Easy Crockpot Green Bean Casserole

This Crockpot green bean casserole transforms the holiday staple into an easy, 6-ingredient dump-and-go recipe. It’s deliciously creamy and freezes well!

This Crockpot green bean casserole is so easy to make, you can’t mess it up!

Everyone’s favorite side dish for the holidays only needs 6 ingredients: canned beans, canned mushroom soup, milk, fried onions, and basic pantry seasonings.

You’ll get tender green beans in creamy gravy, contrasting the crunchy onions for the perfect bite.

But the best part? This slow cooker green bean casserole is a no-maintenance dump meal!

Just combine everything and let the Crockpot make the crowd-pleaser. This means you have a free space in the oven and more time for other dishes.

Talk about cooking efficiency in the kitchen!

I’ve also shared some yummy additions to transform this dish into a cheesy green bean casserole, so keep reading. ?

What Is Green Bean Casserole?

Green bean casserole is a savory dish featuring green beans baked in creamy gravy and topped with crunchy fried onions.

With its effortless preparation, delicious flavors, and enjoyable textures, it’s not surprising for green bean casserole to become a classic holiday side dish.

The dish was born in 1955 (Thank you, Dorcas Reilly!) and has stood the test of time.

Of course, this means there’s a green bean casserole recipe for everybody.

And this Crockpot green bean casserole?

It makes it hard to have an excuse not to make it!

You can use canned, frozen, or fresh beans (we opted for canned to make it super duper convenient.) Since it’s also a slow cooker casserole, just set it and forget it. 

There is no need to turn on the oven or spend extra time preparing the green beans to enjoy the satisfying dish. 

You can even tweak the recipe for a cheesy green bean casserole. More on this later. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Low Effort Dish: This Crockpot green bean casserole only needs a few ingredients, including canned beans. It also won’t leave you with tons of dishes to wash. Just dump everything in a bowl and transfer it to the slow cooker, and the creamy, savory comfort meal will be ready in no time.
• Can Easily Be Tweaked: Transform this low-maintenance casserole into a cheesy green bean casserole, make it heartier with add-ins, or double the recipe to store some in the freezer.
• Perfect For Hosting and Busy Weeknights: Because making the green bean casserole in the Crockpot means the oven is free, you can easily multi-task in the kitchen. It can also be made ahead and stored in the fridge or freezer!

What Does Crockpot Green Bean Casserole Taste Like?

Crockpot green bean casserole tastes rich, savory, and just overall satisfying because of the texture contrasts between the fried onions, mushroom gravy, and green beans. 

Making the green bean casserole in a Crockpot means it’s cooked on low for hours, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.

The mushroom sauce thickens nicely, coating the tender green beans perfectly. Imagine them with crunchy fried onions… Every spoonful is the perfect bite! ?

You can also make this recipe even more delicious by turning it into a cheesy green bean casserole.

I’ve shared what types of cheese will be delicious in and on top of the casserole below. 

What’s in Green Bean Casserole?

• Green beans – I’ve compared canned, fresh, and frozen green beans later in this read, but if you can’t decide, go ahead and grab three cans of canned green beans on your next grocery run. 
• Condensed cream of mushroom soup – Use condensed soup so the casserole will be perfectly thick and creamy. We don’t want excess liquid in the dish. 
• Milk – This is a Crockpot green bean casserole from scratch, but it does not fall short on yumminess. Don’t forget to add milk for that extra richness!
• Kosher salt – We’ll season the dish with a simple pairing of salt and pepper, but feel free to add more exciting spices to your casserole. 
• Ground black pepper – Salt and pepper are enough for a delicious green bean casserole, but scroll down for other add-ins that will make the holiday favorite even better.
• French fried onions – Can’t make the best green bean casserole without them! Scroll down to learn how to make them crispier in the oven or stove.
• Non-stick cooking spray – For preparing the slow cooker.

Tools Needed To Prepare Green Bean Casserole in a Crockpot

• Slow cooker for cooking the green bean casserole
• Mixing bowl for combining the ingredients
• Spatula for mixing the ingredients 

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Green Bean Casserole

Can of mushroom soup substitute

Not a fan of mushrooms or want to add another layer of flavor to your casserole? Swap cream of mushroom soup with cream of chicken soup. 

You can also use cream of celery soup. 

Cheesy green bean casserole

Transform your Crockpot green bean casserole into a cheesy green bean casserole.

You can do many things, like swap the cream of mushroom soup with cheddar cheese soup or sprinkle the casserole with parmesan cheese.

You can also stir shredded cheddar cheese into the green bean casserole. ?

Add-ins and seasonings

Make your slow cooker green bean casserole extra hearty and enjoy it as a main dish!

Some delicious additions to the casserole are portobello mushrooms and water chestnuts.

Other than fried onions, you can also top the dish with sliced almonds or crumbled bacon for more crunch.

And let’s not forget the seasonings!

Try your green bean casserole with soy sauce, onion powder, or Italian seasoning.

