Green Beans Deluxe

The Thanksgiving side dish everyone knows, done in the microwave in 15 minutes flat. Canned green beans blended with cream of mushroom soup, heated until bubbly, then topped with crunchy French fried onion rings for that signature contrast of creamy and crispy.

Three ingredients and no oven space required. During the holiday rush when every rack is occupied, the microwave version is a lifesaver. The beans and soup heat in 5 to 7 minutes, then the onion rings go on top for a final 3 minutes. Just long enough to warm through without going soft.

The onion rings go on last for a reason. Adding them from the start means they soak up moisture from the soup and lose their crunch entirely. Three minutes on top is enough to warm them while keeping that satisfying snap.

Drain the canned green beans before mixing with the soup. Extra liquid thins the sauce and makes the casserole watery instead of creamy.

Kitchen Tips

• Use a deep casserole dish. The soup bubbles up during heating and a shallow dish means spillover.
• Stir the bean and soup mixture halfway through the first heating for even temperature throughout.
• French fried onion rings from a can (like French’s) are the traditional choice. Don’t substitute raw onions.
• This doubles easily for a crowd. Just increase the microwave time by 3-4 minutes per stage.