Slow Cooker Fresh Green Bean Casserole uses premium frozen green beans and a homemade sauce for a healthier and even more delicious holiday side dish!
I must share with you that my absolute favorite holiday of all is Thanksgiving. I guess that’s fitting for a food blogger since Thanksgiving tends to revolve around all the food! This year I’m going to be cooking a 22 pound turkey since we always have everyone at our house for the holiday. And I’m pretty excited that I already purchased our bird this year since last year we were scrambling to find a one big enough to feed everyone (plus, leftovers!! Mandatory!). But that big old turkey is going to be taking up all that precious oven space. I am actually lucky enough to have a bottom drawer oven as well but that is going to be filled with all of our yummy rolls baking away. So, what in the world to do about all the necessary sides? Well, every year I get all my slow cookers going and this year will be no exception. But there will be one difference! I just went and bought myself a casserole slow cooker and did a test run with this amazing from scratch Slow Cooker Fresh Green Bean Casserole!
For this version of a green bean casserole you will start out with browning up some delicious thick cut bacon! In that you will saute up some shallot and garlic until crispy and then using a little flour and broth you will make a nice little sauce. But this is a holiday after all so let’s just add a nice cup of heavy cream as well! Add it over some premium frozen thin cut green beans and top it all off with some fresh shredded Parmesan cheese. Amazing!! The best part? This cooks PERFECTLY in the casserole slow cooker! Woohooo! We took down the entire test pan of this and vowed to make a double batch on Thanksgiving day.
Okay fine, I get it. No green bean casserole is complete without crispy onions. Go ahead and toss those on top for the last 15-30 minutes and you have a perfect finish. Leave the crock on warm until you are ready to eat and it will keep perfectly.
MY LATEST VIDEOSHere’s a link to the slow cooker I used on Amazon. You can usually find them at Target and Wal-Mart too!
I was super pleased with how well this slow cooker “baked” my casserole. Everything cooked evenly and the cheese melted perfectly over the top. I use this slow cooker for so many things so make sure to check out this post for more ideas!
*This is not a sponsored post, just a product I purchased and loved! I’m excited to share it with you! This post does contain affiliate links.*
Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole uses premium frozen green beans and a homemade sauce for a healthier and even more delicious holiday side dish!
- 24 oz frozen extra fine green beans
- 2 slices thick cut bacon chopped finely
- 1 medium shallot minced (about 1/4 cup)
- 2 cloves minced garlic I used jarred
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon seasoning blend Italian or steak blend
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
- 6 oz container fried onions
- Spray crock with nonstick spray
- Add frozen green beans to crock
- In skillet over medium high heat saute bacon until lightly browned, around 3-5 minutes
- Add shallots and saute for another 1-2 minutes until they just start to brown
- Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute
- Add flour evenly to pan and stir to coat bacon, shallots and garlic
- Slowly add chicken broth while stirring until smooth
- Let simmer for about 4-6 minutes until sauce thickens enough to stick to spoon
- Add cream and seasonings and let continue to simmer for another 3-4 minutes until thick and heated through
- Pour sauce over green beans in crock and toss lightly to evenly coat
- Sprinkle with cheese and cover and cook on high for 2.5 to 3 hours or low for 5-6
- About 15 minutes before serving sprinkle with onions and let heat on high until lightly crispy
Want even more Thanksgiving dinner ideas? Check out this post with all my favorite tips!
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This green bean casserole looks like it could be a family favorite, hands down! And what’s Thanksgiving without green bean casserole? It’s a must! 🙂
I think I might have to buy my Mother in Law that crock pot! And I love green bean casserole too!
That would be a great gift, Amy! I love it and I have a long list of recipes I want to try out in it 🙂
I like that it doesn’t use canned soup, the casserole is attractive and it saves precious oven space!
Win, win, win.
Yes, it just tastes so much fresher!! 🙂
I made this for Thanksgiving. I made a couple of changes – used fresh green beans and added some sliced mushrooms (sauted them with the onion). My husband said “keep this recipe” it is the best I have tasted! And it was nice using the slow cooker.
Thanks for the great recipe!
That’s great!! I’m so glad you were able to enjoy this for Thanksgiving!
This casserole was fantastic!! I am so happy it does not use canned soup. I have already made it twice. The only thing I did a little different was to put the casserole in my oven uncovered that last 15 minutes as it was already on for other foods. It was perfect. Nice crispy fried onions and super tasty sauce. I love this sauce so much I was wondering how it would be with say frozen broccoli and cauliflower for example. I will be trying that version this morning for our Church dinner.
I’m so glad you liked it! Make sure and let me know how it turns out with the other veggies!
I cant wait to try this recipe.
Thanks! Let me know when you do and how it turns out!!
I will be traveling Thanksgiving Day, approx 2hours. I plan on cooking this before we go, and then put it on warm when we arrive. The fried onions will be added then. Do you think this will be ok.
Yes, I think so. Do you have an insulated bag to transport it so it stays hot? You might put it back on low for just a bit after you add the onions to get it kind of bubbling hot again.
Is it okay to double the recipe in the crockpot?
I think as long as your slow cooker is large enough it should work!!
Possible silly question but I can be a bit pedantic when it comes to details 🙂 When you add then fried onions do you put the lid back on or leave it off while they crisp? Thanks!! I look forward to trying this on Thanksgiving.
Hi Ami! You can put the lid back on to keep the heat in, but if you find there is too much moisture, you can prop it open a bit with the handle of a wooden spoon. Hope that helps!! Let me know if you have more questions!
Thanks!! Happy Thanksgiving 🦃
Will this recipe turn out okay in a regular crockpot instead of the “casserole” crockpot?
It should work fine in a regular size slow cooker, Janine.
Hello. I just had a couple of questions….. first, can I make this with fresh green beans? Would you suggest blanching them quickly first? Also, can I used a regular crockpot for this recipe? The recipe looks great. I love that I can free up some oven space! Thank you!
Yes, fresh green beans would be great but I would do a quick blanch or steam on them first. And any slow cooker should work just fine!
You should taste the multiple dishes Lynn Heuer makes (she lives in Schaumburg, Illinois), she could win prizes! I miss Lynn, I moved to Virginia to be near my daughters. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!
Do you have any suggestions for me before I triple this recipe ? I’m a little nervous with so much liquid . Thanks for any input !
You could hold back a little of the sauce if it seems like to much and then add it later. It should work out just fine, though!
We made this for my hubby’s office potluck and he was very pleased with it — Green Bean casserole always having been one of his favorites!