Green bean chicken casserole is what happens when a beloved Thanksgiving side dish meets a regular weeknight meal. This bake combines pantry ingredients with chicken and a few fresh elements to make it a main dish. It’s still topped with delightfully crunchy French-fried onions, but adding chicken and rice help build it into a hearty entree. It’s a warm, one pan dinner on its own, but equally good with a side such as lemon basil roasted potatoes or this fresh salad with ribbon-cut vegetables and orange vinaigrette.
Ingredients for Green Bean Chicken Casserole
- Long grain wild rice mix: Rice makes this a filling casserole, and wild rice adds texture and a subtle nutty flavor.
- Chicken: Cooked cubed chicken breasts or shredded rotisserie chicken add protein to elevate traditional green bean casserole from a side dish to a main.
- Frozen green beans: Thin ribbons of French cut frozen green beans cook quickly and they’re easier to eat in a casserole than longer segments or whole beans.
- Cream of mushroom soup: Condensed soup is a classic addition to green bean casserole that makes everything nice and creamy.
- Cream of broccoli soup: Broccoli soup adds more creaminess and a vegetal flavor to the dish.
- Canned mushrooms: Popping open a can is a quick shortcut to add mushrooms to this casserole without cooking them ahead of time. If you prefer to use fresh, sauté them before stirring them in.
- Onion: Simply stir chopped onion into the casserole before baking, and it will infuse savory flavor into all of the other ingredients.
- Green pepper: Chopped green pepper amps up the veggie-forward flavor of this dish and adds some texture.
- Onion soup mix: One of the fastest ways to season a dish, stir in an envelope of onion soup mix for extra umami.
- Colby cheese: Mild colby cheese adds a nice gooey layer on top, but other cheeses such as a young cheddar or a melty fontina will work, too.
- French-fried onions: The classic green bean casserole topping, crunchy French fried onions added in the last few minutes of cooking finish the dish.
Directions
Step 1: Make rice and assemble casserole
Prepare wild rice mix according to the package instructions. Mix it with the chicken, green beans, condensed soups, mushrooms, onion, green pepper and soup mix. Add to two greased 1-1/2 quart baking dish and sprinkle with cheese.
Step 2: Bake casserole until hot and top with French fried onions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Cover casserole and bake 25 to 30 minutes until heated through. Top with French-fried onions and bake uncovered until onions are golden brown, about 5 minutes.
Green Bean Chicken Casserole Variations
- Swap onion topping for stuffing:Â Finish the casserole with another holiday favorite: stuffing! Prepare boxed stuffing mix according to package directions, then add it to the top of the casserole for the last few minutes of cooking in place of French-fried onions.
- Just add bacon:Â Green beans and bacon are a delicious combo. While the casserole is baking, fry up a few strips of thick cut bacon, dice and sprinkle on during the last 5 minutes of cooking with the French-fried onions.
- Add more frozen vegetables: Other vegetables will work in this casserole too, like peas or broccoli.
How to Store Green Bean Chicken Casserole
Leftover casserole can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Can you freeze green bean chicken casserole?
This casserole freezes beautifully for at least 3 months. Let frozen casserole thaw in the refrigerator overnight then set at room temperature for 3o minutes. Cover and bake until heated through, about an hour. Uncover, top with crunchy onions and bake for additional 5 minutes.
Green Bean Chicken Casserole Tips
What can I use instead of cream of mushroom or broccoli soup?
Cream of chicken or another similar condensed can of soup will work, or try this homemade version for extra flavor.
Can I leave out the wild rice mix?
If wild rice isn’t your favorite, you can use long grain or jasmine, brown rice or even another fluffy grain like barley, just cook before adding to the casserole. You can also leave the grain out entirely. The end result will be a little creamier without the filling rice, but it will taste similar.
What’s the best kind of chicken to use?
It’s up to you! It just needs to be cooked first, so whether you use a rotisserie chicken you picked up at the store, poached chicken breasts or braised chicken thighs, they will all work in green bean chicken casserole.
