This Green Bean Casserole with Cream Cheese brings a rich, creamy twist to the classic side dish everyone loves. With green beans, bacon, and a dreamy cream cheese and mushroom soup base, it's comfort food that feels both familiar and positively indulgent.
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This Thanksgiving I am all about easy and fast dishes. I've shared my favorite sour cream mashed potatoes with the turkey gravy without drippings (sooo good), Thanksgiving corn recipe, easy baked brie with honey recipe, and I just shared my easy pumpkin pie with a graham cracker crust.
Now I bring you my favorite way to make and east green bean casserole. Here's the secret- it's a very similar recipe to the classic French's Green Bean Casserole but you just add cream cheese and a little bacon.
Why This Recipe Works
- Creamy- Cream cheese plus cream of mushroom soup give the sauce a silky texture that clings to each bean.
- Savory - Bacon adds salty, smoky flavor that balances the richness.
- Textured - Crunchy fried onions on top deliver contrast to the soft beans and creamy sauce.
- Easy - Canned green beans simplify prep, and baking melds all flavors with minimal hands-on time.
What This Recipe Needs
Green Beans (canned, fresh, or frozen) - The main component; beans provide color, substance, and a mild flavor that lets the creamy sauce shine.
Cream Cheese - Adds richness, depth, and smoothness to the sauce; elevates the classic casserole into something more luxurious.
Cream of Mushroom Soup - Gives that classic "casserole" cream base, with mushroom flavor that complements green beans well.
Milk - Thins out the sauce so it's not overly thick or pasty; helps create a velvety consistency.
Bacon (cooked & chopped) - Adds smoky, umami punch and a meaty contrast to the creamy, vegetable-forward dish.
Fried Onions - Provide a crunchy topping that gives texture and that signature golden browned crunch.
Substitutions
- Use fresh or frozen green beans instead of canned, for a fresher texture and flavor.
- Try oven-baked turkey bacon instead of bacon if that's what you have on hand.
- Swap a dairy-free cream cheese (and dairy-free milk) to accommodate lactose intolerance or vegan needs.
- Use homemade mushroom sauce instead of canned soup for more control over ingredients.
How to Make Green Bean Casserole with Cream Cheese?
- Step 1: Cook up your bacon and then chop into pieces.
- Step 2: In a large bowl, mix together your cream of mushroom soup, milk, pepper, and cream cheese.
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- Step 3: Drain green beans, then add them with some of the fried onions and some of the bacon to the cream cheese mixture.
- Step 4: Place mixture in a casserole dish and then bake for 30 minutes.
- Step 5: Remove from oven, top with more onion and bacon, then bake for 5 more minutes.
- Step 6: Serve!
Expert Tips
- Let the cream cheese soften before mixing so it blends smoothly with the soup & milk, resulting in fewer lumps. It's okay to have some cream cheese chunks, but if there are a lot, I like to use an immersion blender to smooth out the mixture before adding the green beans.
- Drain canned green beans thoroughly (or pat freshly cooked from frozen) to avoid excess water that can make the casserole runny.
- Cook bacon until crisp- partly for flavor, partly to prevent it from becoming soggy under the sauce. Check out how to bake bacon in the oven for a mess-free cooking experience!
- Don't add fried onion topping too early - timing matters for that perfect crunchy golden crown.
Variations
- Extra Cheese Version - Stir in shredded cheese (cheddar, gruyère, or Swiss) for an ultra cheesy twist.
- Herb-Infused Casserole - Add fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary for aromatic depth.
- Spicy Kick - Incorporate cayenne pepper or chopped jalapeños for a bit of heat.
- Make-Ahead Casserole - Assemble everything ahead, refrigerate, then bake just before serving to save holiday-day stress.
Frequently Asked Questions
It just makes it better and even more flavorful. The classic green bean casserole is tasty, but cream cheese gives it that little extra yum factor.
Absolutely- you can assemble the casserole (without the topping of fried onions & bacon) the day before, refrigerate overnight, and then bake the next day. Alternatively, make the casserole, but instead of baking it, freeze it. Thaw in the fridge overnight and then follow the baking instructions.
Add the onions toward the end of baking (last few minutes) so they crisp up without burning or soaking in moisture.
Yep! Just cook them until just tender before using them in the recipe.
If you forget to let your cream cheese soften, you can microwave it for 20-second intervals at 50% power until soft.
Absolutely! You will just need to increase the baking time to 40 minutes instead of 30, or until hot all the way through, and you will need a bigger baking dish.
More Related Recipes
If you like this recipe, be sure to check out all my easy Thanksgiving dishes, especially my delicious Thanksgiving Dressing Recipe, pepper gravy recipe, smoked spatchcock turkey, and pecan pie brownies!
If you like this recipe make sure to give it a 5-star review and leave a comment down below!
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Green Bean Casserole with Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 6 oz bacon cooked and chopped, divided
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup 10.5 oz
- ½ cup milk
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 3 cans green beans 3-11 oz cans green beans
- 6 oz fried onions
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook bacon in a small fry pan, allow to cool, then chop.6 oz bacon
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine cream of mushroom soup, milk, cream cheese, and pepper. Stir until it's fully combined. If your cream cheese isn't very soft, you can use an immersion blender or a powered hand mixer to combine. Some small chunks are okay.1 can cream of mushroom soup, ½ cup milk, 8 oz cream cheese, ¼ teaspoon pepper
- Drain the green beans, then stir them into the cream cheese mixture. Stir in ⅔ cup of fried onions, and ⅓ of the bacon.3 cans green beans
- Place the green bean mixture in a 1 ½ quart baking dish and bake for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, remove the dish from the oven, top with the remaining bacon pieces and fried onions, and bake for an additional 5 minutes. Onions should be golden.6 oz fried onions
- Remove from oven and enjoy!
DS says
I added some soy sauce, a clove of garlic, and a 1/8t nutmeg. Loved it.
Ashley says
Hi there! I am so looking forward to making this recipe!! What are your thoughts on doing this in a crockpot? We travel to our deer lease for both Christmas and Thanksgiving and our oven tends to “over cook” so the crockpot is my go to? Thoughts?
Lisa says
Oh good question! I've never tried it but I don't see why it shouldn't work. Wait until 5-10 minutes before serving to add the bacon and onions (just it warms them up a bit). The onions probably won't get golden but they are still really tasty 😛 I've snacked on my fair share when using them! You could even toast them in a pan or in the oven before heading up to your property and then add them on top. As far as high or low temp on the crockpot I am not sure but since everything is cooked and you are just heating it through either temp should work. Let me know how it goes! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas!
Connie says
This is literally the BEST bean casserole! I only added onion salt and some of the bacon fat from frying and instead of saving some bacon for the top, I just mixed it all in! So so much flavor!! Mmmm!
Lisa says
I am so glad you enjoyed it! Onion salt and bacon fat sound like delicious additions!
Coonellie says
I’ve made this dish at least 10 times now. I love it! I do use fresh green beans, but I’ve made it with frozen and canned and it’s still fab.
Depending on whether it’s a side or main dish, I put pieces of cooked chicken at the same time I add the bacon. Then it’s a main dish and is also great.
Thanks so much for the recipe!
Lisa says
Oooh adding chicken sounds so good! I am so glad you love it!
Tara says
Hi - I am planning on making this for Easter dinner and wondering if I can prep it ahead of time then refrigerate overnight then put it in the oven. Will it need more time to get warm? Thanks!
Lisa says
Yep you can make it ahead of time just like you are planning on. I don't think you will need any extra baking time. It should get plenty warm in the hour it's in the oven 🙂 Also, just remember to not add the crispy onion topping and bacon to the top until halfway through the bake!
Lisa M says
Hi there, So I made this recipe but changed a few things....I used fresh green beans and cooked them until soft as suggested. I made fresh bacon, extra crispy and added another 3 to 4 ounces. Love bacon!
I also pan seared a package of slices mushrooms, yummmm and thinly sliced 2 large onions and cooked them until they were caramelized. I really don't care for crunchy onion topping, but love the onion! After I combined all that and baked, I topped with crushed crackers and put back in oven till golden! It was AWESOME!!!!
Lisa says
That all sounds so delicious! Great alterations! Glad you enjoyed the recipe!