Notes

  • Ice bath essential. Keeps beans green, crisp.
  • Fresh beans taste best. Frozen works too.
  • Make sauce ahead. Reheat gently.
  • Double bacon for meat lovers.
  • Swap cheddar for Gruyere. Fancy upgrade.
  • Gluten-free flour works perfectly.
  • Add mushrooms for earthiness.
  • Leftover ham instead bacon.
Keyword Pioneer Woman Green Bean Casserole Recipe