This Vegan Green Bean Casserole is the perfect Thanksgiving side: delicious, easy to prepare with fresh green beans, creamy mushroom sauce, and crispy fried onions, and a make-ahead option.
The tender green beans contrast with the velvety mushroom sauce, while the crispy fried onions add a satisfying crunch. Plus, this dish brings warmth and comfort to your holiday meal.
What makes this casserole special is its make-ahead option, which liberates time for preparing other dishes and enjoying quality moments with loved ones on Thanksgiving Day.
Looking for more vegan Thanksgiving recipes? Check out my Vegan Mushroom Gravy, Vegan Turkey, and Vegan Lentil Loaf. They're sure to add a tasty twist to your holiday meal!
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🌟 Why you'll love this recipe
- Bursting with Flavor: This recipe is packed with vibrant and delicious ingredients that create an explosion of flavors in every bite.
- Easy and Quick: It's incredibly simple to prepare, making it perfect for Thanksgiving when you want a satisfying meal without the fuss.
- Make-Ahead Option: This recipe can be prepared in advance, allowing you to spend less time in the kitchen on Thanksgiving Day and more time with your loved ones.
- Healthy and Nutritious: It's a nutritious choice that provides essential nutrients while still being incredibly tasty.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Whether you're serving it to family or guests during the holidays, this recipe is sure to be a hit, earning you compliments and requests for seconds.
🧾 Ingredient notes
Green Beans: Fresh, frozen, or canned green beans can be used in this recipe. If you opt for canned green beans, there's no need to blanch them due to their pre-cooked state.
Vegan Butter: You can use vegan butter for a rich and buttery flavor. Alternatively, consider extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, or other plant-based oils like avocado or grapeseed oil.
Mushrooms: Portobello mushrooms are a flavorful choice for this recipe. However, other excellent options include cremini (also known as baby bella), shiitake, or white button mushrooms.
Each variety brings its distinct taste and texture to the dish, so you can experiment and find the one that suits your taste best.
All-Purpose Flour: For a gluten-free or flavor variation, you can swap out the all-purpose flour with alternatives like a gluten-free flour blend, almond flour, coconut flour, rice flour, or cornstarch.
Adjust the quantity as necessary to achieve the desired thickness in your creamy mushroom sauce.
Unsweetened Non-Dairy Milk: While I personally prefer using unsweetened Soy Milk for this recipe, any unsweetened non-dairy milk will work just fine.
Whether it's Almond Milk, Oat Milk, or Coconut Milk, the key is to ensure it's unsweetened to maintain the savory profile of the dish.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
📋 Variations
- Spicy Kick: Add some heat with a touch of hot sauce or ½ teaspoon of chili flakes for those who enjoy a bit of spice.
- Herb-Infused: Elevate the flavors by incorporating 1-2 tablespoons of fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or sage for a fragrant and aromatic twist.
- Nutty Delight: Introduce ¼ cup (28 grams) of chopped nuts such as toasted almonds or pecans for a delightful crunch and added depth of flavor.
- Creamy Coconut: Infuse a tropical flair by incorporating ½ cup (120 milliliters) of coconut milk into the recipe for a creamy and exotic twist.
- Roasted Veggie Medley: Mix in approximately 1 cup (about 150-200 grams) of roasted vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, or zucchini for added color and flavor.
🔪 Instructions
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch (about 23x33 cm) baking dish with vegan butter or cooking spray. Set aside.
Step 2. In a large pot, bring water to a boil over high heat. Add trimmed green beans and cook for 5 minutes for a firmer texture or 8 minutes for a softer one. Drain and set aside.
Step 3. In a large skillet, melt vegan butter over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion until it's soft and lightly browned, for about 3-4 minutes.
Step 4. Add garlic and mushrooms, stir, and sauté until they become soft and golden brown, for about 8-10 minutes.
Step 5. Add flour and cook for 1-2 minutes over medium heat, stirring often.
Step 6. Slowly pour in the milk and stock while stirring until well combined.
Step 7. Season with salt and black pepper, then stir and cook over medium-high heat until the sauce thickens.
Step 8. Add the green beans and stir to combine.
Step 9. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and top with the crispy fried onions.
