Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole

Dec 03, 2025

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Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole is a staple for the holidays! My version has everything creamy and decadent you expect and enough to feed the masses.

close up of green bean casserole with a spoon in it.

Featured Comment

Thank you for this! I am not a cook and have to bring something to a work potluck luncheon next week. This is one of my favorite holiday sides and works out great to be able to prepare and then keep it plugged in once at work.
– paula

141 More Reviews

Everyone has their favorite holiday side dish, and ours is slow cooker green bean casserole. My no-oven version is made with canned beans (what my family grew up on), it gets rave reviews. This recipe feeds about 20 (or less people and enough for leftovers). We make this casserole for Thanksgiving AND Christmas.

My recipe is very close to the original green bean casserole recipe from Campbell’s but enough to feed everyone. Though, I skip the soy sauce in my recipe.

canned green beans, cream of mushroom soup, french fried onions, milk in front of slow cooker.

Key Ingredients

Green beans – I used canned but there are substitutes below

Cream of mushroom soup – 3 cans in this recipe, this makes for a very saucy casserole

Milk – This helps thin out the soup

French Fried Onions – These are what make the dish, they add crunch and oniony flavor.

Seasonings – Just pepper and onion powder. No salt needed, the green beans and cream of mushroom soup have PLENTY of salt added.

opened green beans, french fried onions, and cream of mushroom mixture on wooden table

How to make Green Bean Casserole in the Crock Pot

Mix all the ingredients except half of the onions in a large bowl or right in the crockpot.
Cook until hot and bubbly.
Top with browned onions and serve.

Can I use fresh or frozen green beans instead of canned?

If you prefer fresh or frozen, you can use that instead, simply measure out 10 cups and cook the casserole for 3.5 hours on high or until the green beans are tender.

How can I brown the French fried onions?

Short on oven space or without one? Place the onions in a dry skillet set to medium-high heat on the stove-top. Use a spoon and stir around the onions, for about 3 minutes or until browned.

My Tips for the Best Green Bean Casserole

Type of Beans: Use CUT GREEN beans NOT French Green beans for casserole that isn’t watery or mushy.
Better Flavor: Rinse your green beans well, they will taste less tinny. I do this right in the can; drain the bean liquid, add water to the can and drain again by using the lid to hold the green beans in the can (drain well).
Don’t Squash: Fold everything together gently. You don’t want to mash up those whole green beans.
Toasty: Don’t skip on browning the onions for topping, they can taste stale if you don’t.

finished cooking green bean casserole with wooden spoon in it

Variations:

Cheesy: Add 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese to the mix – SO GOOD!

Bacon: Cook up one pound of bacon and crumble into your casserole.

Soup Swap: Not everyone likes cream of mushroom; you can use cream of chicken, cream of celery, cream of onion or even cream of bacon!

Onion Swap: Instead of French Fried Onions, try adding cooked onion rings on top! You can find them near the frozen fries at the store.

close up image of green beans in sauce with French fried onions on top.

Complete Your Holiday Meal

Holiday Sides:
Round out your plate with Slow Cooker Candied Yams, Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce, and Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes for a touch of sweetness and color.

Comforting Veggies:
Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes, Slow Cooker Acorn Squash, Slow Cooker Butternut Squash, and Brown Sugar Carrots add cozy, comforting flavors to any holiday meal.

Classic Stuffing Options:
Slow Cooker Stuffing and Slow Cooker Stove Top Stuffing keep things simple while delivering that traditional savory stuffing flavor everyone expects.

Main Dish Favorites:
Serve alongside Slow Cooker Turkey Breast, Holiday Ham, or Crockpot Spiral Ham to create a full holiday spread with almost no effort.

green bean casserole in a slow cooker with wooden spoon in it.

Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole Recipe

4.80 from 20 votes

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 2 40

Total Time: 2 50

Servings:

By: Sarah Olson

Is any holiday meal complete without the classic Green Bean Casserole? Free up oven space by using your slow cooker.

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How to Video

Equipment

Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger-oval

Ingredients

▢ 31.5 oz. cream of mushroom soup, (three – 10.5 oz cans)
▢ 1/2 cup milk
▢ 1/8 tsp black pepper
▢ 1/8 tsp onion powder
▢ 145 oz. canned cut green beans, (Ten – 14.5-oz cans; drained)
▢ 12 oz. French's French Fried Onions, (Two – 6-oz canisters)
▢ non-stick cooking spray

Instructions

Spray the slow cooker with the non-stick cooking spray if desired.
Add the drained green beans to the slow cooker. In a medium bowl, whisk the cream of mushroom soup, milk, pepper, and onion powder until smooth, then pour the mixture over the beans.
Add half (one canister) of the French Fried Onions. Stir gently.
Place the lid and cook on HIGH for 2½ hours.
Brown the remaining canister of French fried onions in a skillet on the stove top. Set the skillet to medium high heat, stir the onions around until brown (about 3 minutes).
Sprinkle the onions over and serve. (If you are traveling, you can brown your onions at home then add them to the slow cooker right before serving).

Sarah’s Notes

Frozen or Fresh Green Bean Instructions:

Use 10 cups fresh (trimmed and cut) or frozen green beans instead of canned.
Cook for 3.5 hours on high or until the green beans are tender.

Browning the onions in the oven:

If your slow cooker is oven safe (check your manual), sprinkle the remaining canister of French fried onions to the top of the casserole.

Remove the slow cooker insert from the heating element and place it in the oven WITHOUT the lid.
Cook for 10 minutes at 350°F or until the onions are browned.
OR place the onions in a small dish in the oven for 10 minutes or until browned, then sprinkle over the casserole.

Halving the recipe:

You can cut this recipe in half. You will only need to cook for 2 hours on high before adding the remaining onions.

Nutrition

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

Made this recipe? Leave a comment below!

How long can I keep this on the warm setting after cooking?

You can keep this on the warm setting for 3 hours. Though keep an eye on it and make sure the edges aren’t scorching, stir or turn off if the edges are getting too hot.