Crockpot Green Bean Casserole

When you’re planning a big meal and your oven space is precious, this Crockpot Green Bean Casserole comes to the rescue. It’s the same classic holiday favorite — creamy, savory, and topped with those irresistible crispy onions — but made right in your slow cooker for ultimate convenience.

Perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any comforting family dinner, this crockpot version keeps your green beans tender, your sauce silky, and your kitchen stress-free. Just mix, set, and let the slow cooker do all the work while you focus on the rest of your feast.

🥣 Ingredients

• 4 cups fresh green beans, trimmed (or use 2 cans, drained)
• 1 (10.5 oz) can cream of mushroom soup
• ½ cup milk
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional but delicious!)
• 1 ½ cups crispy fried onions, divided (½ cup for mixing, 1 cup for topping)

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prepare the Sauce Base
In a mixing bowl, combine cream of mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper. Stir until smooth and creamy.

2. Combine Everything in the Crockpot
Add the green beans to your slow cooker. Pour the sauce over top, then mix in ½ cup of crispy onions and shredded cheddar cheese (if using). Stir gently to coat all the beans evenly.

3. Slow Cook to Perfection
Cover and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours, until the green beans are tender and the sauce is hot and bubbly.

4. Add the Crispy Topping
Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of fried onions evenly over the casserole. Cover again and cook on HIGH for 10–15 minutes just to crisp the onions slightly (or uncover for the last 15 minutes if your crockpot allows).

5. Serve & Enjoy!
Serve warm straight from the slow cooker — creamy, savory, and topped with the perfect crunch!

🍽️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Oven-free convenience: Save your oven space for the turkey or pie!
• Same nostalgic flavor: Creamy, mushroomy, and topped with those iconic crispy onions.
• Perfect for potlucks: Easy to transport and keeps warm right in the crockpot.
• Simple ingredients: All pantry staples, nothing fancy required.
• Crowd-pleasing comfort: Classic flavor everyone loves — from kids to grandparents.

Crockpot Green Bean Casserole

A creamy, classic green bean casserole made easy in the slow cooker — perfect for holidays and potlucks with that signature crispy onion topping.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 4 hours hrs

Total Time 4 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Calories: 240

Ingredients

  

• 4 cups fresh green beans trimmed (or 2 cans, drained)
• 10.5 oz cream of mushroom soup
• 0.5 cup milk
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese optional
• 1.5 cups crispy fried onions divided

Equipment

• Slow cooker
• Mixing bowl
• Spatula
• Measuring cups

Method

 

1. In a bowl, whisk together cream of mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce, garlic powder, and pepper.
2. Add green beans, ½ cup fried onions, and cheese (optional) to slow cooker. Stir to coat.
3. Cover and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours until beans are tender.
4. Top with remaining fried onions and cook uncovered for 10–15 minutes before serving.

Notes

Add cheese for extra creaminess. Don’t mix in all the fried onions at once—reserve some for topping.

🧄 Tips for Success

1. Fresh vs. canned green beans: Both work! Fresh offers a tender-crisp bite, while canned gives a softer, traditional texture.
2. Don’t skip the soy sauce: It adds a subtle umami depth that balances the creaminess.
3. Add cheese for extra flavor: Not traditional, but cheddar or mozzarella makes it extra creamy.
4. Keep the topping crispy: Add fried onions near the end of cooking, not at the start.
5. Double it for a crowd: This recipe easily doubles — use a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker.

🧂 Recipe Variations

• Bacon Green Bean Casserole: Stir in ½ cup cooked crumbled bacon for a smoky touch.
• Mushroom Lovers’ Version: Add sautéed fresh mushrooms for more earthy flavor.
• Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten-free cream of mushroom soup and onion topping.
• Spicy Kick: Mix in a dash of cayenne or red pepper flakes.
• French Style: Swap cheddar for Gruyère cheese and add a pinch of nutmeg.

🎉 When to Serve Crockpot Green Bean Casserole

This recipe shines during the holidays — Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter — but it’s also perfect for:

• Sunday dinners with roast chicken or meatloaf
• Potlucks or office parties (it travels perfectly in the slow cooker)
• Comfort meals when you want something creamy and satisfying on a chilly evening

🕒 Storage & Reheating

• Store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Reheat: Warm in the microwave or crockpot on low until heated through.
• Crisp topping again: Re-toast fried onions in the oven or air fryer for 2–3 minutes before serving leftovers.

🧀 Serving Suggestions

Pair this cozy casserole with:

• Roast turkey or chicken
• Mashed potatoes with gravy
• Sweet potato casserole
• Cranberry sauce or stuffing

This dish ties together any festive meal with its creamy, crunchy comfort!

🍄 Fun Facts About Green Bean Casserole

• The classic green bean casserole was invented in 1955 by Dorcas Reilly of the Campbell Soup Company.
• It originally used just six ingredients — green beans, cream of mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce, pepper, and crispy onions — the same foundation still loved today.
• More than 20 million American households serve some version of it every Thanksgiving!

⭐ Why This Crockpot Version Stands Out

This slow cooker green bean casserole keeps the iconic creamy flavor of the original while freeing up your oven and stovetop. It’s hands-off cooking at its best — simply mix, set, and forget until it’s perfectly hot and bubbly.

The creamy mushroom sauce clings to every green bean, and the final layer of golden fried onions adds that signature crunch that makes this dish irresistible.

It’s classic comfort food made easier — and it deserves a permanent spot on your holiday menu.