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basil pesto green bean casserole in a blue casserole dish
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5 from 1 vote

Basil Pesto Green Bean Casserole

Basil pesto green bean casserole dresses the holiday side dish up with Italian flavors with virtually no extra work. Your guests will love this fresh spin on the classic holiday staple.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Calories: 270kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 - 2 1/4 lbs fresh green beans washed & trimmed
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • 1 cup half & half
  • 3/4 cup chicken broth
  • 3/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup basil pesto
  • 3/4 cup french fried onions

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of water to boil over high heat. Add the prepared beans to the boiling water, cooking for 5 minutes.
  • After 5 minutes, immediately drain the beans and then transfer them to a bowl of ice water. Set aside.
  • Set a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and let it cook for 30-60 seconds, just to cook off any bitter taste.
  • Add the remaining ingredients (EXCEPT THE BEANS, PESTO, AND CHEESE) to the skillet. Whisk them together until evenly combined. Bring the sauce to a nice simmer, then reduce the heat slightly. Let the sauce simmer, stirring often, for 5 minutes- just until thickened some.
  • Remove the skillet from heat and stir in 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese & the pesto until completely incorporated.
  • Add the beans to the skillet, tossing gently to incorporate.
  • Spray a 9x13" baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Add the beans to the dish, and spread out evenly. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese evenly out overtop, followed by the fried onions.
  • Bake at 400°F for 15 minutes.
  • Serve warm & enjoy!

Notes

  • You can substitute frozen green beans in this, just make sure to warm them first and drain them well.
  • No need to make homemade pesto. Your favorite store bought kind works beautifully or leftovers of this homemade pesto recipe work well.
  • You can cut the green beans in half if you'd like before cooking but you don't necessarily need to.
  • To save time and still use fresh beans, look for the pretrimmed bags of beans. They are normally available in the produce section of the grocer in 16 and 32 ounce bags.

Nutrition

Calories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 724mg | Potassium: 612mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 2156IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 261mg | Iron: 3mg