Over the years since its debut, the green bean casserole has been reimagined in innumerable ways. Some versions, such as our time-honored Classic Green Bean Casserole, remain quite faithful to the original recipe. Others, however, like the fabled Million Dollar Green Bean Casserole, take creative liberties—often with delightful outcomes.
Chrissy Teigen’s green bean casserole is a prime example of this latter category. In fact, her adaptation, which diverged significantly from the iconic Campbell’s soup-labeled classic, garnered media attention in 2021. This was when the recipe surged in popularity on social media. With Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving just around the corner, I ventured into my makeshift test kitchen—the humble cooking area in my Midwestern townhome—to uncover the source of all the excitement.
To prepare Teigen’s green bean creation:
Begin by boiling the beans. Bring a pot of chicken broth or water to a boil, then add bite-sized chunks of fresh green beans and cook for approximately 6 minutes, or until they are al dente. Drain the beans, reserving the broth if using it for another dish, like Copycat Chicken Gnocchi Soup.
Next, prepare the cream sauce. In a large bowl, combine a couple of small cans of low-sodium cream of mushroom soup, half-and-half, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. Stir in the boiled green beans, diced ham, chopped onions, shredded cheddar cheese, and French fried onions.
Assemble and bake the casserole. Pour the green bean mixture into a baking dish, sprinkle with additional shredded cheddar, and bake at 350°F until bubbly, about 40 minutes. Add another layer of French fried onions, then bake for an additional 10 minutes.
The inclusion of ham and cheese in this green bean casserole has sparked some controversy, as evidenced by social media comments and a recent news segment. Whether or not these ingredients are a hit or miss may be a matter of personal preference, but the dish itself is straightforward to make. Here are some tips I gleaned from my own experimentation and subsequent discussions with our Test Kitchen team:
Start with the right prep. Teigen recommends chopping fresh green beans into 2-inch pieces. There are a few key steps to follow once you’ve purchased the beans, though. Begin by rinsing them in cool water, then trim the stems and any fibrous strings that could become a nuisance. Lastly, cut the beans into 2-inch pieces.
Make your own cheese. The filling and topping of this comforting casserole feature sharp cheddar cheese. For the best melting results, grate the cheese from a block rather than using pre-shredded cheese, which is coated in anti-caking agents that hinder melting.
Choose your protein. Teigen suggests adding 8 ounces of cubed cooked ham to her 8- to 10-serving casserole. You can use leftovers from a Holiday Ham dinner or opt for cubed or shredded turkey or rotisserie chicken instead.
For extra zing, consider crispy jalapeños over French fried onions. Despite its mildness, this green bean casserole is quite the standout. I plan to enhance the dish’s protein content and serve it alongside a fruit salad, making it the centerpiece of my meal.
For decades, green bean casserole has been the supporting act to turkey or ham. It’s time for this side dish to take center stage!
