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Brown Butter Green Bean Casserole (Best Easy Family Recipe)

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This brown butter green bean casserole is a from-scratch twist on the classic, featuring a rich, nutty cream sauce and a crispy topping. It’s simple enough for a Tuesday night yet special enough for holiday feasts.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for blanching water
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated if possible
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup crispy fried onions
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

  1. Blanch the green beans: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare an ice water bath. Add green beans and cook for exactly 3 minutes. Transfer to ice water for 2 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
  2. Brown the butter: In a large skillet, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Swirl occasionally until it foams, turns golden, and develops brown specks with a nutty aroma. Remove from heat immediately and pour into a heat-safe bowl.
  3. Sauté mushrooms and onions: Return skillet to medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the brown butter. Add mushrooms and cook without stirring for 3-4 minutes. Add onion and cook 4-5 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
  4. Make the cream sauce: Sprinkle flour over the mushroom mixture and stir for 1 minute. Slowly pour in milk while whisking. Add broth, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in remaining brown butter and sour cream.
  5. Assemble the casserole: Preheat oven to 375°F. Add blanched green beans to the skillet and stir to coat. Transfer to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
  6. Make topping and bake: Combine crispy fried onions, panko breadcrumbs, melted butter, and Parmesan (if using). Sprinkle over casserole. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbly. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Watch the butter carefully when browning—it can go from perfect to burnt in seconds. For make-ahead, assemble completely and refrigerate up to 24 hours; add 10 minutes to baking time. Double the topping for extra crunch. Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and reheat well.

Nutrition

Keywords: green bean casserole, brown butter, Thanksgiving side dish, easy family recipe, from scratch, comfort food

Find it online: https://fizzlefork.com/brown-butter-green-bean-casserole-best-easy-family-recipe/