This Crockpot Green Bean Casserole is the easiest way to make the old-fashioned side dish we grew up on! Canned green beans cook in a well-seasoned creamy sauce made with cream of mushroom and cream of celery soups.
And those crispy fried onions? I have a simple trick that keeps them crispy (no broiler needed!). Best of all, the slow cooker keeps your oven free. Whether it's Sunday supper or Thanksgiving Day, this green bean casserole has got you covered!
Quick Look: Crockpot Green Bean Casserole
- ⏲️Ready in: 2 hours 40 minutes
- 👪Serves: 8-10
- 🥘Key Ingredients: Canned French-style green beans, cream of mushroom soup, cream of celery soup, soy sauce, green onions, crispy fried onions.
- 🍳Method: Crockpot (slow cooker)
- ⭐Difficulty: Easy
- 👩🍳Texture/Flavor: Creamy and savory with mushroom and celery flavors, a touch of soy sauce for extra depth, and crispy fried onions on top.
- ☀️Best For: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Sunday supper, potlucks, and anytime you need to free up oven space.
- ✅Why You'll Love It: Mostly hands-off, easy to transport, and the Crockpot keeps it warm for serving without taking up oven or microwave space.
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Are you making this green bean recipe for Thanksgiving? I recommend pairing it with my
Jump to:
- Quick Look: Crockpot Green Bean Casserole
- Why You'll Love This Green Bean Casserole
- Ingredient Notes with Photo
- Recipe Variations
- How to Make Crockpot Green Bean Casserole
- Anne's Recipe Tips
- Easy Holiday Meal Plan
- Crockpot Green Bean Casserole FAQs
- More Holiday Side Dish Recipes
- Recipe
- Crockpot Green Bean Casserole
- Comments
Round out your holiday meal with creamy Southern Mac and Cheese and buttery Roasted Sweet Potato Halves. Two easy Southern sides that fit right in alongside this green bean casserole.
Why You'll Love This Green Bean Casserole
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"Tried this today and it was a major hit!!!! This will be the only way I'll make green bean casserole from now on. Thank you!" - Renee
- Hands-off cooking - Toss it all in the crockpot and let it do the work while you focus on the rest of your meal.
- Oven space saver - Leaves plenty of room for turkey, pies, or whatever else you've got baking for Thanksgiving Day.
- Creamy, tender goodness - The green beans cook in a rich, creamy, well-seasoned sauce made with cream of mushroom and cream of celery soups.
- Perfect timing - No rushing to get it on the table. It stays warm till everyone's ready to dig in.
- Potluck hero - Easy to carry and serve straight from the slow cooker (no reheating needed).
- A classic - My mom always made green bean casserole during the holidays; this recipe tastes just like mom's -- the slow cooker is the only difference.
Craving another slow cooker casserole side dish? This Crockpot Corn Casserole with Jiffy Mix is another easy Thanksgiving and Christmas side dish!
Ingredient Notes with Photo
Canned green beans - I love French style green beans for this recipe because they're soft and tender. Just be sure to thoroughly drain all the liquid before you use them otherwise, the casserole might be a little runny.
Cream of mushroom + cream of celery soups - These two are the creamy backbone of the dish. Together they make a rich, velvety sauce.
Crispy fried onions - The classic crunchy topping for old-fashioned green bean casserole! I have an easy trick for keeping the topping crispy without using the broiler.
Low-sodium soy sauce - Just a little gives the creamy sauce an extra boost of flavor without making it taste like soy sauce. I use low-sodium since the soups and crispy onions are already salty.
Sliced green onions - I use them because they are always available to pick from my garden. I love them because they taste fresh and mild with just a hint of bite.
Minced garlic - save yourself from prep time and use the minced garlic that comes in a jar. If garlic powder is all you have, use ¼ to ½ teaspoon.
Recipe Variations
- Cheese Lovers: Craving a cheesy green bean casserole? This cheesy green bean casserole has Velveeta cheese and a Ritz cracker topping. It's equally delicious yet totally different and oh so lovable!
- Mushroom Lovers: Add 1 cup of sautéed fresh mushrooms to boost that earthy flavor.
- Bacon Boost: Stir in crumbled cooked bacon. Bacon makes everything better!
- Cajun Style: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a South Louisiana flair.
How to Make Crockpot Green Bean Casserole
Photo 1: Lay drained green beans in the bottom of your crockpot.
Photo 2: Blend the soups, green onions, soy sauce, garlic, and pepper. Add to beans.
Photo 3: Cook covered for 2 hours. Add layer of fried onions on top.
Photo 4: Cook another 30 minutes with the lid askew. Why this works: Leaving the lid slightly open lets steam escape so the onions stay crisp instead of getting soggy - no broiler needed!
