Forget Fried Onions: Give Green Bean Casserole A Crispier Topping With Cornflakes

There are certain dishes that feel firmly rooted in a particular place and time. Green bean casserole is one of those items that feels positively tethered to holidays like Thanksgiving, and many would declare that the spread isn't the same without it. One of the things that makes the dish so iconic is the crunchy topping traditionally achieved with fried onions. But why not mix things up with a layer of crispy, butter-coated cornflakes that practically begs you to dig in?

While fried onions come from a container and can go a bit soft, the freshly coated cornflakes are shatteringly crisp and make every bite a toothsome one. Many also opt to incorporate shredded cheese into their casserole, either before or after adding the crumbled and doctored cornflakes, for the ultimate cheesy and crunchy topping. You can even use this cornflake hack to take your green bean casserole in a French onion soup direction by layering Gruyère cheese on top of the casserole before adding that final crunchy goodness. One bite, and even the naysayers may come over to the cornflake side.

Green bean casserole became part of American food culture in the mid-1950s, when Campbell's Soup developed a recipe that relied on only a few ingredients. The idea at the time was to invent a dish that leaned into items home cooks would likely already have in the pantry. And voilà, the combination of green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and fried onions became the basis for the many casserole iterations we know and love today.

Of course, there have been a lot of tweaks and upgrades to this classic Americana dish. For a version that channels all of those traditional vibes but feels modern, use the best green bean casserole tips, like opting for fresh beans, picking the right serving dish, and covering it while baking to ensure it cooks evenly. To make crushing your cornflakes super easy, you can toss them into a zip-top bag and get to smashing. Drizzle the melted butter right into the bag, seal it up, and toss gently until every flake is coated. Layer that golden crunch right over your upgraded casserole, slide it into the oven, and get ready for a crowd-pleasing holiday side dish.