Cheesy Green Bean Casserole (Keto!)

Cheesy Green Bean Casserole is a twist on a classic dish that brings together the goodness of fresh green beans, two kinds of cheese, heavy cream, bacon, and other seasonings in a delicious Keto-friendly recipe! This side dish is perfect for holidays and family gatherings!

Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

Do you love the classic dish of cheesy green bean casserole? If so, you can still indulge in this dish even while following a keto diet.

With a few modifications, you can enjoy a guilt-free version of cheesy green bean casserole that still tastes just as delicious as the original. Keep reading to find out how to make a keto-friendly version of this classic dish.

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Why You’ll Love this Green Bean Casserole with Cheese and Bacon 

Are you ready to take your green bean casserole game to the next level? Well, get ready to fall in love with this keto-friendly version that is packed with cheesy goodness and savory bacon. Trust me, once you try this low carb green bean casserole, you won’t want to go back to the traditional recipe.

Fresh Cream Beans with a Creamy homemade sauce. You can’t beat the flavor and texture of fresh green beans and this homemade sauce (with no cream-of-anything soup) is so good!

Cheese & Bacon. First of all, let’s talk about the cheese & bacon factor. Anything with cheese and bacon is a winner in my book so this dish is no exception.

Each bite is a cheesy, indulgent delight that will have you coming back for seconds (or thirds, no judgment here).

Keto-friendly, Low-Carb and Gluten-free. First, let me say, I’m not on a Keto diet. And I still love this recipe. But if you are on a keto diet, this cheesy green bean casserole is low-carb, so you can enjoy it guilt-free while sticking to your diet. And if you’re gluten-free – you’re also covered!

Looking for low-carb recipes? Check out this Low Carb Chicken Taco Casserole.

Budget-friendly. This Cheesy Green Bean Casserole recipe doesn’t have any fancy ingredients so it’s really budget-friendly while also being a showstopper!

This recipe is the perfect combination of flavors and textures that will satisfy all of your cheesy cravings. That makes this a perfect recipe to satisfy all the cravings!

Whether you’re hosting your family for the holidays, a dinner party or just looking for a comforting weeknight meal, this green bean casserole with cheese is sure to impress.

Is Green Bean Casserole naturally Keto?

When it comes to following a keto diet, it’s important to be mindful of the ingredients you use in your favorite recipes. Green bean casserole is a classic dish that many people love, but is it naturally keto-friendly? Let’s dive in and find out.

Traditional green bean casserole recipes often include ingredients unsuitable for a keto diet. The most problematic ingredient is usually the canned cream of mushroom soup, which is typically high in carbs and contains not keto-friendly additives.

However, using heavy cream and cheddar cheese to make the sauce instead of the cream of mushroom soup makes this green bean casserole low-carb.

You could still use the traditional crispy fried onions as a low-carb option (3 net carbs per serving) on top for the added crunch and texture, but instead, I like to use bacon to add even more flavor with fewer carbs!

By making these simple swaps, you can enjoy a green bean casserole with bacon that is keto and absolutely delicious. It’s a great way to satisfy your cravings for comfort food while still sticking to your low-carb lifestyle.

Ingredients for the Cheesy Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Fresh Green Beans – grab these from the produce section or a farmer’s market if it’s summertime!

Heavy Whipping Cream

Shredded Cheddar Cheese – I like to use mild or medium cheddar but you could use sharp cheddar cheese if you like the stronger flavor. See my tip below about shredding it fresh!

Onion and Garlic Powder

Sea Salt

Bacon – cooked and crumbled. I use 3-4 slices but you can use more or less based on your preferences.

Parmesan Cheese

Substitutions

Green Beans – you can use frozen green beans instead of fresh (if you must), but you’ll want to thaw and drain them first

Heavy Cream – you can use half & half instead but the sauce will be a little looser and not quite as creamy.

Seasonings – I like to keep them simple but you could use a seasoned salt if you like, or add pepper, or use any favorite seasonings that you have in place of or along with the onion and garlic powder.

Tools Needed to Make This Recipe

3 Quart Saucepan

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Knives

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Baking Dish

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How to Make Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

Making cheesy green bean casserole keto style is easier than you might think! Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating this mouthwatering side dish that will satisfy all your green bean casserole cravings.

Prepping the Oven and Green Beans

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and prepare your casserole dish with butter or nonstick spray.
2. Cut the ends off your green beans and place them in a prepared 3-quart baking dish.

Prepping the Cheese Sauce

3. In a saucepan on medium heat, add your heavy whipping cream, shredded cheddar cheese, onion, and garlic powder.
4. Continuously stir with a whisk the cheesy sauce until smooth, and remove from heat.

5. Pour over green beans.
6. Stir green beans to coat evenly.
7. Top the green bean mixture with sea salt and crumbled bacon.
8. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes or until green beans are tender. During the remaining 10 minutes sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
9. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Pro Tips for Cheesy Green Beans

• If you have kitchen scissors, use them to snip the ends off the green beans – it’s so much faster than using a knife!
• Use fresh shredded cheese! Pre-shredded has a coating of starch on it to keep it from sticking together in clumps. This starch will make the cheesy sauce lumpy when it’s melted.
• Sauce made with heavy cream will thicken on its own. If the sauce is too thick, you can add a little extra heavy cream or milk to thin it out.
• If you are prepping this Cheesy Bacon Green Bean Casserole ahead of time, you can do all of the steps up until adding bacon. Then cover it with foil and refrigerate for 1-2 days Then take it out of the fridge, add bacon, and bake as directed. This way the bacon will stay crispy.
• Bacon Green Bean Casserole is best served right out of the oven. Leftovers should be refrigerated and eaten within a few days, but the bacon will not stay crispy.

Bacon and Cheese Green Bean Casserole Variations

• You can add in sliced mushrooms to this recipe for another texture and flavor and the recipe remains keto-friendly!
• For more crunch (or as an alternative to the grated parmesan and/or bacon), crumble parmesan crisps on top.
• If cheddar is not your go-to cheese, you can use Swiss for a delicious twist.
• Instead of bacon on top, you can also use crumbled pork rinds for crunch and they are also keto-friendly.

Preparing this Keto Green Bean Casserole Ahead of Time

• You can prepare Cheesy Baked Green Beans ahead of time (steps 2-6) and store covered in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.
• When you’re ready to bake it, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Remove the casserole from the fridge, add the salt and bacon, then bake according to the remaining recipe instructions.

What to Serve with Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

Green Bean Cheese Casserole is perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas, family dinners, potlucks, or just a regular weeknight meal. It would go great so many main dishes and other sides…

• Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Cream Cheese & Pepperoncini
• Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas
• Our Favorite {No Onion} Baked Potato Salad
• The Best Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole
• German Cucumber Salad
• Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Homemade Sweet & Sour Dressing
• Crockpot Funeral Potatoes (Cheesy Potato Casserole)

Storage directions 

• Refrigerate covered or in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
• You can make this casserole ahead of time (minus the bacon) and cover tightly with aluminum foil then freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking and adding the bacon.

Dietary Adaptations

This Green Bean Casserole Recipe with Bacon is naturally gluten-free, low-carb, and keto-friendly.

If you skip the bacon topping, the recipe can also be vegetarian.

Recipe FAQs 

More Amazing Side Dishes…

• Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas
• Easy Green Beans with Bacon & Brown Sugar
• French Bread with a KitchenAid Mixer
• German Cucumber Salad
• The Best & Easiest Crowd-Pleasing Deviled Eggs
• Easy Broccoli, Rice & Cheese Casserole