Cheesy Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole
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5.0
6 reviews
Excellent
Cheesy Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole
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Fresh green beans are cooked with bacon and a THREE CHEESE sauce in the slow cooker to free up valuable oven space! NO CANNED SOUP nor processed sauces here. An EASY comfort food side dish that's perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, parties, and events! 💚😋
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Ingredients
- 2 ½ pounds fresh green beans ends trimmed* (See Notes)
- Ice water bath
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 1 large yellow onion diced small
- 2 to 4 cloves garlic finely minced
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour or arrowroot powder/starch, See Notes**
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth I use reduced sodium
- ½ cup 2% or whole milk
- 1 cup shredded Colby jack cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika or regular paprika
- ½ dried thyme or 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
- 1 pound Bacon cooked and diced into 1/2-inch pieces; divided
- 2 cups crispy fried onions
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Instructions
- Blanch the green beans by adding them to a large stockpot of water that has already been brought to a boil over high heat. Cook for 4 minutes.
- Have a large bowl of water with ice cubes waiting.
- After 4 minutes, using a slotted spoon remove the green beans and immediately submerge them in the ice water bath to stop the cooking process; set aside.
- To a large skillet, add the butter and heat over medium-high heat to melt it.
- Add the onion and sauté until softened and translucent, about 4 minutes; stir frequently.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, or until fragrant; stir constantly.
- Evenly sprinkle the flour, and cook for 1 minute; stir constantly.
- While whisking constantly, add the broth, milk, and keep whisking until it begins to thicken, a couple minutes.
- Add the three cheeses, heavy cream, smoked paprika, thyme, salt, pepper, and stir continuously until the cheese melts and you have a nice smooth cheese sauce.
- Stir in half the bacon (reserve the remainder); set mixture aside.
- To your 7-quart slow cooker or similarly sized, add the green beans from the ice water bath, then pour the cheese sauce over the top, and stir to combine.
- Cover with the lid and cook on low for 2 hours or high for 1 hour.
- About 5 to 10 minutes before the green beans are done cooking, to a large skillet, add the crispy fried onions and toast them for about 3-4 minutes over medium-high heat until lightly browned; toss and stir frequently.
- Evenly sprinkle them over the top of the cooked green beans along with the remaining bacon. Tip - Do not place the lid back on the slow cooker or the crispy fried onions will get soggy.
- Serve immediately*** (See Notes). Extra will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days noting the onions will not stay crispy; reheat gently in the microwave or oven if you have time.
Notes
- *Fresh green beans are usually readily available in American supermarkets before Thanksgiving, and generally year-round very accessible. I suggest using fresh green beans. They have a flavor, texture, and color that you just can’t get otherwise. However, the second best option are frozen green beans. Thaw and drain them before using them. I don’t like canned green beans so for me personally, this is a no since they will only continue to get mushier as they slow cook for another hour or two. Not to mention, the color is just not appetizing.
- **For those who are gluten-free, you can easily make slow cooker green bean casserole gluten-free! Simply substitute 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder or starch in place of the 4 tablespoons, or 1/4 cup, of all-purpose flour. It’s naturally gluten-free and lower carb. The arrowroot will thicken faster than all-purpose flour does.1 ½ cup When the butter and onions are sautéed add your milk and broth in small amounts as you whisk and stir, and sprinkle in the arrowroot to thicken as needed. For the crispy fried onions, you can make them yourself, or buy gluten-free fried onions.
- ***If you'd like to make this in advance and bring it to an event, make it as written. Then, you can literally just unplug your Crock-Pot, put it in your car, and plug it in at your friend or family member’s home or just serve it right away directly from the slow cooker. Obviously use caution when transporting the Crock-Pot since it will be hot!
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Serving
1
Calories
504kcal
(25%)
Carbohydrates
23g
(8%)
Protein
25g
(50%)
Fat
35g
(54%)
Saturated Fat
15g
(75%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
17g
Cholesterol
88mg
(29%)
Sodium
1360mg
(57%)
Fiber
4g
(16%)
Sugar
6g
(12%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 10Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 504 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 | |
| Calories | 504kcal | 25% |
| Carbohydrates | 23g | 8% |
| Protein | 25g | 50% |
| Fat | 35g | 54% |
| Saturated Fat | 15g | 75% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 17g | 100% |
| Cholesterol | 88mg | 29% |
| Sodium | 1360mg | 57% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
6 reviews
Excellent
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