Vegan Green Bean Casserole from Scratch (No Canned Soup)
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Green bean casserole is a must at Thanksgiving, but the classic version relies on canned cream soup and fried onions. This vegan green bean casserole is made from scratch with crisp-tender fresh green beans, a silky cashew and mushroom cream sauce, and crunchy onions baked in the oven instead of fried. It tastes like the dish you grew up with, just fresher and lighter.
🌱 Why This Green Bean Casserole Is Healthier
- No canned soup: A from-scratch cashew sauce replaces condensed cream soup, which is high in sodium and additives.
- Baked, not fried, onions: Oven-crisped onions have a fraction of the fat of store-bought fried onions.
- Fresh vegetables: Fresh green beans and mushrooms add fiber, vitamin K and folate.
- Heart-healthy fats: Cashews give the sauce its creaminess with unsaturated fats instead of cream.
🫛 Vegan Green Bean Casserole from Scratch Recipe
Vegan Green Bean Casserole from Scratch
Ingredients
Crispy onions
- 1 large yellow onion very thinly sliced into rings
- 2 tbsp all-purpose or almond flour
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs check that they are vegan
- olive oil spray
- ¼ tsp salt
Casserole
- 1½ lb fresh green beans 680 g, trimmed and halved
- ½ cup raw cashews 70 g
- 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth 240 ml
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk 120 ml
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 8 oz cremini mushrooms 225 g, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Cover the cashews with boiling water and soak for 10 minutes.
- Toss the onion rings with the flour and salt, then with the panko. Spread on a lined baking sheet, spray with olive oil and bake for 15–20 minutes, flipping once, until golden and crisp. Lower the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Meanwhile, boil the green beans in salted water for 4 minutes, then drain and plunge them into ice water. Drain well.
- Drain the cashews and blend them with the broth, almond milk, nutritional yeast and soy sauce until completely smooth.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet and cook the mushrooms for 6–7 minutes until browned. Add the garlic and thyme for 30 seconds, then pour in the cashew sauce and simmer for 2 minutes until slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper.
- Stir the green beans into the sauce and transfer to a 2-quart baking dish. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Top with the crispy onions and bake for 5–10 more minutes, until bubbling. Serve hot.
Notes
🍴 How to Serve It
- Next to Healthy Vegan Stuffing and mashed potatoes.
- With any of the vegan mains in this series, like the Whole Roasted Cauliflower.
- As a cozy weeknight side all winter.
🧘♀️ Nutrition Tips
Approximate nutrition per serving (1/8 casserole): 150 calories · 5 g protein · 16 g carbs · 4 g fiber · 8 g fat.
- No high-speed blender? Soak the cashews in boiling water for 30 minutes instead of 10 so they blend smooth.
- Shock the beans in ice water after blanching to keep them bright green.
- Make ahead: Assemble the casserole without the onions up to a day ahead. Add the onions just before baking.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
🛒 Healthy Amazon Finds for This Recipe
- Ninja Professional Blender (BL610): blends the cashew cream sauce completely smooth.
- Pyrex 2-Quart Glass Baking Dish: the right size for 8 servings.
- Amazon Basics Silicone Baking Mat 2-Pack: helps the onions crisp without sticking.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen green beans?
Yes. Use 1½ lb of frozen cut green beans. Skip the blanching: just thaw them and pat them dry.
Can I make it nut-free?
Yes. Replace the cashews with ½ cup of raw sunflower seeds or ¾ cup of silken tofu. The sauce will be just as creamy.
Are store-bought fried onions vegan?
Some brands are, but they're deep-fried and high in fat. Baking your own onions keeps them crispy with much less oil.
Can I make green bean casserole the day before?
Yes. Assemble it without the onion topping, cover and refrigerate. Bake it straight from the fridge, adding 10 minutes, then add the onions for the last 10 minutes.
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🧮 Track it: Use our free Daily Calorie Intake Calculator to find out how many calories you need each day.
✅ Final Thoughts
This from-scratch vegan green bean casserole has everything you love about the classic: creamy sauce, tender beans and a crunchy onion topping, with no canned soup and no frying. Pin it for your Thanksgiving menu!
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