Vegan Green Bean Casserole (without mushrooms) - The Recipe Well (2024)

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ByLaura Lawless, BASc Published Last updated

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This gorgeous, creamy Vegan Green Bean Casserole is the perfect addition to your plant-based holiday meal. Made with fresh green beans and without canned soup or mushrooms, this easy side dish is a crowd pleaser!

If you’re looking for more side dish ideas, you might like my Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans!

Vegan Green Bean Casserole (without mushrooms) - The Recipe Well (1)

Vegan Green Bean Casserole

Are you a vegan or vegetarian that dislikes mushrooms, or someone that just needs to avoid dairy? If so, this vegan green bean casserole is for you. With tender-crisp green beans, a beautiful creamy vegan sauce and a crispy topping, you and your guests will love this easy side dish!

This version doesn’t use soup as a base for the sauce, but I do use one shortcut store-bought ingredient: crispy fried onions. I want my holiday sides to be easy as possible, so I can focus my time on the main dish. That’s the type of food you’ll find on this website: shortcuts here and there, but mostly healthy and mostly from scratch!

Ingredients

Here’s an overview for what you need to make Vegan Green Bean Casserole. See the recipe card below for all the details!

  • Unsalted cashews – the base of the creamy sauce
  • Vegetable broth
  • French string beans (haricots verts) or regular green beans – 1.5 pounds
  • Olive oil
  • Shallot
  • Garlic
  • All-purpose flour – to thicken the sauce
  • Soy sauce
  • White wine vinegar
  • Salt and pepper
  • Crispy fried onions – I used a store brand, found near the salad dressings
Vegan Green Bean Casserole (without mushrooms) - The Recipe Well (2)

How to make it

Step one: Prep the oven and Make the cashew cream

  • Preheat the oven to 350 °F and lightly grease a 2.5-quart (2.3 litre) casserole dish. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil.
  • Blend the soaked cashews and 1 cup of vegetable broth in a high speed blender, until smooth and creamy.

Step Two: blanch the string beans

  • Once the salted water is boiling, add the string beans and cook for 2-2.5 minutes until tender crisp. If using regular green beans you may need to cook for up to 4 minutes.
  • While the beans are cooking, prepare an ice bath in a large bowl. I use a full tray of ice cubes and enough water to submerge the beans. Once the beans are done cooking, drain and place in the ice bath.

Step three: Prepare the vegan cream sauce

  • In a large non-stick skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the shallot until turning translucent, then add the garlic and continue to sauté for another 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring continuously. Sprinkle the flour over the shallot/garlic mixture and stir until they’re well coated.
  • Slowly whisk in the 1 1/4 cups of vegetable broth. We want to ensure the flour gets well dispersed in the broth so it thickens the sauce and doesn’t clump. Add the soy sauce, white wine vinegar and salt/pepper. Continue to whisk until thickened (about 4 minutes in total from when you started whisking).
  • Add the cashew cream and stir until well combined.

Step four: Assemble the casserole and bake

  • Drain the green beans from the ice bath and add to the skillet with the cream sauce. Gently toss the beans until they’re well coated (I use silicone tongs to make this easier). Transfer to the greased casserole dish, top with crispy fried onions and bake for about 20 minutes or until the edges are starting to turn golden.
  • Vegan Green Bean Casserole (without mushrooms) - The Recipe Well (4)
  • Vegan Green Bean Casserole (without mushrooms) - The Recipe Well (5)

Frequently asked questions

Can vegan green bean casserole be made ahead of time?

Yes! To make ahead, follow the instructions up until assembly, but don’t top with the crispy fried onions. Allow the casserole to cool, then cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to bake, top with the crispy fried onions and bake uncovered in the oven for about 25 minutes, or until the edges start to turn golden brown.

How do I reheat it?

If reheating in the casserole dish, cover with tin foil and bake in the oven at 350 °F for 20-30 minutes, until heated through. If reheating individual portions, you can microwave it for 1-2 minutes.

Vegan Green Bean Casserole (without mushrooms) - The Recipe Well (6)

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  • Green Beans Almondine
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Vegan Green Bean Casserole (without mushrooms) - The Recipe Well (7)

Vegan Green Bean Casserole

Laura Lawless, BASc

This gorgeous, creamy Vegan Green Bean Casserole is the perfect addition to your plant-based holiday meal. Made without canned soup or mushrooms, this easy side dish is a crowd pleaser!

5 from 2 votes

Click stars to rate now! ↑

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Servings 6

Calories 202

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Ingredients

For the cashew cream

For the casserole

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 °F and lightly grease a 2.5-quart (2.3 litre) casserole dish. In a large pot, bring heavily salted water to a rolling boil.

  • Make the cashew cream. Add the soaked cashews and 1 cup of broth to a high speed blender and blend until smooth and creamy.

  • Make the string beans. Once the water is boiling, add the string beans and cook for 2-2.5 minutes (see note 2 if using regular green beans). In a large bowl, prepare an ice bath (I use a full tray of ice cubes and enough water to submerge the cooked beans). When the beans are done cooking, drain immediately and transfer the cooked beans to the ice bath.

  • Make the vegan cream sauce. In a large non-stick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallot and sauté until turning translucent. Add the minced garlic and continue to sauté for another 30 seconds, until fragrant. Sprinkle the flour over the shallot and garlic and stir until the shallots are well coated, then slowly whisk in the broth so the flour is well distributed and starts to thicken the sauce. Add the soy sauce, white wine vinegar and sea salt. Continue to whisk as the mixture thickens (total whisking time will be 3-4 minutes). Add the cashew cream and stir until well combined.

  • Assemble and bake the casserole. Drain the beans from the ice bath and add them to the skillet with the cream sauce. Carefully toss until the beans are evenly coated (I use silicone tongs to make this easier), then transfer the mixture to the greased casserole dish. Top with the crispy fried onions and bake for about 20 minutes or until the edges are starting to turn golden.

Notes

  1. To soak cashews quickly, soak in boiled water for about 20 minutes.
  2. To substitute regular green beans, blanch for about 4 minutes (or until tender, but still crisp) and proceed with the rest of the recipe as directed.
  3. This casserole can be made up to 3 days ahead of time. Assemble the casserole as directed, but leave off the crispy fried onions and don’t bake. Store covered in the refrigerator. When your’e ready to bake it, top with the crispy fried onions and bake for about 25 minutes or until heated through and the edges are turning golden.

Nutrition Estimate

Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 588mg | Potassium: 330mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 887IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 2mg

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Hey, I’m Laura!

Creator of The Recipe Well

If you’re looking for easy meals and Instant Pot recipes, you’re in the right place! I use my nutrition degree to create simple, approachable recipes that will help you find your happy place in the kitchen.

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Vegan Green Bean Casserole (without mushrooms) - The Recipe Well (2024)

FAQs

What is the best substitute for cream of mushroom soup in green bean casserole? ›

Originally Answered: What is a good substitute for cream of mushroom in green bean casserole? Make a thick milk gravy using roux and salt and pepper. To that add 8 Oz sliced fresh mushrooms that have been gently sautéed in butter until tender. Use this in place of canned soup.

Why is my green bean casserole bland? ›

The Casserole Is Bland

Another one of the most common green bean casserole mistakes is to choose a recipe that's a bit too simple, which can result in a bland dish.

Why is my green bean casserole so soupy? ›

Green bean casserole should have a nice thick sauce that coats the green beans—it should not resemble soup. One common cause of a watery casserole is not adding enough thickener, such as flour or cornstarch, to your sauce.

What is a good substitute for mushroom flavor? ›

Artichoke Hearts

Artichoke hearts are another great substitute for fresh mushrooms due to their mild earthy flavor and nutty undertones. They also have a similar texture to mushrooms, so no one would notice that they're missing, except that artichoke hearts have a different color.

What can I use instead of cream of mushroom? ›

Cream of Mushroom Soup Substitutes
  • Cream of Chicken Soup. ...
  • Golden Mushroom Soup. ...
  • Cream of Celery Soup. ...
  • Heavy Cream. ...
  • Cream of Potato Soup. ...
  • Milk and Cream Cheese. ...
  • Sour Cream. ...
  • Dry Cream Soup Mix.
Jun 27, 2023

Which is better frozen or canned green beans for green bean casserole? ›

When I make green bean casserole, I skip canned beans all together. Frozen green beans are the best green beans to use for green bean casserole.

Can you overcook green bean casserole? ›

Overcooking the beans won't just drain them of their appealing color, but it will also make them too soft and mushy, resulting in a less appetizing casserole.

How do you make a casserole taste better? ›

Try different herbs for added flavour: sage or lemon thyme work wonderfully well. For a meatier casserole, add chopped sausage or pancetta when cooking the chicken. Stir wholegrain mustard through the casserole at the end of cooking (to taste); this is especially good if you have sausage in the casserole.

How do you fix soupy green bean casserole? ›

Mistake #5: A Runny Casserole

If you don't, the excess water from the beans can leak out into the casserole and make it thin and runny. If you sense it's a little watery, "add a thickener like roux or starch to absorb the additional liquid or cook a little longer," she says.

Why is green bean casserole so good? ›

Fans love the dish in part because of how simple it is to throw together. It calls for ingredients that could be found in a typical home kitchen pantry: canned or fresh green beans, mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce and black pepper.

Should you cook onions before putting in casserole? ›

Not par-cooking vegetables, pasta, grains, or rice.

Often a quick 2-5 minutes in the microwave will just give them that great head-start. And if you're using onions in your casserole, you can sauté them for a few minutes to deepen their flavor and avoid any raw onion taste in your finished dish.

How many cans of green beans equals 4 cups? ›

✿ 4 cups of green beans is about 1½ pounds fresh or 16 ounces frozen or 2 cans (15 ounces each) drained.

Why isn t my green bean casserole thickening? ›

Add a thickener

While your green bean casserole is on the stove, incorporate a thickener into the vegetables, such as cornstarch or flour. According to The Kitchn, you can combine cornstarch and a small amount of water or broth in a cup and stir until the lumps are gone, and it becomes a thick yet drizzly consistency.

What can I substitute for cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup? ›

I use chicken broth for the cream of chicken soup substitute. To make a heartier soup, like the cream of mushroom, I use beef broth. Sometimes I like to add in a little shredded chicken, sliced mushrooms, celery, etc. Use your imagination.

What is the best substitute for heavy cream in soup? ›

A combination of half-and-half and butter makes the best all-around heavy cream substitute. Both heavy cream and half-and-half are made from cream — the distinction is that half-and-half is a mixture of cream and milk and has about a third as much as fat.

Can cream of chicken be used as a substitute for cream of mushroom soup? ›

Yes, you can substitute cream of chicken for cream of mushroom. They are similar in texture and taste, so it is an easy substitution.

What is a substitute for golden cream of mushroom soup? ›

What can be used as a substitute for cream of mushroom soup in a recipe like homemade stroganoff or lasagna? Any milk/cream-based soup, even chowder. Or alfredo sauce. Or just use cream directly, with salt added.

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