Creamy Hamburger Green Bean Casserole
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I’ve been making this Green Bean Casserole with Ground Beef since my college days! Over the years, I’ve given it a serious upgrade, but the concept remains the same—a hearty, comforting dinner that’s easy to throw together and packed with flavor.
Unlike the classic version, this recipe skips the canned soup and uses an easy homemade sauce with just a touch of sour cream for extra creaminess. The rest? All simple pantry staples that come together for a super easy, satisfying meal.
Think of it as green bean casserole meets a cozy, one-pan ground beef dinner—perfect for busy weeknights or a fuss-free Sunday dinner!
If you love comfort food, you have to try these favorites! This ground beef stroganoff has been shared over 107,000 times on Pinterest, and for good reason—it’s creamy, hearty, and ready in just 30 minutes. And if you’re looking for an easy, cheesy dinner, this lasagna casserole is on repeat in my kitchen!
On Pinterest, Connie Shared: This recipe is a favorite at my house! The kids request it all the time, and everyone absolutely loves it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Simple Ingredients
Recipe Notes
- Onion – White or yellow onions work best, but feel free to leave them out if preferred.
- Half & Half – Can be swapped with milk for a lighter option or heavy whipping cream for extra richness.
- Green Beans – I use canned-cut green beans, but fresh, French-cut, or frozen green beans all work well.
- Sour Cream – Greek yogurt makes a great lower-calorie substitute without sacrificing creaminess.
- Cheddar & Mozzarella Cheese – For the best melt and flavor, grate your own cheese instead of using pre-shredded.
Step-By-Step Directions
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Step 2: To a Dutch oven or oven-safe skillet, add 1 tsp of olive oil and the onions. Cook the onions for about 3 minutes over medium-high heat. In the same pan, brown the ground beef. Drain the hamburger meat (as needed) and set aside.
Step 3: Melt butter in the same pan over medium heat. Add flour and combine into a paste.
Step 4: Add the half-and-half and beef broth. Whisk together and simmer until the sauce thickens.
Step 5: Add the salt, black pepper, onion power and garlic powder and incorporate into the sauce.
Step 6: Add the beef mixture, green beans and sour cream to the sauce. Stir to combine.
STEP 7: Evenly spread the mozzarella and cheddar cheese in a single layer over the green bean mixture. Sprinkle fried onion straws over the top of the casserole.
Step 8: Baked uncovered for 30 minutes. Let the casserole stand for 5 minutes before serving.
If you do not have an oven-safe skillet, transfer the beef and bean mixture into a casserole dish.
Serving Suggestions
At my house, I usually keep things low-carb by pairing this casserole with a simple salad—but let’s be real, my favorite way to serve it is over a big scoop of mashed potatoes. Talk about comfort food! I’ve even baked it with tater tots on top for the ultimate Midwest-style casserole, and it never lasts long. However you serve it, this dish is pure cozy, hearty goodness.
Storage & Freezing
Leftovers? No problem! Store any extra casserole in an airtight container in the fridge, and it’ll stay fresh for up to four days—perfect for easy lunches.
Freezing Instructions
Want to freeze it for later? Instead of freezing the casserole directly in a baking dish, try this easy method:
- Line your dish with parchment paper, then fill it with the casserole.
- Pop it in the freezer and let it freeze solid.
- Once frozen, lift the casserole out of the dish, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then cover with foil.
- Store in the freezer for up to four months.
A quick tip: Don’t freeze the crispy fried onion straws! They’ll get soggy. Instead, add them right before baking for that perfect crunch.
Reheating Instructions
Microwave: For next-day leftovers, heat in 30-second bursts until warmed through.
Oven: If frozen, place the casserole back in a baking dish and let it thaw overnight in the fridge. Bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes (a little longer than usual since it’ll be cold).
Try these ground beef recipes next: easy ravioli bake, potato stroganoff, and cabbage roll skillet.
If you make this recipe and love it, stop back by and give it a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐and leave a comment! Thank you!
Recipe
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One-Pan Green Bean Hamburger Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground Beef
- ½ Onion Diced
- 2 Tablespoon Butter
- ¼ cup Flour
- 1 cup Half & Half
- 1 cup Beef Broth
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- ¾ teaspoon Salt
- 2 cans Cut Green Beans Drained
- ¼ cup Sour Cream
- ½ cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- ½ cup Mozzarella Cheese
- ¾ cup Fried Onion Straws Optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a Dutch oven or oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook for about 3 minutes until softened. Add the ground beef to the same pan and cook until browned. Drain if needed and set aside.1 pound Ground Beef, ½ Onion
- In the same pan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour to create a paste and cook, stirring constantly, for one minute.2 Tablespoon Butter, ¼ cup Flour
- Slowly whisk in the half & half and beef broth, making sure there are no lumps. Let the mixture simmer for about 7 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.1 cup Half & Half, 1 cup Beef Broth
- Stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt, mixing well to combine.½ teaspoon Garlic Powder, ½ teaspoon Onion Powder, ½ teaspoon Black Pepper, ¾ teaspoon Salt
- Add the cooked beef mixture, green beans, and sour cream to the sauce, stirring until everything is well coated. If you're not using an oven-safe skillet, transfer the mixture to a casserole dish.2 cans Cut Green Beans, ¼ cup Sour Cream
- Sprinkle the shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.½ cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese, ½ cup Mozzarella Cheese
- Finish by adding a layer of fried onion straws for extra crunch.¾ cup Fried Onion Straws
- Baked uncovered for 30 minutes. Let the casserole stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- It’s not necessary to cover the casserole when baking to ensure the onion straws become crispy.
- Drain the green beans completely before adding them to the casserole.
This looks delicious. I’m definitely making this one this year for Thanksgiving.
This sounds delicious and I can’t wAit to try it this Thanksgiving holiday.
Can’t believe how excited my kid gets when he knows I’ve made this dish! Added a few mushrooms last night – it was so yummy!
Very tasty but the 10 minutes noted for prep time is wildly under estimated. Cooking time for the bechamel sauce alone was at least 10 minutes (for it to thicken). Still, I will make this again.
Hi Donna. I’m thrilled you liked the recipe even though the prep time took longer than expected. I truly appreciate the feedback. I also think you’ll like my Potato Stroganoff. It has similar flavors but with potatoes. Thank you.