This Thanksgiving, make this Healthy Green Bean Casserole from scratch and wow your guests and your tastebuds! Let me show you how to make green bean casserole healthier by just replacing a few simple ingredients.
Guys, I am so super duper stoked to share this new healthy Thanksgiving recipe with you.
I asked on Facebook and Instagram recently what favorite Thanksgiving recipes you wanted me to #makeithealthy and one of the most requested recipes was a green bean casserole.
We got SO many responses and had a blast seeing everyone's excitement about wanting to eat healthy and still enjoy a tasty Thanksgiving dinner.
Because these two things should totes be possible. And they are!
Can I get a "yippee"!?!?
I actually didn't grow up with green bean casseroles at my Thanksgiving dinner table. We'd have steamed green beans mostly - maybe with some parmesan - but nothing like what it seems most people enjoyed. Then, as Dustin and I created our own Thanksgiving menu, we've usually make these parmesan garlic green beans (which are yummy!).
To be honest, I have always found it kinda crazy how the "crispy onion" topping came from a can and people would just open up the can and toss it on the casserole. But, again, I didn't grow up with it so there's also that nostalgia around foods from your childhood.
Good news, though. I've found a healthier, whole, more delicious way to enjoy our green beans this Thanksgiving.
And I'm kinda in love, guys.
Is Green Bean Casserole Healthy?
Judging by how many of you asked me to make a healthier version of homemade green bean casserole, I think many of us know it needs a lot of help. Let's go over the major changes in this recipe to #makeithealthy to see how to make green bean casserole healthy.
To make the onions crispy, I toast almond meal until it's lightly toasted and then I mix it with the sautéed onions, parmesan, and sea salt. In other words: immense yumminess. This easily replaces the fried, canned, crispy onions and reduces the fat and salt immensely.
OMG and then there's the mushroom sauce on the green beans.
Seriously: I could slurp this sauce up just by itself. It's so dang good. To make the mushroom sauce from scratch, I sautéed mushrooms and garlic and then make a cream sauce by basically combining chickpea flour and some unsweetened almond milk. No canned cream of mushroom, here!
How To Make Green Bean Casserole Ahead
One of my best tips for saving time on Thanksgiving Day is to prep ahead anything that will save well in the fridge. Lucky for us, that includes this healthy green bean casserole.
To make green bean casserole ahead, just...
- Follow the directions for this recipe all the way through
- Allow it to cool.
- Cover tightly with plastic wrap (can last in fridge if sealed tightly for up to 5 days in the fridge).
Then, when you're ready to enjoy this tasty goodness right here, just reheat it in the oven! To reheat, place the green bean casserole, without the lid or plastic wrap, back into a preheated oven at 375 degrees F, and heat for 30 minutes or until heated through. This will make the onions crispy again and will heat everything through perfectly.
What To Serve With Green Bean Casserole
Here are some of our healthy faves for what to serve with green bean casserole:
- Thanksgiving Turkey
- Garlic Parmesan Green Beans
- Cauliflower "Mashed Potatoes"
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Homemade Cranberry Sauce
- Healthy Mac 'n Cheese
I had a blast making this #makeithealthy Healthy Green Bean Casserole and am so excited to have a new family fave for our Thanksgiving dinner table, too. Thanks to everyone for your feedback on holiday recipe requests. Keep 'em coming in the comments below - if we pick your idea, you'll get a prize, too 😉
Healthy Green Bean Casserole
Healthy Green Bean Casserole
Equipment
- Stock Pot or Large Deep Skillet
*This post may contain affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.
Ingredients
For the Green Beans:
- 2 lbs fresh green beans, trimmed
For the Crispy Onion Topping:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup almond meal
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
For the Mushroom Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8-10 medium cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoon chickpea flour
- ½ cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- ⅓ cup parmesan cheese, grated
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F, bring a large stockpot of water to a boil, and grease a large casserole dish with olive oil and then set aside.
- Add the green beans to the boiling water and boil for 4-5 minutes, or until almost tender, but still slightly crisp. Drain the cooked green beans, then transfer to a bowl filled with ice water to stop them from cooking more.
- To make the crispy onion topping, start by heating olive oil in a large fry pan over medium-high heat until hot.
- Add the thinly sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-8 minutes or until they are tender and starting to brown. Remove the onions and place into a medium mixing bowl and set aside.
- In the same pan you used to cook the onions, add the almond meal. Cook, stirring very frequently, for 3-5 minutes, or until the almond meal is starts to turn lightly golden. Careful not to burn.
- Remove from heat and transfer the toasted almond meal to the bowl with the onions. Stir in the ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese and sea salt, and then toss the mixture until combined. Set aside.
- In the same pan, heat a little more olive oil until hot and add the mushrooms and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until they are tender, stirring occasionally.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant, stirring frequently.
- Sprinkle the chickpea flour over the mushrooms, and stir to combine.
- Slowly add the low sodium chicken broth, whisking to combine until smooth.
- Whisk in the almond milk, and bring the mixture to a simmer. Let cook for 2-3 minutes, or until thickened.
- Stir in the remaining ⅓ cup parmesan cheese, sea salt, and pepper until the cheese is melted.
- Transfer the cooked, chilled green beans into the pan with the mushroom sauce and toss until combined.
- Pour the green bean mixture into the prepared baking dish and then top with the crispy onion topping evenly over the top.
- Place in the oven, uncovered, and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the top is golden brown.
Video
Nutrition
This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.
Libby
Hi Lacey, Libby here from New Zealand. Thank you for a very good healthy version of your recipe. Made it today and it is delicious.
ellie
Made this for Thanksgiving today and was soooooo delicious! Thank you for a healthy alternative. I used Mushroom Broth instead of Chicken Broth. The mushroom sauce was delicious!
Melissa
I've made this recipe for 3 Thanksgivings now and guess what? My family just asked me to bring them again! These are soo good! Just make sure you use really fresh beans.
Thank you for this delicious recipe!
Cyndy Kosier
I'm eager to try this recipe. Sounds great but can you prepare ahead of time and freeze this green bean casserole?
Hailey
Could you make this ahead of time and then cook later?
Kayla Sleator
To make it vegetarian sub the chicken broth for vegetable broth
Danielle
Could I use substitute something for the almond meal? And use regular milk? I have people with nut allergies coming, but this recipe looks delish!
Netha
I really want to try this. My 16 year old son absolutely loves his green bean casserole and I have been trying to make it healthier. He, however, has a tree nut allergy, what would you suggest to replace the almond milk and meal with, to keep it healthy?
Tanya Gale
Did you find a good substitute? I'm making this tonight... but we have nut allergies as well.
Amanda
This looks delicious & I am looking forward to making it for Thanksgiving this week! I don’t have chickpea flour, so do you think an alternate gluten free flour would work? I have almond, coconut, arrowroot powder, & a blend of gf flour substitutes.
Lesley
Could you do this in a Crock-Pot?
QT
I haven't tried this yet, but to make it truly vegetarian, I would substitute the low sodium chicken broth with low sodium vegetable stock/broth (in the mushroom sauce).
Krista
Can I use almond flour in place of almond meal?
Lacey Baier
Yes, ma'am!
Dustin
This was my favorite new Thanksgiving dish we did this year.
Lacey Baier
Yea, it's so good. Definitely one for the rotation!
April
This is one of my favorite side dishes! I love the healthier take on it.
Lacey Baier
Thanks, April! It's so awesome to enjoy a favorite and have it be healthy! 🙂