How Do You Make Green Bean Casserole?

Ingredients:

• 3 cans cut green beans, drained
• 2 cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 6 oz French fried onions
• Non-stick cooking spray

Tools you need:

• Slow cooker
• Mixing bowl
• Spatula

Instructions:

STEP 1: Gather the ingredients for your Crockpot green bean casserole. Spray the slow cooker with a non-stick cooking spray.

STEP 2: Combine the cream of mushroom soup, milk, and seasonings.

STEP 3: Stir in the green beans.

STEP 4: Add half a cup of French fried onions. Fold to combine.

STEP 5: Transfer the green bean mixture to the Crockpot and spread it evenly.

STEP 6: Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook the green bean casserole on low for 2 to 3 hours.

STEP 7: Sprinkle with the remaining fried onions before serving. Enjoy!

What To Serve With Crockpot Green Bean Casserole

Making green bean casserole in the Crockpot means you can easily multi-task and prepare other delicious dishes to serve with it. 

Some yummy partners to the Thanksgiving classic are roasted turkey (I think this is a given to complete your Thanksgiving feast ?), mashed potatoes, rice, or cornbread. 

However, you don’t need to wait until Thanksgiving to savor Crockpot green bean casserole.

It’s not difficult to find other dishes that can accompany it on an ordinary weeknight dinner.

Enjoy it with easy recipes like our viral TikTok juicy chicken 101 or Instant Pot garlic butter steak bites.

For cheesy green bean casserole, turkey bacon ranch sliders will complement its richness (you can even use the dinner rolls to mop up the sauce!)

And to end the savory meal on a high note, try this Paula Deen sweet potato casserole for dessert.

Tips About Making Green Bean Casserole in the Crockpot

• This green bean casserole Crockpot recipe yields a nice thick sauce coating the green beans. But if your dish seems too watery, remove the lid and cook it for 30 minutes more.
• Want extra crunchy fried onions for your Crockpot green bean casserole? Brown them in a dry skillet over medium-high heat for 3 minutes or pop them in the oven for 10 minutes before you use them as topping.
• Here’s a trick to get that crave-worthy crispy top when making the green bean casserole in a crockpot: Place a tea towel over the slow cooker before you cover it with a lid to shield the casserole from condensation. 

How To Store Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole

Whether you make this slow cooker green bean casserole as is or with cheddar and parmesan cheese for cheesy green bean casserole, you can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Can you freeze green bean casserole?

Yes, this Crockpot green bean casserole is freezer-friendly. 

Transfer it to a freezer-safe container and keep it frozen for up to 3 months. But of course, if you already added the fried onions on top, expect they won’t be as crunchy after thawing. 

How to reheat green bean casserole:

You can reheat your green bean casserole in the oven preheated to 350°F. If frozen, thaw it in the fridge overnight first.

How Long to Cook Green Bean Casserole?

For Crockpot green bean casserole, cook the dish for 2 to 3 hours on low. It should be ready once the onions are nice and golden brown.

Alternatively, insert a thermometer into the middle of the green bean casserole. If it reads 165°F, it should be good to go. 

What about a classic green bean casserole in the oven? Cook your casserole in the oven preheated to 350°F for about 10 minutes (if using canned beans.)

Can You Make Green Bean Casserole Ahead of Time?

This slow cooker green bean casserole makes a fantastic make-ahead meal, perfect for busy weeknights and gatherings. 

Jumpstart the dish by assembling it 2 to 3 days in advance.

Combine everything in a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and store it in the fridge. Don’t forget to add the fried onions right before baking and extend the cooking time a bit if it comes from the fridge. 

Which Is Better, Frozen or Canned Green Beans for Green Bean Casserole?

Canned green beans are great for convenience, but you can also use fresh or frozen green beans for this green bean casserole Crockpot recipe. (Note that fresh and frozen green beans cook longer than canned green beans.)

If using frozen green beans, allow them to thaw so they won’t add moisture to the casserole. Team thick casserole all the way!

What about fresh green beans? You’ll exert additional effort since you’ll trim and blanch them first, but some would argue that it’s all worth it since they’ll come out amazingly tender. 

FAQ About Green Bean Casserole Crockpot Recipe

Conclusion

Consider this effortless Crockpot green bean casserole a staple in your gatherings. But since it’s a dump-and-go recipe with a few simple ingredients, you don’t need to wait for the holidays to whip up this creamy and savory comfort food. 

You can even make your slow cooker green bean casserole in advance for busy weeknight dinners!

And if your taste buds want more, add cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese for a cheesy green bean casserole.

How do you like your green bean casserole? Let us know in the comments below!

For more amazing side dishes that can easily be tweaked into main dishes, check out these delicious recipes:

• Deviled Eggs with Relish
• Hash Brown Potato Soup
• Stovetop Chicken Noodle Soup
• Sausage Balls with Cream Cheese
• Gluten-Free Stuffed Mushrooms