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Keto green bean casserole with whole green beans in creamy mushroom sauce, topped with fried onions, in a glass baking dish

Keto Green Bean Casserole with Mushrooms

A creamy keto, low-carb green bean casserole with whole green beans, browned mushrooms and melty cheese. No canned soup or flour. Naturally gluten-free without the optional fried onions.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 lb Fresh green beans trimmed and left whole (or cut into 2-inch pieces if you prefer)
  • 2 tbsp Butter
  • 1/2 Medium onion finely diced
  • 8 oz Mushrooms chopped; fresh or canned and well-drained
  • 2 Garlic cloves minced
  • 1/4 cup Chicken broth check the label if you need it gluten-free
  • 4 oz Cream cheese softened
  • 3/4 cup Heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup Smoked gouda shredded, or any cheese that melts well
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fried onions optional topping; contain gluten

Instructions
 

  • Preheat: Heat the oven to 375°F.
  • Blanch the beans: Boil the whole green beans for 3 to 4 minutes, then transfer them straight to ice water. Drain and pat dry.
    Whole green beans blanching in a pot of boiling water
  • Cook the onion: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the onion until soft.
    Diced onion cooking in butter in a skillet
  • Brown the mushrooms: Add the mushrooms and cook until their liquid cooks off and they turn golden, 8 to 10 minutes.
    Chopped mushrooms and onion browning in a skillet
  • Add the garlic: Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Deglaze the pan with the broth.
    Garlic being pressed into browned mushrooms and onions in a skillet
  • Blend the cream: Blend the softened cream cheese, broth, and heavy cream until smooth. A blender or food processor keeps the sauce from getting lumpy.
    Cream cheese and heavy cream blending in a food processor
  • Make it creamy: Pour the cream mixture into the skillet and stir in the cheese until melted. Simmer 3 to 5 minutes, until thickened. Season with salt and pepper.
    Shredded smoked gouda being stirred into a creamy mushroom sauce
  • Assemble: Toss the beans in the sauce and spread them in a baking dish. If using fried onions, sprinkle them on top.
    Whole green beans tossed in creamy mushroom sauce in a glass baking dish
  • Bake: Cover with foil and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until bubbly. Covering keeps the fried onions from burning.
    Green bean casserole topped with fried onions, ready to cover and bake

Notes

Fried onions: Store-bought fried onions contain wheat flour, so they aren't gluten-free, and they add most of the carbs in a classic green bean casserole. Leave them off, or add them if you love them and gluten isn't a concern.
Cheese: Use any cheese that melts well. I used smoked gouda because it was a better price, and it adds a nice smoky flavor. Parmesan, Gruyère or white cheddar all work too.
Make ahead: Make the sauce and blanch the beans the day before. Assemble, cover, and refrigerate, then bake on the day.
Keyword green bean casserole without canned soup, keto green bean casserole, low carb green bean casserole, low carb thanksgiving side