Cheesy Green Bean Bacon Casserole (Printer-Friendly)

Green beans, cheese sauce, bacon, and fried onions combine for an irresistible, comforting holiday side.

# What You’ll Need to Cook:

→ Vegetables

01 - 700 g fresh green beans, ends trimmed

→ Meat

02 - 150 g bacon, chopped into small pieces

→ Cheese

03 - 120 g cheddar cheese, shredded
04 - 50 g Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

→ Sauce Base

05 - 30 g unsalted butter
06 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 30 g all-purpose flour
09 - 240 ml whole milk
10 - 120 ml heavy cream
11 - 120 ml chicken broth
12 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce

→ Seasoning & Topping

13 - 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
14 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
15 - 100 g canned French fried onions

# Steps to Prepare:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add trimmed green beans, and cook for 3–4 minutes until bright green. Immediately transfer beans to an ice bath to halt cooking, then drain well.
02 - Place chopped bacon in a large skillet over medium heat and fry until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the pan.
03 - Add butter to the skillet with bacon fat. Sauté diced onion over medium heat for 3–4 minutes until translucent. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 additional minute.
04 - Sprinkle flour over the onion mixture and stir constantly for 1–2 minutes to form a roux. Gradually whisk in milk, heavy cream, chicken broth, and soy sauce. Continue whisking until smooth and slightly thickened, about 3–5 minutes.
05 - Add half of the shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses to the sauce, whisking until fully melted and smooth. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
06 - In a large mixing bowl, combine blanched green beans, cooked bacon (reserve a little for topping), and cheese sauce. Fold in half of the French fried onions and remaining shredded cheese.
07 - Transfer mixture to a greased 2-litre baking dish. Top evenly with reserved bacon, remaining cheese, and French fried onions.
08 - Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 25–30 minutes until the casserole is bubbling and golden brown on top.
09 - Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving hot.

# Extra Cooking Tips:

01 - For optimal texture, use fresh green beans and add fried onions only just before baking to preserve crispness.
02 - Prepared casserole can be assembled up to 2 days in advance and refrigerated without the final onion topping.
03 - Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

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