The History of (and 18 Variations on) the Classic Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Did you know that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the classic Green Bean Casserole? It was originally developed in 1955 in the Campell's Kitchens by Dorcas Reilly and a team of home economists as an "easy recipe featuring a few simple ingredients", and known as Green Bean Bake. Apparently it caught on, because today, over 20 million households make green bean casserole and Campbell's receives over 10,000 requests for the recipe every year.

Given that fact, it probably doesn't come as much of a surprise to hear that 25-30% of all Campbell's Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup is sold in the month of November. Last year, the green bean casserole page on the Campell's website received 722,052 page views on Thanksgiving day alone!

In 2002, the dish's place in food history was secured when Campbell's donated the original recipe card (as seen below) written by Dorcas Reilly to the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Mrs. Reilly is now known as the "Grandmother of Green Bean Casserole"*.

I grew up eating that classic recipe...the one that included canned green beans, canned condensed soup, and french fried onions from a box. There came a time when I decided that I wanted to make it from scratch, though. I've tried all sorts of variations on the classic. I've gone with recipes in which each component was fresh—the mushrooms, the green beans, the onions. I've tried subbing out individual recipe components—homemade mushroom cream sauce, homemade fried onions, frozen or fresh green beans—while using convenience items for part of the dish. I've added bacon or cheese or ham or red bell peppers.

Guess what? I liked every version. Today I choose to make mine entirely from scratch 99% of the time, but I never turn down a serving made the original way, either. I love the instant sense of comfort and nostalgia that was over me when I take a bite. Plus, it's delicious.

You can always find the original green bean casserole recipe on the Campbell's website, and today I'm a little giddy about sharing 18 variations on that classic recipe with you. I love reading everybody's perspective on the iconic dish and seeing what it still inspires people to cook up in their own kitchens 60 years after its creation.

From-Scratch Green Bean Casserole from greens & chocolate

Gorgonzola Green Bean Casserole from Honey & Birch

Green Bean Casserole from Like Mother Like Daughter

Green Bean Casserole from One Sweet Appetite

Green Bean Casserole from Scratch from Cook the Story

Green Bean Casserole with Bacon and Mushroom from The Seasoned Mom

Green Bean Casserole with Mushrooms and Cream Sauce from Mandy's Recipe Box

Green Bean Casserole without Canned Soup from Rachel Cooks

Green Bean Casserole (without the Canned Soup) from Persnickety Palates

Green Bean Corn Casserole from Julie's Eats & Treats

Healthy Green Bean Casserole from The Organic Dietician

Light + Tasty Green Bean Casserole from peas & crayons

Lighter Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Shallots from Iowa Girl Eats

Spiced Green Bean Casserole from Cooking with Books

Stovetop Green Bean Casserole from All Roads Lead to the Kitchen

The Best Green Bean Casserole from A Girl Worth Saving

The Best Green Bean Casserole from Gal on a Mission

Upgraded Green Bean Casserole by Homemaking Hacks

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO MAKE OR EAT GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE?
 -CLASSIC (WITH CANNED SOUP, BEANS, AND FRENCH FRIED ONIONS)
-ENTIRELY FROM SCRATCH
-WITH AN UNEXPECTED TWIST
-ANY WAY YOU CAN GET IT!

*These facts and stats come from the Campbell's Soup Company and Omniture, a web analytics company. This article is NOT sponsored by Campell's in any way; as a lover of both history and green bean casserole, I just thought it would be timely to share these fun facts!