Description
Garlic green bean bake captures classic comfort with a creamy twist of indulgence. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, promising a side dish that satisfies and delights hungry diners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 33 oz (936 g) green beans
- 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, softened
- 10.5 oz (298 g) condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 6 oz (170 g) fried onions
- ½ cup hard cheese, grated
- ½ cup milk (almond milk as substitute)
- 2 medium garlic cloves, minced
- ⅓ cup walnuts, chopped
- ¼ cup scallions, finely chopped
Instructions
- Prepping Station: Ignite the oven to 350°F (176°C), establishing a warm culinary environment for the green bean creation.
- Sauce Fusion: Whisk cream of mushroom soup, whole milk, cream cheese, and garlic in a mixing bowl until achieving a luxurious, velvety texture that promises rich flavor complexity.
- Bean Integration: Drain green beans thoroughly and delicately fold them into the creamy sauce, ensuring each bean becomes a carrier of decadent flavor without compromising structural integrity.
- Initial Assembly: Incorporate two-thirds of crispy fried onions directly into the green bean mixture, distributing crunchy elements for a multitextural experience.
- Baking Technique: Transfer the verdant mixture into a baking dish, smoothing the surface to guarantee uniform heat distribution and consistent cooking throughout the casserole.
- Primary Roasting: Bake for 25-30 minutes, allowing ingredients to harmonize and develop a tantalizing, bubbling landscape of flavors.
- Finishing Flourish: Strategically layer remaining fried onions, grated hard cheese, and optional chopped walnuts across the surface, creating a golden, crunchy crown.
- Final Crisp: Return to oven for an additional 4-5 minutes, vigilantly monitoring to achieve a perfectly bronzed, crisp topping without scorching.
- Resting Period: Let the casserole settle for 2-3 minutes post-baking, enabling sauce stabilization and flavor intensification.
- Presentation: Garnish with delicately chopped fresh scallions, introducing a vibrant, herbaceous note to the rich, creamy masterpiece.
Notes
- Optimize Ingredient Temperature: Bring cream cheese and milk to room temperature before mixing to ensure a smoother, lump-free sauce that blends more easily.
- Master Onion Crunch: Reserve some crispy fried onions for topping, ensuring a delightful textural contrast between the creamy base and crispy exterior.
- Prevent Soggy Disaster: Drain green beans thoroughly to avoid excess moisture that could make the casserole watery and less appetizing.
- Cheese Upgrade Option: Experiment with different hard cheeses like Parmesan or aged Gruyère to add depth and complexity to the dish’s flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 185
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg