How to Bake Green Beans

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: February 16, 2020 References Tested

Green beans are a delicious, versatile vegetable that can be baked in a variety of ways. Depending on your needs, you can bake green beans as a side dish, main meal, or delicious snack. Roasting green beans on their own is delicious but, if you're craving a more filling meal, you can also add bacon, garlic, walnuts, and many other toppings to strengthen its flavor. If you're in the mood for a warm and creamy main dish, you can even prepare green bean casserole in the oven for dinner!

Ingredients

Baking Green Bean Casserole

10 ounces (280 g) can of condensed mushroom soup
¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of milk
1 lb (450 g) of fresh or canned green beans
1.33 cups (310 mL) of French fried onions
Black pepper to taste

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:
Roasting Green Beans

1
Preheat your oven to 400 °F (204 °C). Preheating your oven beforehand will help it roast the green beans evenly. Set your oven to 400 °F (204 °C) at least 15-30 minutes before you want to bake the green beans.^{[1]
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- Although you can wait until you've prepped the green beans, don't place them in the oven until it reaches 400 °F (204 °C).
2
Spread the green beans out over a baking pan. Pour the fresh or canned green beans onto a baking pan and spread them apart with your hands. The green beans should have enough room on the pan so that they touch but lay flat, with none lying over the others.^{[2]
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- If you're baking fresh green beans, wash them first and trim off the ends before baking them.
3
Drizzle the green beans with olive oil and season them. Pour the olive lightly over the green beans on the sheet, using enough to cover but not drench the tops. Then, sprinkle salt and black pepper over the green beans to taste for extra flavor.^{[3]
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- For an added kick, use cayenne pepper instead of black pepper.
4
Bake the green beans in the oven for 20-25 minutes. After seasoning the green beans, set the baking pan inside the oven and close the door. Leave the green beans to bake for about 20-25 minutes for a crisp, roasted flavor.^{[4]
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- The green beans will be ready to remove from the ovens when they shrivel slightly and develop brown spots.
5
Remove the green beans from the oven and cool them before serving. Take the baking pan out of the oven and let them cool on the stove top for at least 5-10 minutes. Then, serve them as a side dish or as a healthy snack all on their own.^{[5]
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- Green beans pair especially well with meat or pasta dishes.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:
Trying Variations

1
Sprinkle your green beans with Parmesan for a cheesy twist. Parmesan cheese can give your green beans a richer, creamier taste. After removing your green beans from the oven, sprinkle as much grated Parmesan as desired and wait 5-10 minutes for the cheese to melt before serving.^{[6]
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- Put the cheese on top of the green beans immediately after removing them from the oven, as the heat from the green beans will help it melt faster.
2
Try bacon and onions for added protein and flavor. Before you prepare your green beans, fry 8 slices of bacon and finely chop 1 large onion. Sprinkle both the bacon and onions over the green beans on a baking sheet and cook them for 20-25 minutes.^{[7]
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- For a touch of sweetness, caramelize the onions over the stove before baking them.
3
Add garlic cloves and almonds for texture and spice. Mince 2 garlic cloves with your knife into small, fine pieces. Bake the green beans for about 15 minutes, then remove them from the oven and add the minced garlic and 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of almond slices. Put the green beans back in the oven and bake for 5-10 more minutes, then serve after letting them cool.^{[8]
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4
Make green beans with walnuts and lemons for a sour, yet savory flavor. After baking the green beans, sprinkle 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of lemon zest on top and mix thoroughly. Top the green beans with ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of chopped walnuts and serve after baking for 20-25 minutes.^{[9]
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- If needed, you can substitute the lemon zest for concentrated lemon juice.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:
Baking Green Bean Casserole

1
Preheat your oven to 350 °F (177 °C). Heating your oven beforehand will help your green bean casserole cook faster and more evenly. About 15-30 minutes before you plan to bake the casserole, set your oven to 350 °F (177 °C).^{[10]
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- To prevent baking the casserole unevenly, do not bake it until the oven reaches 350 °F (177 °C).
2
Mix the soup, milk, and pepper in a baking pan. Combine a 10 oz (280 g) can of condensed mushroom soup and ¹⁄₂ cup (4.2 imp fl oz; 4.0 fl oz) of milk in your casserole's baking pan. Add black pepper to taste, then stir until the soup, milk, and pepper is thoroughly blended.^{[11]
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- For a rich flavor, use whole milk in your green bean casserole.
- Choose a baking pan with tall sides to avoid spilling the casserole while moving the pan around.
3
Add in the canned green beans, cheese, and fried onions. After stirring the mixture in the baking pan, add 1 lb (450 g) of fresh or canned green beans and 1.25 cups (300 mL) of French onions. Mix the baking pan thoroughly, then sprinkle ²⁄₃ c (160 mL) of shredded cheese on top.^{[12]
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- While you can add any cheese to green bean casseroles, cheddar is traditional.
4
Bake the green beans for 30 minutes. Place the green bean casserole in the oven and cook for about 25-30 minutes. Keep the green bean casserole in the oven until the cheese melts and begins to look crispy around the edges.^{[13]
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- Set a timer for 30 minutes to make sure you take the green bean casserole out on time.
5
Sprinkle the rest of the fried onions and bake for 5 more minutes. After 30 minutes, remove the green beans from the oven and set them on the stove top. Sprinkle ²⁄₃ c (160 mL) of fried onions over the casserole and bake for an additional 5 minutes to give it a crispier texture.^{[14]
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- Baking the fried onions for 5 extra minutes can give the casserole a crunchier texture. If you'd prefer a smoother texture similar to soup, do not sprinkle fried onions on top and leave the casserole to bake for the full 30-35 minutes.
6
Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool. After baking the green bean casserole for about 35 minutes, take it out of the oven and cool it on the stove top for about 5-10 minutes. Then, serve the green bean casserole immediately as a warm, creamy side dish.
- Green bean casserole makes an excellent side dish for most meat or poultry dishes.