Step 10. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until it's heated through and bubbling around the edges, checking occasionally to ensure your fried onions aren't burning.
💭 Expert tips
- Freshness Matters: Use the freshest green beans you can find for the best flavor and texture in your casserole.
- Uniform Size: Try to cut the green beans into similar sizes to ensure even cooking and consistent texture.
- Perfect Blanching: When blanching the green beans, cool them in ice water to halt the cooking process and maintain their vibrant green color. That is completely optional though.
- Thicken the Sauce: Ensure the sauce cooks until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. This will prevent the casserole from being too runny.
- Even Distribution: When adding ingredients to the casserole dish, make sure the green beans are evenly distributed for consistent results.
❓Recipe FAQs
It can typically last in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days when stored in an airtight container. It's essential to refrigerate it promptly after it has cooled to room temperature.
If you have any concerns about its freshness or safety, always use your judgment and inspect it for any signs of spoilage, such as an off smell or unusual texture, before consuming.
Certainly! It can be frozen for longer storage. Ensure it's cooled completely, then transfer it to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag, and label it with the date.
When ready to enjoy, thaw in the fridge and reheat in the oven until heated through.
Keep in mind that freezing might slightly affect the texture of the green beans, but the flavor should remain intact. It can typically be frozen for about 2-3 months.
Start by thawing them if frozen. Then, transfer the casserole to an oven-safe dish, cover it with foil, and bake at 350°F (180°C) for approximately 15-20 minutes until it's thoroughly heated.
If you'd like to restore the crispy topping, simply remove the foil for the last 5 minutes of reheating. Afterward, serve and enjoy your delicious meal!
Keep an eye on it to prevent overcooking, as reheating times may vary based on the casserole's size and your oven.
Absolutely! You can make it ahead of time for convenience.
After preparing it, including blanching the green beans and making the sauce, assemble the casserole in your dish but don't bake it immediately.
Instead, let it cool to room temperature, cover it, and refrigerate for up to 1-2 days.
When ready to serve, preheat the oven, take the casserole out (let it sit briefly at room temperature), and bake as per the recipe.
You might need a bit more baking time to ensure it's heated through. This time-saving option simplifies your meal preparation.
Yes, absolutely! You can make this recipe in a cast iron skillet, and the beauty of it is that you can cook and bake it all in the same skillet. There's no need to transfer it to a separate baking dish.
Simply prepare it in the skillet and then bake it directly in there. It's a convenient and rustic way to enjoy the dish.
🍂 Other delicious vegan Thanksgiving recipes
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Vegan Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound green beans, rinsed, trimmed, and cut in half
- 2 tablespoons vegan butter , or extra virgin olive oil
- ½ medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced, I used portobello
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk, I used soy milk
- 1 cup vegetable stock
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 6 ounces crispy fried onions
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch (about 23x33 cm) baking dish with vegan butter or cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large pot, bring water to a boil over high heat. Add trimmed green beans and cook for 5 minutes for a firmer texture or 8 minutes for a softer one. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, melt vegan butter over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion until it's soft and lightly browned, for about 3-4 minutes.
- Add garlic and mushrooms, stir, and sauté until they become soft and golden brown, for about 8-10 minutes.
- Add flour and cook for 1-2 minutes over medium heat, stirring often.
- Slowly pour in the milk and stock while stirring until well combined.
- Season with salt and black pepper, then stir and cook over medium-high heat until the sauce thickens.
- Add the green beans and stir to combine.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and top with the crispy fried onions.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until it's heated through and bubbling around the edges, checking occasionally to ensure your fried onions aren't burning.
Notes
- Freshness Matters: Use the freshest green beans you can find for the best flavor and texture in your casserole.
- Uniform Size: Try to cut the green beans into similar sizes to ensure even cooking and consistent texture.
- Perfect Blanching: When blanching the green beans, cool them in ice water to halt the cooking process and maintain their vibrant green color. That is completely optional though.
- Thicken the Sauce: Ensure the sauce cooks until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. This will prevent the casserole from being too runny.
- Even Distribution: When adding ingredients to the casserole dish, make sure the green beans are evenly distributed for consistent results.
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