Vegan Green Bean Casserole

This Vegan Green Bean Casserole recipe features tender green beans and mushrooms in a creamy sauce, topped with crispy onions. You’ll love this homemade healthy side dish infused with green beans and the ultimate creamy mushroom filling!

For more creamy side dishes, be sure to try this Vegan Cauliflower Gratin or these Vegan Scalloped Potatoes!

Looking down on a casserole dish full of green bean casserole.

Green Bean Casserole From Scratch

Even though I grew up preferring green beans from a can, somewhere along the way, I found out how much I loved fresh green beans steamed with olive oil and garlic. And then I decided to try fresh green beans in this casserole.

There’s nothing like tender green beans served with the ultimate creamy, cheesy mushroom filling and topped with French fried onions.

Of course, making it homemade can take a little more time. However, I have a trick to make this recipe go a lot faster.

Why is This the Best Recipe?

  • Using frozen green beans produces a “bursting with fresh” flavor while keeping this recipe easy to make
  • Making homemade fried onions keeps this recipe vegan and egg-free, while also producing crispy onions used as a topping and in the casserole
  • Vegan cheddar shreds add a delicious cheesy sauce to the filling, making every bite worthy of another one!
Looking down on the edge of a casserole dish holding green bean casserole.

Key Ingredients

You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe, including substitution ideas:

  • Fried Onion Batter — We’ll make a batter for the fried onions that consist of plant-based milk, apple cider vinegar, flour, salt, and pepper.
  • Onion — I prefer a yellow onion because they’re sweeter once cooked.
  • Flour — I recommend all-purpose flour. You can substitute gluten-free flour but be prepared that the fried onions may not fry up as golden as when using all-purpose flour.
  • Vegetable oil — I used canola oil.
  • Vegan butter — Any vegan butter should do, such as Earth Balance.
  • Portobello mushrooms
  • Garlic
  • Vegetable Bouillon — I love using Better than Bouillon No Chicken Base or the Vegetarian base because it creates a high-quality broth.
  • Vegan cheddar shreds — I use either Daiya or Follow Your Heart Cheddar Shreds.
  • Frozen green beans — You can use fresh, but I like the fresh-like flavor of frozen, and it comes already chopped, which is nice!
  • Vegan parmesan cheese — You can buy this at health food stores or make your own vegan parmesan.
Looking down on a basket full of fresh green beans. There are green beans on the table next to the basket, too.

What Green Beans are Best for Green Bean Casserole?

There are three major types of green beans you could use for making a casserole: fresh, frozen, and canned. Using canned green beans will change the look and texture of your finished dish. I highly recommend using fresh or frozen because of it produces a much better finished dish. Frozen green beans are parboiled, making them a perfect option for a casserole, especially if you don’t want to mess with preparing fresh.

How to Make Vegan Green Bean Casserole

There are a few steps to making this delicious casserole, but I’ll share with you some time-saving tips too!

  1. Make fried onions by dipping them in batter and cooking them in a skillet using vegetable oil.
  2. Save the leftover flour and milk from this step.
  3. Cook mushrooms in a skillet with vegan butter until tender. Then add garlic, and cook for about 30 seconds.
  4. Combine the leftover buttermilk and flour from the fried onions and stir that to the skillet.
  5. Add the frozen green beans to the skillet, stirring to coat them.
  6. Bring it all to a simmer and add the vegan cheese, cooking until the cheese melts.
  7. Stir in some fried onions.
  8. Transfer to a casserole dish and top with fried onions and vegan parmesan.
  9. Bake for 20 minutes, until the sides are bubbly and the onions are golden brown.

Here are more detailed step-by-step instructions.

Step One: Make the Fried Onions

  1. Prepare the onions by cutting them into rings. Here’s more on cutting onions.
    A hand holds a knife and is slicing an onion on cutting board. There are other onions around it.
  2. Stir together the milk and vinegar, and stir in onion rings. Marinate for approximately 30 minutes. 
    A bowl holds sliced onions are marinating in vegan buttermilk.
  3. On a large plate, stir together flour, salt, and pepper. 
  4. Use tongs to pull a small batch of the onions from the milk mixture, dangling them over the bowl to let excess liquid drip off.
  5. Transfer the onions to the flour mix. Reserve the milk mixture for the casserole sauce.
  6. Add some battered onions in an even layer across a heated, oiled pan.
  7. Cook 2 to 3 minutes on each side, using tongs to gently turn the onions, cooking until golden brown.
  8. Transfer cooked onions to a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat this step with the remaining onions.

Step Two: Create the Casserole Sauce

  1. Cook mushrooms in melted vegan butter until tender, about 3 minutes.
  2. Add minced garlic and stir and cook for about 30 seconds.
  3. Stir together the milk mixture from the onions, 1 cup of water, and bouillon.
  4. Add any leftover flour from the fried onions, adding a total of 3 tablespoons flour to the milk mixture. Stir to remove any lumps.
  5. Pour the flour/milk mixture into the skillet and stir to combine. 
  6. Add the green beans, stir to coat, and then bring it to a simmer.
    A skillet is full of green beans and mushrooms cooking.
  7. Add vegan cheese and stir until it melts.
  8. Reduce heat and cook for approximately 5 minutes, until the green beans are no longer frozen and slightly tender and the sauce has thickened. (If the sauce does not thicken, sprinkle another tablespoon of flour over the top and use a spatula to stir it in.)

Step Three: Bake

  1. While the green beans simmer, preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C.
  2. Pour the green bean mixture into a 9″ square baking dish or casserole dish.
  3. Add about ½ of the fried onions and stir them throughout.
  4. Equally, distribute remaining fried onions over the top. Sprinkle with vegan parmesan.
  5. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
  6. When done, remove from oven and set them aside to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

How to Make Fried Onions

There’s no doubt adding crispy fried onions to this casserole takes it to another level. I recommend marinating onions in a mixture of plant-based milk and apple cider vinegar (basically, vegan buttermilk) for 20 to 30 minutes prior to frying them. You can even soak them overnight.

This marinade helps soften the onion flavor and the buttermilk mixture will help the flour coating stick to the onions.

Gluten-Free Fried Onions

You can use gluten-free flour to make gluten-free fried onions, but I find that the flour doesn’t brown as much. To help gluten-free fried onions turn a more golden color, coat the top of the fried onions (immediately before baking) with a mixture of 1 tablespoon melted vegan butter with 1 teaspoon agave nectar.

To make a gluten-free green bean casserole, use quality gluten-free baking flour in the sauce.

Looking down on a spoon in a casserole dish full of green bean casserole.

Reader Reviews

★★★★★
An absolutely delicious casserole. The whole family loved it!

Julie

★★★★★
I thought making this casserole from “scratch” would be too hard, but you made it so easy. Thanks!

Grace

Air Fryer Fried Onions

To make air fryer fried onions, follow the steps above to prepare the onions. When they’re ready, set the air fryer temperature at 375°F/190°C and fry the onions for 10 to 15 minutes. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the onions in batches.

When air frying, be sure to remove the basket and toss the onions a couple of times during cooking.

Frequently-Asked Questions

Can you make green bean casserole ahead of time?

It’s easy to make green bean casserole ahead of time by preparing the casserole as directed. Then cover and refrigerate the casserole for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to serve, bake it for 20 minutes in the oven at 375°F/190°C.

Can you freeze green bean casserole?

Green bean casserole can be frozen for up to 3 months. Transfer the casserole to a freezer-safe container and place it in the freezer. The day before you’re ready to serve it, transfer it to the fridge to thaw overnight. Then bake it at 375°F/190°C for 20–30 minutes.

Is green bean casserole healthy?

You may already know this, but green beans are healthy. The green color gives it away. So, it’s the things added to green beans that cause a dish like green bean casserole to tip on the scale towards unhealthy. The main culprit? Fried onions. You can bake your fried onions or make them in an air fryer to help make this casserole healthy.

Vegan Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes

You can make this vegan green bean casserole any time of year, but it’s particularly loved during the holidays. Here are more vegan holiday recipes you’ll want to make:

A hand holds a fork full of vegan green bean casserole with the rest of the dish behind it.

I hope you love this vegan green bean casserole as much as we do!

Looking down on a casserole dish full of green bean casserole.

