For a long time I didn't like green bean casserole. To me it was usually too mushy in texture. (Yes, mushy. That's a word people older than kindergartners use, right?) I also thought it was sort of a weird pairing: green beans with creamy soup (if you make it with condensed soup, that is). But the first time I ever made it, I used fresh green beans, and my opinion changed. Forever. I made a version last year that I really liked. But this year I wanted to create something a little more decadent (if you can make green bean casserole decadent) and a little spicy. I love spicy.
Pepper Jack Green Bean Casserole, makes 8 ramekins or one 8×8 casserole pan.
Needed: 1 1/2 to 2 lbs fresh green beans, 1 cup chopped mushrooms, 1/2 yellow onion, 1 tablespoon oil, 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, 3 tablespoons flour, 1 1/2 cup whole milk, 2 cups veggie broth, 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese, salt + pepper for seasoning and french fried onions for the topping.
Remove the ends of the green beans and chop into 1 inch pieces. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the green beans until just tender. Remove from water and allow to cool. Keep in mind they will continue to cook a little more. So if they are already as soft as you prefer, then you can add them to an ice water bath to stop the cooking process. I usually skip this step though. Honestly.
In a small pot saute the chopped mushrooms and onions in the olive oil over medium heat until the onions have soften. Set aside.
In a pot melt the butter. Add the flour and whisk to combine. Allow this to cook/bubble for 2 minutes. Now add the milk and broth. Stir to combine. Add in the cheese. Season with a little salt and pepper if needed. Now add in the green beans, onion/mushroom mixture and stir so every bean is coated. Pour this mixture into ramekins or your square baking dish. Top with french fried onions. You can make this the night before and then bake at 350°F for 24-26 minutes before serving.
Enjoy! xo. Emma
68 Comments
My husband always said he hated green bean casserole. But I’ve been making this for Thanksgiving for the past several years (and sometimes in between!), and it’s a big hit with him and our 5 boys. Thanks so much for the recipe!!
I have made this for two Thanksgiving dinners and the recipe on the blog is always very runny. Add an extra 8 tablespoons of flour or more as well as double the cheese and its turns out great. As explained on the blog, though, it is much too runny to be good.
Thanks Emma! I will def. try less stock next time. Regardless it was delish and a hit at the company potluck. You and Elsie are my daily muses <3 Thank for bringing beauty and inspiration back into my life 🙂
Sheli La Mont- Hmmm… it is very liquid before you bake it. But as you bake it lots of the liquid bakes out or is absorbed by the green beans. You might check your measurements again? Or you can always just use less stock. Good luck!
Is it supposed to come out so watery?? What did I do wrong :'( lol
I made this for Thanksgiving! Very yummy! Thanks for the recipe. It tasted fresh and decadent.
thanks so much for this recipe! i love love love green bean casserole and this recipe just blew my old one out of the water! i made it for my family on thanksgiving and it was a def. crowd pleaser! thanks so much!
Emma this looks amazing, but do you have a recommendation for a gluten free topping other than the onions? Will it work without them??
I’ve just tried this out and it’s so yummy! I’ve used oyster mushroom for some extra health power and since you can’t buy true pepper jack in my country I used some kind of cheese with black and green peppers and chilli peppers. All the dish was warm, spicy and very satisfying. Thanks for the recipe! Greatings from the Czech republic!
These look super yummy!
http://www.leslimarie.com
This looks SO yummy! I’ve not seen a green bean casserole before. Definitly something I will give a go 🙂
http://www.little-beast.blogspot.com
Yummm!!
We made this for our Friendsgiving last night! Will blog about it soon! Thanks Emma!
We share the same apron 🙂
Jaqi, I got it from http://www.threadsence.com/ a couple seasons ago. Also, I’m wearing an apron from Anthropologie. XOXO
This sounds so so yummy.
Zoe
http://gypsiesister.blogspot.co.uk
hey while the cassarole sounds great.. im more interested in your outfit! where did you get that lace top???
Ooo I can’t wait to try this.
I grew up here in California eating grilled chicken, veggies and salads and mexican and asian dishes, though not strictly a healthy eater and definitely not a vegetarian, believing a meal wasn’t quite a meal without some veggies. I didn’t realize this was a “California” way of eating until I married a man raised in Utah, fed on a steady diet of midcentury style one-dish strictly meals and condensed soup casseroles. I’m not saying that’s necessarily bad, but every time I think “oo, they like _____ casserole made that way, wait til they try it with REAL ___.” and then no one likes mine ‘cuz they want what they’re used to (like my whole wheat mac and cheese casserole with a surprise layer of spinich–I promise it was still super cheesy and tasty)! I learned the hard way that they don’t WANT real mashed potatoes topping their shepard’s pie! I agree with you though– why ever use mushy canned stuff when there’s a choice??? I’m going to make this green bean casserole and be the only one who appreciates it, but I’ll quietly know (in a smug, self righteous way) that I’m right! This looks sooooo much better than that mushy ol Campbell’s stuff!!!! More for me 🙂
Sounds amazing! I think my husband wold love this!
Yummy! Looks so delicious, I will have to try this out!
X
http://kendra-genevieve-rose.blogspot.ca
Yay!!! A version that doesn’t use canned creamed soup!
Looks delicious! Going to have to try this!
Also, I blogged about my 4 Simple Goals! Take a look:
http://queenofoz.blogspot.com/2012/11/4-simple-goals-before-2013.html
Wow! they look delicious! 🙂
http://inavintageworld.blogspot.com.es/2012/11/take-part-in-raffle-participa-en-un.html
I wonder if this would get my boyfriend to eat green beans. Probably not, but it is worth a try.
