This Healthy Green Bean Casserole skips the canned soup and fried onions for a lighter, from-scratch version with homemade sautéed onions. Easy to make ahead for Thanksgiving!
Is anyone else totally in love with fall? I am I am. I took a trip down to Champaign, IL for homecoming at my alma mater this weekend and was quickly reminded why my jeans fit snugly throughout those four years.
We managed to eat McDonald’s twice in 24 hours, plus late night pizza and more beers than I can count on both hands.
Oh college.
Needless to say I’m ready for some clean eating Thanksgiving recipes, starting with this delicious Healthy Green Bean Casserole recipe.
This beauty doesn’t have any canned soup or fried onions. It’s made using clean ingredients and homemade sautéed onions on top!
I love adding a few healthy Thanksgiving recipes to the mix so you can indulge in other dishes.
I also discovered that Trader Joes sells a bag of washed and trimmed fresh green beans, which will make your Thanksgiving meal prep SO much easier.
You can even make this Healthy Green Bean Casserole ahead of time! Just assemble all the ingredients, cover with plastic wrap then aluminum foil, and freeze.
On the big day, just pop it in the oven. If you do this it will need more time to bake – wait until the edges are bubbly.
Thanksgiving doesn’t have to leave you in stretchy pants! Serve up this Healthy Green Bean Casserole for a healthy Thanksgiving recipe that will leave more room for pie.
Healthy Green Bean Casserole
This Healthy Green Bean Casserole skips the canned soup and fried onions for a lighter, from-scratch version perfect for Thanksgiving. Easy to make ahead!
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds green beans, trimmed and cut into 2" pieces
- 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
- 3 tablespoons whole wheat flour
- 1 cup milk (almond unsweetened or 2%)
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons low fat cottage cheese
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- For Onion Topping:
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced into circles
- 1/2 cup whole wheat or Panko breadcrumbs
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 3 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Boil green beans until al dente - about 5-6 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- In a separate pan, saute onions in 1 tablespoon olive oil until they're nice and brown. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pan, add mushrooms and saute until soft. Add in enough flour to coat the mushrooms. Next, pour in the milk, whisking as you pour. Add water, cottage cheese, Parmesan, salt and pepper and whisk until the cottage cheese melts. Add the green beans into the mushroom sauce and stir to combine.
- In a bowl, mix onions with breadcrumbs, Parmesan and water and stir to combine.
- Spray a casserole dish with non-stick spray and pour in the green bean mixture. Top it with the onions and bake uncovered about 25 minutes.
Recipe adapted from iFoodReal.
What’s your favorite healthy Thanksgiving recipe to make?
Don’t miss more Clean Eating Thanksgiving Recipes:
Maple Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Julie
Saturday 22nd of November 2025
Where is the recipe……..I have been using this for years how sad it is nnot on here anymore please send if you have it
Diana
Monday 23rd of December 2024
I see people commenting regarding some of the ingredients but I don't see the actual recipe outlined anywhere on this page, only a link to the recipe that it was inspired by. What am I missing?
Megan
Sunday 24th of November 2024
This is my favorite for thanksgiving. The recipe isn’t showing for me 😩🤯 Help!!
8 yummy & fun new Thanksgiving recipes to try this year!
Thursday 11th of October 2018
[…] Clean Eating Green Bean Casserole by Smile Sandwich […]
Samantha
Wednesday 29th of November 2017
Such a great recipe! I featured it on a blog post of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes!