When it comes to a holiday dinner spread, it’s really all about the sides. This easy keto green bean casserole is made from scratch with fresh, simple ingredients, and everyone at the table can enjoy it!
What is Green Bean Casserole?
Green bean casserole has been showing up on holiday tables for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter since the 1960s, when it debuted in the Campbell’s test kitchen featuring canned green beans, Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup, and packaged French-fried onions. This version skips the canned goods, but the flavor is just as comforting and even more delicious.
Key Ingredients
While canned recipes come together quickly, nothing beats the taste of homemade keto green bean casserole. Here’s what you need to make it.
- Cream of Mushroom: You can use store-bought cream of mushroom, but homemade keto cream of mushroom soup really takes this casserole to the next level. I make mine with unsalted butter, white onions, minced garlic, and mushrooms. Season it with dried thyme, kosher salt, and black pepper. A combination of beef broth, sherry vinegar, and heavy cream brings it all together, then use a pinch of xanthan gum to thicken it.
- Oil and Butter: A mix of extra-virgin olive oil and unsalted butter gives the sautéed onions a deeper, more rounded flavor.
- Onions: I absolutely still cook with onions for dishes like this. I’m not making keto green bean casserole every day, and the flavor payoff is worth it. For a crunchy topping with fewer carbs, try crushed pork rinds or Parmesan crisps.
- Green Beans: One pound of crisp, fresh green beans gives the casserole the perfect texture.
Additions and Substitutions
- Experiment with mix-ins. Include crispy bacon bits or cream cheese for even more flavor.
- Top it off. Garnish the keto green bean casserole with crushed almonds or shredded cheddar cheese.
How to Make Keto Green Bean Casserole
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Prepare the Cream of Mushroom Soup
Step 1: Warm butter in a saute pan over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté until they soften. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for one minute.
Step 2: Add the mushroom slices and sauté for 5 minutes. Then, stir in the xanthan gum, dried thyme, kosher salt, and black pepper.
Step 3: Deglaze the pan with sherry vinegar and beef broth. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes until it thickens.
Step 4: Remove the pan from the heat and slowly stir in the heavy cream.
Assemble the Green Bean Casserole
Step 1: Preheat a large skillet over medium-low heat for two minutes. Melt the olive oil and butter. Then, add the onions and sauté for 20-25 minutes until they brown and become crispy.
Step 2: Use a slotted spoon to transfer the crispy onions to a plate lined with paper towels and set them aside.
Step 3: Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C). Prepare a baking dish with butter or oil, add the trimmed green beans, and top them with the keto cream of mushroom soup.
Step 4: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil, add the crispy onions, and bake for 15 minutes, uncovered.
If you enjoy keto green bean casserole, try even more keto recipes!
Serving Suggestions
Serve this homemade keto green bean casserole alongside holiday favorites like tandoori turkey, prime rib, za’atar turkey, and glazed ham. Pair it with other low-carb sides cheesy mashed cauliflower and a hearty fall kale salad. And don’t think low-carb means skipping dessert—complete the meal with a cozy keto apple crisp.
What To Do With Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Reheat: Warm the casserole in the oven for the best results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are traditional green bean casseroles keto?
Most traditional recipes use canned cream of mushroom soup. The store-bought cans contain flour and cornstarch, and they can increase the number of carbs in the dish. Additionally, canned green beans are higher in carbs than fresh green beans.
Can green bean casserole be made ahead?
Holiday meals can get hectic, but this casserole is a breeze to make ahead. Store the casserole and the crispy fried onions separately for the best results.
You can keep the onions in an airtight container or paper bag on the counter and refrigerate the green bean and mushrooms soup mixture up to 2 days ahead.
When it’s time to serve, let the casserole sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking. Then, pop it in the oven and bake as directed for a stress-free side dish.
More Fall Recipes:
Keto Green Bean Casserole
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ medium white onion, finely diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1½ pounds mushrooms, sliced
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum
- 4 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
- 4¼ cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 1 pound green beans, trimmed and cut in half
- Warm butter in a saute pan over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté until they soften. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for one minute.
- Add the mushroom slices and sauté for 5 minutes. Then, stir in the xanthan gum, dried thyme, kosher salt, and black pepper.
- Deglaze the pan with sherry vinegar and beef broth. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes until it thickens.
- Remove the pan from the heat and slowly stir in the heavy cream.
- Meanwhile, warm a large skillet over medium-low heat for two minutes. Add the olive oil and butter and cook until the butter melts. Then, add the onions. Saute the onions for 20-25 minutes until they brown and become crispy.
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer the crispy onions to a plate lined with paper towels and set them aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C). Prepare a baking dish with butter or oil, add the trimmed green beans, and top them with the keto cream of mushroom soup.
- Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil, add the crispy onions, and bake for 15 minutes, uncovered.
Laura
Monday 13th of February 2023
I made this Keto Green Bean Casserole for our family dinner and it was a hit! The creamy and rich flavor of the homemade casserole was so much better than the canned version. And it was great to be able to serve a keto-friendly dish during the holidays. Thank you for sharing this recipe!