The Best Green Bean Casserole? We Put 5 Famous Recipes to the Test

There are a handful of dishes that are truly Thanksgiving staples, and green bean casserole is one of them. And everyone seems to have their own twist on the classic. We made five of the most famous green bean casserole recipes—some are traditional, some are reimagined—to see which casserole truly delivers a taste of Thanksgiving magic.

The 5 Green Bean Casserole Recipes We Tried

Ree Drummond’s Green Bean Casserole

The Pioneer Woman's green bean casserole is a homemade version of the classic I had as a kid. The filling is made with fresh green beans, cremini mushrooms, chicken stock, cream, and Parmesan cheese. The mixture is flavored with garlic, rosemary, salt, and pepper. A pile of homemade fried onions adds just the right amount of crunch. Our tasters loved the creaminess of the sauce and the tender green beans. As one 5-star reviewer shared it best, "My guests were raving about these string beans. It tasted 1000 times better. This will be part of my holiday recipes."

Bottom line: This is the green bean casserole recipe to make if you want a from-scratch version of the retro classic.

Chrissy Teigen’s Green Bean Casserole

Chrissy's green bean casserole recipe has a few unexpected ingredients our tasters raved about. The addition of cheddar cheese and cubed ham helps it feel almost like a main dish. One editor even suggested doubling the protein and serving it alongside a salad for a hearty weeknight dinner. Either way, this is a hearty riff on the combo of green beans, mushrooms, and fried onions.

Bottom line: If you're looking for an unexpected addition to your Thanksgiving menu, try this twist on the classic.

French's Green Bean Casserole

This is the casserole millions of people make every year, and for good reason. It's quick, easy-to-assemble, and delicious. The combination of tender canned beans, cream of mushroom soup, and French fried onions is nearly universally beloved. We tried this alongside many from-scratch recipes, and this hit the spot for a dose of nostalgia.

Bottom line: If you want a taste of Thanksgivings past, make this back-of-package casserole recipe. It hits every time.

Guy Fieri’s Green Bean Casserole

For many of our tasters, this was the best green bean casserole they've ever tried. The creamy mushroom gravy is made with mixed mushrooms, including shiitakes, cremini, and oyster, which gives this casserole plenty of flavor. And this recipe swaps in fried shallots for the onions, which is a change we can get behind. A touch of cayenne pepper adds just the right amount of spice.

Bottom line: This is a fantastic version of the classic casserole. If you love mushrooms, this is the dish for you.

Alton Brown's Best Ever Green Bean Casserole

This was one of the casseroles our tasters kept going back to. This recipe nails the combination of tender veggies, creamy sauce, and crunchy onions. Adding panko to the onion breading ensures they come out ultra crispy and browned. And the sauce is loaded with plenty of mushrooms and cream. As one 5-star reviewer raved, "It’s definitely a crowd pleaser. Was a hit at the office potluck!"

Bottom line: If you're making homemade green bean casserole this year, give this recipe a try. It's a showstopper.