Give Green Bean Casserole A Flavor Boost With These 10 Toppings (That Aren't Fried Onions)

Once you learn the history of green bean casserole, it's no surprise this simple dish was created with the intention of giving families a holiday side they could easily prepare at home with pre-packaged ingredients. However, just because the original, age-old recipe for green bean casserole involves cooked, cut green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and crispy fried onions doesn't mean you can't prepare your own signature version today with a range of unexpected toppings. Classic green bean casserole can be just as delicious when dressed in other crunchy extras.

Before you start replacing crispy fried onions with different toppings, you first need to know what qualifies as a sufficient swap. When it comes to creamy green bean casserole, crispy onions are essential because they add both texture and flavor to an otherwise soupy, mild side dish. Therefore, the ingredients you use in place of these crispy, flavor-packed snacks need to be just as crunchy and full of flavor.

Fortunately, whether it's chopped nuts, cornflakes, or packaged snacks, you have more than a few alternative toppings to choose from. If you've grown tired of the original green bean casserole recipe printed on the back of Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup cans, experimenting with different toppings can breathe new life into this iconic Thanksgiving side. That said, here are 10 unexpected yet noteworthy toppings worth adding to your next batch of warm and savory green bean casserole.

Since one of the nine tips you should follow when cooking green bean casserole is adding enough textural contrast, you can't go wrong with crunchy Ritz crackers. All you need to do is crush up a sleeve of these crunchy snacks and combine them with a small amount of melted butter. From here, layer the mixture onto your green bean casserole and bake. You can also elevate this topping even more by first topping the casserole with some shredded cheddar cheese, followed by the buttery, Ritz-based topping. This cheesy-crunchy combo gives green bean casserole a more savory appeal.

Since panko breadcrumbs have a lighter and flakier consistency than regular breadcrumbs, they serve as an ideal topping for classic green bean casserole. Paired with grated parmesan cheese and melted butter, this elite combination has a mild yet salty bite that's full of crunchy goodness. For additional intrigue, you can also incorporate a pinch of dried parsley for a pop of color.

If you enjoy green beans almondine, which is a French side dish primarily composed of steamed green beans, toasted almonds, and lemon zest, you're sure to enjoy green bean casserole with some of the same integral ingredients. Prepare the base of traditional green bean casserole as usual, but before baking, sprinkle on some raw, buttered almonds. You can also balance the creaminess of this casserole by mixing the buttered almonds with a small amount of lemon zest. Or, to add more texture, combine the buttered almond topping with some plain bread crumbs and parmesan cheese before baking.

For a topping that's closely comparable to crispy, fried onions, choose potato chips. All you need to do is crush up a good amount of your favorite variety and sprinkle them onto green bean casserole prior to baking. Better yet, if you want a genius way to mimic the full flavor of crispy fried onions, swap out regular potato chips for sour cream and onion chips.

Since mac and cheese is more flavorful when you add this boxed ingredient, there's no reason why packaged stuffing mix can't also enhance classic green bean casserole. To turn this dried mix into a savory, flavorful topping, break-up any larger bread cubes and then, moisten this prep-packaged food with some melted butter and a small amount of chicken or vegetable broth. From here, add the mixture to your casserole as-is or first, sprinkle in some onion or garlic powder for extra flavor.

If you want to give your next batch of green bean casserole a meaty topping, you can't go wrong with bacon. Fortunately, the best way to cook bacon is also the easiest. Start by baking your preferred amount of strips on a parchment-lined sheet pan for 10 to 20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Once it's perfectly crispy, drain the excess fat and add the crumbled bacon to an (almost) fully-cooked green bean casserole. After you add bacon to the hot casserole, add this complete dish back to your oven for an additional 10 minutes before serving.

If you like the taste of store-bought crispy fried onions but want to give green bean casserole a more homemade topping, use some flour, cooking oil, and a deep skillet to make fried shallots. Simply slice some shallots, dredge them in flour, and work in batches to fry the shallots in hot oil over a stove for up to four minutes. Then, sprinkle these fried delights onto green bean casserole before baking. So they don't become soggy during baking, consider first adding a layer of panko breadcrumbs to your casserole followed by the fried shallots.

To give green bean casserole a cheesy twist, add Cheez-Its for a convenient and savory upgrade. Just prepare your casserole as is, and then add crushed Cheez-Its before baking. You can also mix these crushed snacks with a small amount of grated parmesan cheese for a richer, saltier topping. The best part of adorning green bean casserole in Cheez-Its is that you can use more than one variety, depending on what you're in the mood for, like white cheddar or pepper jack. Just make sure to remove the casserole from the oven once the crackers begin to turn golden brown.

Next to almonds, you can also elevate green bean casserole with sweet or savory pecans. For a sweeter topping, combine chopped pecans with a bit of maple syrup and salt before adding them to your casserole. You can also combine chopped, pre-toasted pecans with panko breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, butter, and salt for a richer topping with a more substantial texture.

Lastly, if you want to forget fried onions and give green bean casserole a crispier topping with cornflakes, first crush these versatile flakes and mix them with melted butter. From here, you can either apply the buttered cornflakes directly to prepared green bean casserole before baking or top the cornflake mixture with a light blanket of shredded Swiss cheese for a more complex taste. You can also use other varieties of shredded cheese like sharp cheddar or Colby Jack.