Nostalgic creamy side with green beans, mushrooms, and crispy onions, perfect for festive family dinners.
# What You Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 2 lb fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces (or 2 lb frozen cut green beans, thawed and drained)
→ Sauce Base
02 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 9 oz cremini or button mushrooms, sliced
04 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
07 - 1 cup whole milk
08 - ½ cup heavy cream
09 - ½ cup low-sodium vegetable broth
10 - 1 tsp salt
11 - ½ tsp black pepper
12 - ½ tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
→ Topping
13 - 1½ cups crispy fried onions (store-bought or homemade)
# Steps:
01 - Set the oven temperature to 350°F to prepare for baking.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add green beans, and cook for 5 minutes until just tender and bright green. Drain and rinse with cold water to halt cooking. Set aside.
03 - Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and cook for 5 to 6 minutes until browned and tender. Incorporate onion and garlic, cooking 2 to 3 minutes until softened.
04 - Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring continuously. Gradually whisk in milk, cream, and vegetable broth. Simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg if desired.
05 - Add drained green beans to the skillet and toss to evenly coat with the sauce.
06 - Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle half of the crispy fried onions evenly over the top.
07 - Bake for 25 minutes until bubbling. Remove from oven, add remaining fried onions, then bake for an additional 5 to 7 minutes until golden and crisp.
08 - Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
