This easy Crockpot Green Bean Casserole is a holiday lifesaver since it frees up oven space. Get ready to enjoy this 6-ingredient, flavorful side dish that only takes minutes to prep.
You’ll love making Slow Cooker Side Dishes for their ease and convenience!
With the holidays upon us, you need easy side dishes like this Green Bean Casserole. The dish has a creamy, savory flavor with a slight crunch from the fried onions. It’s the perfect complement to savory roast turkey or slow-cooked ham.
It’s also nostalgic, like savory homemade stuffing, creamy mashed potatoes, and sweet yet tart cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving day!
Many grew up with traditional green bean casserole as a Thanksgiving dinner staple. It's now an iconic dish that families love adding to their holiday tables.
With so much to do, here's a Planner for a stress-free Thanksgiving.
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Why This Recipe is Worth Making
- QUICK AND EASY: This holiday classic is such an easy recipe. It’s dump-and-go and frees up time for other dishes.
- OVEN SPACE SAVER: This is the perfect side dish recipe for your slow cooker, freeing up your oven for other recipes like pumpkin pie!
- FEEDS A CROWD: This Thanksgiving Crock Pot Side Dish casserole feeds a crowd perfectly.
Ingredient Notes
- Green Beans: Green beans are the star of the show. We use canned green beans for ease and convenience, but you can also use fresh or frozen green beans in the recipe.
- Condensed Soup: We used traditional Campbell's condensed cream of mushroom soup, but you can also use cream of chicken or cream of celery.
- Milk: We like whole milk for its rich, creamy texture, but you could use low-fat if that’s what you have on hand.
- Worcestershire Sauce: The addition of this savory, punchy sauce enhances its flavor. You can also substitute soy sauce.
- Spices: Dried onion and garlic, plus salt and black pepper to taste.
- French Fried Onions: The crispy onions really bring this dish to life.
Find the full recipe and instructions in the printable recipe card below.
Variations & Substitutions
- Green Bean: You can use 2 pounds of fresh or frozen green beans in your slow cooker green bean casserole. You’ll need to trim and halve the fresh green beans. If you want, blanch them briefly in boiling water for 2-3 minutes and then plunge them into ice water to retain their vibrant green color.
- Cheese: To add richness to the sauce, add 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese or ½ cup Parmesan cheese.
- Condensed Soup: If you're not a fan of mushrooms, cream of chicken soup or cream of celery soup can be suitable alternatives.
- Bacon: Add cooked and crumbled crispy bacon for a smoky flavor.
- Sautéed Mushrooms: Boost the mushroom flavor by adding sautéed fresh mushrooms to the casserole sauce before cooking.
Step-By-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the Beans: Open and drain the green bean cans. Place them in the slow cooker.
2. Mix the Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, milk, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, half of the French-fried onions, salt, and pepper (Image 1). Pour the soup mixture over the green beans and gently stir to combine (Image 2).
PRO TIP: You can add shredded cheddar cheese or Parmesan to the sauce at this point if you want to add extra richness.
3. Cook: Cover with the lid and cook on LOW for about 4 hours or until bubbly and heated through.
4. Add Topping: Just before serving, sprinkle the remaining onions over the top of the casserole (Image 3). Serve warm.
PRO TIP: Optional—If you want an extra crispy top, transfer the slow cooker insert (if it’s oven-safe) to the oven and broil for a few minutes until the onions are golden brown.
Enjoy the easiest and best green bean casserole recipe this year!
Expert Tips
- Equipment: For this classic crockpot green bean casserole recipe, we used a 6-quart slow cooker, but you can also use a 4-quart slow cooker. Remember that cooking times may vary slightly depending on your specific slow cooker, so keep an eye on it the first time you make it.
- Add Toppings at the End: To keep the crispy texture of the fried onions, add the remaining as a topping for the last 30 minutes of cooking. So good!
- Serve Promptly: Easy Green bean casserole is best served promptly after cooking to maintain its crispy topping and delicious flavor. However, your slow cooker can keep it warm throughout your meal.
- Make-Ahead: Combine all the ingredients except the onion topping. When ready to cook, transfer the mixture to a crock pot and cook as instructed.
- Serving: You can leave the casserole in the slow cooker or transfer it to a casserole dish for your holiday meal.
Storing & Reheating
Here's a guide for storing and reheating all your Thanksgiving recipes.
Refrigerator: Store leftover crock pot green bean casserole in an airtight container (or covered in plastic wrap) for 4-5 days. Note that the onions will soften when stored.
Reheating: To crisp the topping again, reheat in a 350-degree F. oven until heated through. You can also microwave for about a minute, but the topping will lose its crispness.
Recipe FAQs
What should the consistency of green bean casserole be?
Green bean casserole should have a thick, creamy sauce that coats the green beans. This is topped with crispy fried onions.
Green bean casserole can be stored in the fridge for 4 - 5 days. It will lose its crunchy topping, but you can reheat it in the oven to crisp it up a bit.
While green bean casserole is best eaten fresh, you CAN freeze it. Assemble it (minus the topping), store it in an airtight container, then freeze it for up to 3 months.
More Crock Pot Side Dishes
Love this Crock Pot Green Bean Casserole recipe? Please leave a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a review in the comment section further down.
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Printable Recipe
Crock Pot Green Bean Casserole
Equipment
- 6-quart Slow Cooker
- Spatula or cooking spoon
Ingredients
- (3) 14.5 ounce cans green beans (drained)
- (2) 10.5 ounce cans condensed cream of mushroom soup (or cream of chicken)
- ½ cup milk (we like whole milk)
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (you can sub fresh minced garlic)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1¾ cup French fried onions (divided)
Instructions
- Prepare the Beans: Place drained green beans in the slow cooker.
- Mix the Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, milk, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, half of the French-fried onions, salt if desired, and pepper. Pour the soup mixture over the green beans and gently stir to combine.
- Cook: Cover with the lid and cook on LOW for about 4 hours or until bubbly and heated through. HIGH for about 2-3 hours.
- Add Topping: Just before serving, sprinkle the remaining fried onions over the top of the casserole. Serve warm.
Notes
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- Add Toppings at the End: To keep the crispy texture of the fried onions, add the remaining as a topping for the last 30 minutes of cooking. So good!
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- Serve Promptly: Easy Green bean casserole is best served promptly after cooking to maintain its crispy topping and delicious flavor. However, your slow cooker can keep it warm throughout your meal.
- Doubling the Recipe: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled and will fit into a 6-quart crock pot.
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- Make-Ahead: Combine all the ingredients except the onion topping. When ready to cook, transfer the mixture to a crock pot and cook as instructed.
- Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 4-5 days.
Chris Friedgen
How many does this serve?
Thank you
Erin Henry
We estimate the recipe serves about 8 people. However, that can vary depending on how large the serving are for the individuals.
Natasha
This recipe is super flavorful and I love that it’s so easy to make, it only takes minutes to prep!
Erin Henry
Yes! This Thanksgiving recipe is so easy to make and feeds a crowd so well.
Abby
Loved that this was made with kitchen staple ingredients. Didn't even have to go to the store to make this! Turned out so yummy.
Faye
With just 6 ingredients, it's a flavorful side that frees up oven space. Prep in minutes, Easy and nice! recommended!
Erin Henry
Thanks for giving it a try, Faye. This is one of the recipes you'll make again and again.