Free up oven space and make this Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole instead! It uses premium frozen green beans and an easy homemade sauce with bacon and shallots for a delicious holiday side dish! You'll be surprised just how easy it is to make!
Anyone else share Thanksgiving as their favorite holiday? As a food blogger I nerd out a little over all of the delicious recipes and I look forward to sharing food with family and friends!
As much as I love it, I'll also admit it can be stressful trying to get all the food cooked and the timing right. That's why I now make a plan and I make good use of my casserole slow cooker!
This green bean casserole is perfect for making in a casserole or regular slow cooker and will free up oven space for you this holiday season.
About my green bean casserole:
For this version of a green bean casserole you will start out with browning up some delicious thick cut bacon!
Then you saute up some shallot and garlic until crispy and then using a little flour and broth you will a nice easy and delicious homemade sauce. Now, this is a holiday after all so let's just add a nice cup of heavy cream as well!
Add the sauce to a bag of 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! Thanksgiving hacks for the win.
How to make homemade sauce:
- As I mentioned it starts with browning up some chopped up bacon
- Then add garlic and shallots
- Once those are tender, stir in some flour and make sure it coats the veggies well (this will thicken the sauce)
- Slowly stir in chicken broth and let simmer until smooth and thickened
- Add cream and seasonings and heat through
How to cook this recipe in the slow cooker:
I prefer using my casserole slow cooker, but any 6 quart or larger slow cooker will do.
Add the frozen green beans, cover with sauce and cheese and cook for a few hours.
In the last 15-30 minutes
you'll add your fried onions as a topper and let them toast up a bit with the lid back on.
I was very pleased with how well this "baked" in my slow cooker. Everything cooked evenly and the cheese melted perfectly over the top. I use my casserole slow cooker for so many things so make sure to check out this post for more ideas!
I'm curious, how many slow cookers will you be using to your holiday meal on the table? Leave me comment below the recipe and let me know!
Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 24 oz frozen extra fine green beans
- 2 slices thick cut bacon chopped finely
- 1 medium shallot minced (about ¼ cup)
- 2 cloves minced garlic I used jarred
- ¼ cup flour
- 2 ½ cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon herb and garlic seasoning
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
- 6 oz french fried onions
Instructions
- Spray slow cooker with nonstick spray
- Add frozen green beans
- 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
Notes
- sauce should be thick enough to coat spoon. If to thin, simply whisk and additional 1-2 tablespoons flour with water and stir into sauce and let simmer
- omit bacon and use veggie broth to make this vegetarian
- if using a regular slow cooker use a 6 quart or larger oval (the more surface space the better this will cook
- cheese can be omitted if desired
- turn off slow cooker and let set for about 15 minutes before serving if you'd like the sauce to thicken a bit more
Nutrition
Hello, would it be ok to make the sauce the day before??? Then on Thanksgiving we can just combine with beans and cook in the 9 x 13 casserole slow cooker... Do you think 32oz bag green beans would fit in casserole slow cooker with the sauce changed 1 1/2 more??? Or should I use 32oz 'cut' green beans??? Thank You...
I think you'll be ok with the 32oz and maybe a little less than 1 1/2 times the sauce. I haven't tried making it ahead, but I would think it would work. You may need to stir a few times as it heats up.
Thank You Jennifer... We'll be sure to let you know how the recipe turns out with 32oz green beans... We love love the 9x13 slow cooker casserole... Having are fun trying your recipes and our old casserole recipes in it...
Quick question... My family does not like change... When making the recipe with sauce from scratch, does it get as thick as with the canned soup??? If not do you think adding one can of the soup would help it to be as thick as canned soup version??? reply would like to ease the family into the new version... Thank You...
It doesn't get as thick but I think your idea is the perfect compromise!
Could I use an electric roaster oven for this to increase surface area?
I'm so sorry I haven't tested it this way to know for sure. If you decide to try it, be sure to let me know!
Can I use fresh green beans in this recipe?mjselvera
It would likely work, although I haven't tested it to give you exact adjustments needed. If you decide to try it, let me know!
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!
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!
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!!!