Vegan Green Bean Casserole

This amazing Vegan Green Bean Casserole is a gluten-free recipe made with fresh green beans that are simmered in a savory mushroom sauce. Of course, the casserole is topped with crispy pan-fried onions, too.
5 from 5 votes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Resting Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 277kcal

Ingredients

For the French fried onions:

  • 1 cup plant-based milk (plain, not vanilla)
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 medium onion peeled and sliced into thin rings
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 tablespoons vegetable oil

For the Casserole:

  • 4 tablespoons vegan butter divided
  • 2 cups portobello mushrooms washed and sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic peeled and minced
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 teaspoons Better than Bouillon No Chicken Base**
  • ½ cup vegan cheddar shreds
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 10 ounce bag frozen green beans
  • ¼ cup vegan parmesan cheese

Instructions

To Make the Fried Onion Topping:

  • In a medium-sized bowl stir together the milk and vinegar. Add onion rings and use a spoon to stir and coat them. Set aside for onions to marinate for approximately 30 minutes.
  • On a large plate, stir together flour, salt, and pepper.
  • Use tongs to pull a small batch of the onions from the milk mixture, dangling them over the bowl to let excess liquid drip off. Transfer the onions to the flour mix. Repeat until all onions have been transferred. Use tongs to toss and coat. Reserve the milk mixture and excess flour for the casserole.
  • Cover a plate with 2 to 3 paper towels. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is heated, add some of the battered onions in an even layer across the pan with minimal overlapping. Cook 2 to 3 minutes on each side, using tongs to gently toss. The onions should begin to turn a golden brown and become crispy on the edges. Transfer cooked onions to a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat this step with the remaining onions.

For the Green Bean Casserole

  • In a skillet over medium heat, add vegan butter and cook until melted. Add the mushrooms and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Add minced garlic. Stir and cook for about 30 seconds.
  • Stir together the milk mixture from the onions above, with 1 cup water, and bouillon. Use any leftover flour from the fried onions for a total of 3 tablespoons flour to the milk mixture (supplement with additional flour as needed). Stir to remove any lumps. Pour this over the contents in the skillet and stir to combine.
  • Add the green beans, stir to coat, and then bring it to a simmer. Add vegan cheese and stir until it melts. Then reduce heat to medium-low and cook for approximately 5 minutes, until the green beans are no longer frozen and slightly tender, but still a little crisp and the sauce has thickened. If the sauce does not thicken, sprinkle another tablespoon of flour over the top and use a spatula to stir it in.
  • While the green beans simmer, preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C.
  • Pour the green bean mixture into a 9" square baking dish or casserole dish. Add about ½ of the fried onions and stir them throughout. Equally, distribute remaining fried onions over the top. Sprinkle with vegan parmesan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
  • When done, remove from oven and set aside to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Cover and refrigerate any leftovers not eaten right away. These will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Recommended Equipment

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Notes

  1. Make-ahead Tips: Prepare the green bean casserole ahead of time, including baking. Allow it to cool to room temperature and then cover and refrigerate. To serve, remove from the fridge and let it sit until it is room temperature then reheat in the oven at 375°F for 15 minutes
  2. Fried Onions. Most store-bought Fried Onions are vegan as well, so you can substitute store-bought onions if you prefer to skip frying them yourself.
  3. Mushrooms: You can leave out the mushrooms if you prefer.
  4. Vegan Cheese: I used Daiya cheddar shreds, but Follow Your Heart cheddar shreds could work here too.
  5. Double the recipe: It’s easy to double this recipe. Simply use double the ingredients and transfer to a larger casserole dish, such as a 9×13. Top with fried onions, then bake for around 25 minutes, until bubbly around the edges.
Calories: 277kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 655mg | Potassium: 311mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 837IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 2mg

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

4 Responses to Vegan Green Bean Casserole

  1. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyWonderful cook Reply

    I made this green bean casserole last night and it was super good! I will definitely make this recipe again. Thanks.

  2. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyJulie Reply

    5 stars
    An absolutely delicious casserole. The whole family loved it!

  3. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyGrace Reply

    5 stars
    I thought making this casserole from “scratch” would be too hard, but you made it so easy. Thanks!

  4. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly Reply

    5 stars
    As the author of this recipe, I’m pleased to report the ease in making this vegan green bean casserole and the creaminess and fresh flavor is amazing!

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