This looks delicious, I love any kind of (vegetarian) casserole. Great inspiration!
Yummy!!
http://blossomgirl1.blogspot.ro/
Love that you put these in individual ramekins! Sounds delicious!
xo eden
http://edenmarie44.blogspot.com
Yum! I’me getting more and more into cooking each time I see yours x
http://www.thebutterflywing.blogspot.com
I am a huge fan of casseroles so I’m definitely going to have this one!!!!!
Cx
Ps. Check out my Dad’s famous Rice Bean casserole recipe, it’s such a time saver and it’s SO yummy!
http://mixedmediumstheatre.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/rice-and-beans-and-cheese.html
I have never tried anything like that (seems a bit weird to me), but it looks so nice and you praised it well enough to convince me that it worths giving it a try!!!
http://www.fashionatint.blogspot.com
So delicious and such pretty pictures!
LUXESSED
this looks so amazing, must try it! xx
Alice Barton ♥ The Mow Way
girls you are always the best 😀
x
http://www.ireneccloset.com
green bean dish has always been one of my very favorites – what a great twist. looks delicious.
this actually sounds good …. compared to the usual boring “mushy” casseroles!
grace
http://herumbrella.com
Mushy it right! Nothing compares to homemade green bean casserole prepared with fresh beans! So yummy. I have a recipe for “The World’s Greatest Green Bean Casserole”. And it really is, but I think even it could benefit from some spice. Thanks for the idea. Looks like we will be kicking Thanksgiving up a notch!
Cheers!
Rebecca Jean of Midnight Maniac
ModCloth Blogger of the Moment
See my namesake dress and interview here>>> http://tinyurl.com/dxospjw
Ohh great idea on making the casserole a little spicy!
Isn’t That Charming.
It looks so tasty, but I chuckled since the first thing I noticed wasn’t the food, but the apron. Antropologie? Pretty sure my two and a half year old daughter has the same one. It’s a great apron! Now if I could just get her to cook me casserole 🙂
MMMMMMMM!! Wanna cook it right now! 😉
http://doitnaturalnow.blogspot.com.es/
Looking forward to making this for Thanksgiving with my dad.
The green bean casserole was always my job to make growing up! I love it so. However, once I started making my own fried onions, it definitely stepped up the flavor. Of course, I have to fry like three whole onions worth because no one can keep their hands off them!
This sounds so good! I’m not really a fan of green bean casserole, either, even though I actually love green beans. Gonna definitely give this a try soon!
it’s always sounds yummy. 🙂
http://lovesimplegreen.blogspot.com
as i was reading this blog post, i found myself saying ‘yes’ ‘me too’ ‘uh huh’. so making this!
this looks awesome!! i love green bean casserole and i LOVE spicy, too! yummm. did you make your own french fried onions?
This is a fabulous recipe, very close to my mother’s recipe. She had two differences: 1) she used cream instead of whole milk 2) she used 1/2 to 1 cup of Burgundy and then the remainder of the liquid was either beef broth or chicken broth depending on whether she was serving it with beef or poultry.
We love green bean casserole and pepper jack cheese! What an incredible pairing! Thank you
It looks delicious!!! will try them out!!
Kisses
<3Val
http://www.beautyval13.blogspot.com
This makes me so hungry! I love the blouse in the photo, by the way. Stunning taste as always
What a sweet look to have this baked in ramekins! And the recipe looks so good, I definitely like the idea of fresh green beans as opposed to canned.
Yum!
Valentina
http://valentinaduracinsky.blogspot.com/
Looks delish.
Random: your recipes are great but I find them hard to read when you list ingredients. I much prefer when recipes are laid out in a “real” recipe format (a column of ingredients, with one per line), because that’s a lot easier to follow.
Just my two cents. Keep on keeping on.
Wow. Like always looks yummy.. For that reason I like your blog. Have a great day.
http://www.fashiondenis.com/
I love the idea of using small ramekins…I never like green bean casserole before either, but I love greenbeans. Maybe I’ll have to give this one a try 🙂
xx Ashleigh
http://www.ashflynn.blogspot.com
LOVE the apron AND the blouse. Where did you get them!? So cute! And this looks so yummy! I’ll have to try it!
jennybodell.blogspot.com
looks yummyyy and your dress is cute!
http://iamturquoise.blogspot.com
This looks gorgeously delicious!! And I must say, your lips in this picture are perfection. Everything’s lovely. Have a lovely weekend. xx. Lou.
Perfect vegetarian dish for my Thanksgiving, love this! xo
http://thecharleygirl.com
Yummy! I will try!
My daily outfits in Miami in http://cravingforbarneys.com
Everything is always better when it’s fresh. I like green bean casserole well enough, but this sounds like green bean casserole 2.0!
Fyi, still my go-to recipe for green bean casserole every single thanksgiving. My family insists I make it.
This sounds so good! I am a fan of your ordinary green bean casserole, like a lot! But This sounds… decedent! For sure! I must try this! Pinning now!
looks lovely! i love spicy too, pj is my favorite cheese.
I want to make this kinds…right now! Looks (and sounds) just incredible!
http://www.theironyou.com
oh yummy! I’m totally on a green bean kick, and I love that this is made with pepper jack. So good!
Thanks Emma!
These are my favorite two things combined. I can’t wait to make this next week!
How yummy! Perfect for my upcoming friendsgiving. Thanks for sharing Emma!
Melissa
http://shakeshakee.blogspot.com
mmmmm!this look delicious!yummy!!!im going to try this on the weekend!thank you so much for sharing xxxx