Save oven space this holiday season with Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole. Made with fresh green beans and a few mushrooms, no canned soup is needed. It’s creamy and fresh tasting with a crunchy onion topping. Absolutely delicious!
Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole is a must try recipe for Thanksgiving if you have only one oven and are tired of juggling bake times or trying to cram casseroles into the oven with your turkey. Yes, I know Thanksgiving is still over 2 months away, but this recipe is so yummy, you’ll want to give it a few test runs beforehand. That way no explanations needed or judgements passed when you go back for a second plate and pile it high with this green bean/ fried onion goodness.
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Pin ItEven after 6 hours in the slow cooker, the green beans (this recipe uses fresh green beans) manage to maintain a little of their crunch so that they don’t taste like they’ve been cooking half the day. But the rest of the flavors really get a chance to know each other during the slow cook time. And they become VERY good friends. 😉
Everyone knows that the canned fried onions are the best part of a green bean casserole, right? Well this green bean casserole has plenty of them on top, but also some ground fried onions mixed into the casserole. As the casserole cooks they act as a wonderful thickener, plus they add fabulous flavor. Crisping the topping in a skillet creates a nicely browned and crunchy topping without any time spent in the oven.
Now unfortunately this isn’t one of those super easy crockpot recipes where you just throw all the ingredients into the crockpot and magically have a fabulous meal at the end of the day. You do have to dirty some pots and pans. But it is so worth it. The taste of this green bean casserole is amazing. (And I’m not even a huge green bean casserole fan.)
Try it and I promise you Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole will be one more thing you’ll be giving thanks for at the Thanksgiving Table.
More Thanksgiving Sides
- Southern Cornbread Dressing
- Sausage Stuffing
- Savannah Seafood Stuffing
- Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
- Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole
Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients
Casserole
- 1 cup canned fried onions, French’s
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 10 ounces white or cremini mushrooms, cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1 teaspoon pepper, divided
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
- 2 pounds green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3/4 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
Topping
- 2 slices hearty white bread, torn into pieces
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cups canned fried onions
Instructions
- Pulse 1 cup of fried onions in a food processor until finely ground. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat and add mushrooms and sauté until mushrooms release their liquid, about 5 minutes.
- Increase heat to medium-high and sauté until liquid evaporates, about 3 minutes. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, garlic, and thyme. Saute 30 seconds.
- Add flour and ground onions to skillet and cook for 1 minute.
- Slowly whisk in broth and cream and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until sauce gets very thick, about 10 minutes.
- Place green beans in the slow cooker (6-quart slow cooker is best) and stir in sauce. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours.
- Remove lid, stir in cheese and remaining salt and pepper. Turn heat setting to WARM and place lid back on.
- For topping, pulse bread and butter in food processor until coarsely ground. Place bread crumb mixture along with 2 cups fried onions in a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat until golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- When ready to serve, pour green bean mixture into a casserole dish and top with onion mixture.
Video
Notes
This dish can be cooked well in advance and kept warm in the slow cooker, but do not put the topping on until ready to serve for best results.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe Source: adapted from Cook’s Country Magazine
More Great Casserole Recipes
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Can I use frozen green beans?
If I double the recipe for 20 servings do I have to add more cooking time?
It will probably take closer to 6 hours than 5 and it will depend alot on your crockpot. Test a green bean at about 6 hours, and if it is soft enough for your taste, it is done.
Ok thank you Christin
If I double the recipe to be for 20 servings do I have to add more cooking time?
So nice to be able to make green bean casserole in the crock pot!
It turns out perfectly doesn’t it?
If I need to make this in the oven instead of slow cooker, what temp and how long would you suggest?? Thanks so much!
I would do it in a 350 degree oven for about 25 to 30 minutes.
Thanks for sharing such a great recipe and beautiful photo! I loved featuring it in my Slow Cooker Sides roundup (http://holleygrainger.com/slow-cooker-side-dish-recipes/). This is definitely a recipe I will be trying soon!
Thank you for featuring my recipe Holley! Love this green bean casserole!
Can this be made without mushrooms? There is a mushroom allergy in our house!
Yes, you can definitely leave the mushrooms out.
Green bean casserole is a favorite of mine for the holidays, and sometimes just any old day! I like to make it homemade like this, so I love that it can be made in the slow cooker to save on oven space!
This is the ultimate Southern food! Love that bread crumb and onion mixture on top – yum!
Yes! The topping is the best Part!
We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here, but I’m definitely giving green bean casserole a try. Your version looks awesome, Christin! You’ve got me in love with Southern food, all your recipes are fabulous! x