featured 16970

Cheesy Bacon Green Bean Casserole Recipe with Crispy Topping

Skip the usual green bean casserole this year. This easy Parmesan Bacon Green Bean Casserole transforms the classic into a savory holiday favorite with crispy bacon, grated Parmesan and a crunchy fried onion topping. With just a few pantry staples, it comes together quickly and delivers big flavor.

Green bean casserole with chopped bacon in baking pan with serving spoon scooping up a serving.

Are you team green bean casserole?

It may not be every family’s favorite, but it often feels like a holiday essential. I’m a big fan—those crispy fried onions get me every time.

Even better: add bacon and Parmesan. The smoky bacon and nutty cheese lift the dish into something everyone asks for seconds of.

The familiar cream-of-mushroom casserole actually dates to the 1950s, created by Campbell’s. It took time to catch on, but now it’s a staple on many holiday tables.

Why You Will Love This Bacon and Green Bean Casserole:

  1. Simple and quick to prepare.
  2. Requires only a handful of common ingredients.
  3. Cozy, comforting, and crowd-pleasing.

Beyond cooking the bacon, this recipe is mostly mixing and baking—ideal for stress-free holiday prep.

Recipe Ingredients:

  1. Green beans: I used frozen for their bright color and convenience. If using fresh, blanch 5–7 minutes before adding. For canned, drain and pat dry.
  2. Bacon: Any variety works—regular, turkey, or a plant-based alternative.
  3. Parmesan: Grated Parmesan blends nicely into the mushroom soup as it bakes.
  4. Cream of mushroom soup: Condensed soup is traditional and gives the casserole its creamy texture; reduced-sodium is an option.
  5. Milk: Whole milk was used here; cream will make it richer.
  6. French-fried onions: These add signature crunch—store-bought varieties are convenient and reliable.
  7. Pepper: Freshly ground for seasoning.
  8. Garlic: Freshly minced is best; substitute 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder if needed.
Fried onions, soup, green beans, bacon and other ingredients for recipe arranged on surface.

How to Make Parmesan Bacon Green Bean Casserole:

Bacon cooked in skillet with linen around handle.
Cream of mushroom soup mixture in mixing bowl with spatula.
Green beans and fried onions stirred into mixing bowl.
  • Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp, 5–7 minutes. Drain, cool, then chop or crumble. Reserve about one-third of the bacon for topping.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together condensed cream of mushroom soup, milk, pepper, garlic, Parmesan and two-thirds of the cooked bacon. Stir in green beans and 1 cup of the French-fried onions until combined. Transfer to a baking dish.
  • Bake about 25 minutes, until the mixture bubbles around the edges.
  • Sprinkle the remaining bacon and fried onions over the top and bake an additional 5 minutes, or until the topping is golden and crisp.
  • Remove from oven, let rest briefly, then serve warm.
Bacon and green bean casserole mixture before baking in casserole dish.
Baked green bean casserole topped with fried onions and bacon.

Recipe Tips:

  • Use condensed cream of mushroom soup for the proper thick, creamy texture.
  • If you prefer homemade fried onions, they’ll work, but store-bought versions are convenient and reliably crispy.
  • Thaw frozen green beans completely and pat dry to avoid excess moisture in the casserole.
  • If mixing all the fried onions into the casserole feels like too much crunch, reduce the in-mixture amount or reserve them for the topping only.

Make-Ahead Option

This casserole can be assembled the night before. Mix everything except the reserved fried onions and extra bacon, cover, and refrigerate. Add the topping and bake just before serving for fresh, crispy results.

Dish with green bean casserole with bacon with serving spoon.

Other Holiday Recipes You’ll Love

  • SIMPLE APPLE SAGE STUFFING
  • EASY PARMESAN ROASTED GREEN BEANS
  • WARM BRIE CROSTINI WITH CRANBERRY CHUTNEY
  • POMEGRANATE, ROSEMARY AND BRIE STUFFED CRESCENT ROLLS
  • INSTANT POT GARLIC PARMESAN MASHED POTATOES
  • NO BAKE PUMPKIN CRUMBLE BARS
  • SNICKERDOODLE CHEESECAKE STUFFED CRESCENT WREATH
  • PUMPKIN PIE CRUMBLE

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to the newsletter and follow on social channels for the latest recipes and updates.

Parmesan Bacon Green Bean Casserole

By: Lorie Yarro
Skip the same old green bean casserole this year. This easy Parmesan Bacon Green Bean Casserole gives the classic a whole new flavor that will rock the holiday season! Crispy bacon, parmesan cheese and topped with everyone’s favorite fried onions. Only a few ingredients and it comes together in no time!
Bacon and green bean casserole in pan with serving spoon.
Print
Prep Time: 15
Cook Time: 30
Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 4 c green beans (thawed if frozen)
  • 4-5 strips of bacon
  • 1/3 c grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup (10.5 oz.)
  • 1/4 c milk
  • 2 1/2 c French-fried onions
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1-2 garlic cloves, minced

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp, about 5–7 minutes. Allow to cool and chop or crumble.
  • In a medium bowl, combine milk, condensed soup, pepper, garlic, 2/3 of the bacon and Parmesan. Add green beans and 1 cup of French-fried onions; stir to combine. Pour into a casserole dish and bake about 25 minutes, until bubbly.
  • Top with remaining bacon and fried onions and bake another 5 minutes, until brown and crispy.
  • Serve and enjoy.

Notes

4 cups of cooked green beans is roughly equal to two 14–16 oz. cans of green beans or one 16 oz. package of frozen green beans.

Nutrition

Calories: 226 kcal, Carbohydrates: 14 g, Protein: 6 g, Fat: 15 g, Saturated Fat: 6 g, Cholesterol: 14 mg, Sodium: 568 mg, Potassium: 203 mg, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 2 g, Vitamin A: 428 IU, Vitamin C: 7 mg, Calcium: 77 mg, Iron: 1 mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.