Photo 5: Serve straight from your crockpot or spoon into your favorite serving dish.
Anne's Recipe Tips
- Drain the beans well. Extra liquid will thin out the sauce. Place the green beans in a colander to drain while you're preparing the creamy sauce mixture.
- Mix the sauce first. Stir the soups, soy sauce, garlic, pepper, and onions together before adding the beans. This makes the casserole extra creamy and evenly coated.
- Don't overcook. About 2-½ hours on low is plenty. Longer can make the beans too mushy.
- Want extra crispy onions? You can briefly toast them under your oven's broiler. But honestly, they'll be warm and crispy simply by leaving the slow cooker's lid askew just a little during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Easy Holiday Meal Plan
So, now that you have this easy crockpot green bean casserole, here's how you can make it a full holiday meal by adding a main dish, another side dish, and a dessert:
- Main Dish - Orange Marmalade Glazed Ham
- Extra Side Dish - Thanksgiving Fruit Salad
- Dessert - Chocolate Chess Pie
These are my suggestions based on my family's likes. Want something different? Please review all my main course meals, side dishes, and desserts for more inspiration!
Crockpot Green Bean Casserole FAQs
Yes! If using frozen, thaw and drain before adding. For fresh, blanch them for 3-4 minutes in boiling water, then drain well. This keeps them tender but not tough.
Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stove with a splash of milk if it seems too thick.
Nope. You can use just cream of mushroom or just cream of celery if that's what you have. You could swap out one of the soups for cream of chicken soup, too.
Yes! Mix everything together, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Cook the next day, adding about 30 minutes to the crockpot time since it'll be cold.
More Holiday Side Dish Recipes
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Recipe
Crockpot Green Bean Casserole
Equipment
- 6 qt slow cooker Stay or Go Crock Pot makes it easy to travel with
- Medium mixing bowl
- measuring cup(s) Magnetic handles keep cups neatly together
- measuring spoons Magnetic spoons stay together in the drawer
- whisk A whisk blends the ingredients together thoroughly
Ingredients
- 3 14.5 oz cans of French Style green beans, thoroughly drained or regular cut green beans
- 1 10.5 oz can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 10.5 oz can cream of celery soup
- ¼ cup sliced green onions include some of the white part if you're a onion lover.
- ½ tablespoon low sodium soy sauce reduced sodium is a must because the soups and fried onions have a lot of sodium in them.
- 2 teaspoons jarred minced garlic equal to 2 cloves of fresh minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2.8 oz crispy fried onions (optional but not necessary: toast them. See recipe notes) such as French's brand. also known as French Fried Onions. Usually located in the salad topping section or canned vegetable isle of the grocery store.
Instructions
- Make sure the green beans are thoroughly drained before using them so that the casserole isn't runny. I usually place mine in a colander in the sink and let them drain while I'm preparing the rest of the ingredients.3 14.5 oz cans of French Style green beans, thoroughly drained
- Place the drained green beans in the bottom of your slow cooker.
- In a medium bowl, blend the cream of mushroom soup, cream of celery soup, sliced green onions, low sodium soy sauce, minced garlic, and black pepper with a whisk. Taste test to check seasoning level; add more soy sauce or black pepper if needed.1 10.5 oz can cream of mushroom soup, 1 10.5 oz can cream of celery soup, ¼ cup sliced green onions, ½ tablespoon low sodium soy sauce, 2 teaspoons jarred minced garlic, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Pour soup mixture on top of the green beans and gently fold together until thoroughly mixed.
- Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 2 hours.
- Remove the lid and sprinkle the french fried onion rings on top (optional: toast them first if you want to; see recipe notes). Cook for another 30 minutes with the lid askew (with the lid cracked just a bit to let the steam out). This will help keep the french fried onions from getting mushy.2.8 oz crispy fried onions (optional but not necessary: toast them. See recipe notes)
Notes
- Mushroom Lovers: Add 1 cup of sautéed fresh mushrooms to boost that earthy flavor.
- Bacon Boost: Stir in crumbled bacon.
- Cajun Style: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a South Louisiana flair.
- Cream of Chicken Soup: You can substitute cream of chicken for the cream of celery soup.
- Drain the beans well. Extra liquid will thin out the sauce. Place the green beans in a colander to drain while you're preparing the creamy sauce mixture.
- Mix the sauce first. Stir the soups, soy sauce, garlic, pepper, and onions together before adding the beans. This makes the casserole extra creamy and evenly coated.
- Don't overcook. About 2-½ hours on low is plenty. Longer can make the beans too mushy.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.
Renee says
Tried this today and it was a major hit!!!! This will be the only way I’ll make green bean casserole from now on. Thank you!
Anne Clark says
Yay Renee! I'm so happy about this...thank you so much for leaving a comment and 5 stars!