Low Carb Green Bean Casserole Recipe - Lowcarb-ology (2024)

A low carb green bean casserole that is so cheesy, creamy, and rich you won’t miss that holiday classic. It’s the perfect side to your Thanksgiving turkey, Christmas dinner, or New Years celebration. It’s Atkin’s friendly, gluten free, and easy to make. Cream cheese and heavy cream are reduced to form the base for the scrumptious sauce that clings to each green bean . This family favorite is so simple you’ll be making it often. How about for all three holidays meals?

For this recipe you’ll need: 1 cup cooked fresh green bean or one 14-ounces of canned green beans, dried onions, cream cheese, heavy cream, soy sauce, pepper, and shredded mild cheddar cheese.

If you are in a hurry click here to go straight to the low carb green bean casserole.

Table of Contents

Are green beans low carb friendly?

Mmmm…. this keto green bean casserole is so full of rich cheese flavor. It tastes much like the one your mom always made but without the mushroom soup. And that is where all the carbs come from. A cup of cream of mushroom soup has 16 net carbs. The first time you stick your fork through the thick, gooey cheese topping and pull up a big old forkful of saucy fresh green beans you’ll be hooked. And so will everyone at your dinner table. A fresh green bean has no carbs of course.

The perfect side to every holiday table

There are certain dishes that are always on our table during the holidays. This healthy green bean casserole is one of them. I grew up with the same green bean casserole everyone’s mom made in the 1960s. Cream of mushroom soup, green beans, and French’s fried onions. Oh that crispy onion topping, yum.

Am I right?

My mom always brought the green bean casserole to our Thanksgiving dinner and I can’t imagine a holiday meal without it. After she passed away I started making it with a few changes. I started using using fresh green beans instead of canned green beans like my mom did. Also, since I didn’t want all the carbs from the cream of mushroom soup, I made this homemade sauce for this low carb recipe. This turns this green bean casserole recipe into a keto green bean casserole recipe. The first year I ate a low carb diet during Thanksgiving I realized that I wasn’t going to be happy going without that green bean casserole on my plate. That year I totally blew it on Thanksgiving and it took me a couple of weeks to get the carb cravings back under control.

Keto green bean casserole

So I decided to develop my own. This keto green bean casserole with cream cheese is the perfect substitute. The sauce is a combination of heavy cream, cream cheese, and soy sauce that has been simmered with a little dried onion and reduced until it coats a spoon. The fresh green beans are stirred in and simmered some more. Finally, the whole thing is put into a oven proof casserole dish, covered with cheddar cheese and broiled until the cheddar cheese is golden brown and bubbling.

I tried using frozen green beans and for whatever reason, it came out too mushy. I tried chopped up fresh mushroom and that added too much fluid. Sliced mushrooms made it worse. A little minced garlic adds a bit of flavor as does a sprinkle of garlic powder. Try and add a drop or two of worcestershire sauce. Or even a bit of butter to really add some flavor. Oh, and be sure to check the soy sauce to make sure it’s a gluten free kind if it matters to you. Some are and some aren’t. Also if you are watching your sodium intake, try a low sodium soy sauce.

What are the carbs in a green bean casserole?

The traditional green bean casserole usually has a ton of french fried onions which are coated in a breading. That breading is where the carbs come from. For this keto green bean casserole recipe, you can add different toppings if you’d like. Crushed pork rinds, fried onion (no breading), parmesan cheese, crushed parmesan crisps, or crumbled bacon for a crunchy topping.

This keto casserole has tons of cheese richness already with the cream cheese and heavy cream. Sprinkle the top with parmesan cheese or some paprika for color.

Navigation Tip

This keto green bean recipe serves two people but you could certainly make more than enough for the whole family. If you tap the blue number “2” after the “Servings” in the recipe, a slider will appear that you can use to increase the number of servings. The ingredients will automatically change so you don’t have to do any math. I usually make a mistake when I try to do math in recipes lol.

Low Carb Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Here’s that low carb cheesy green bean casserole!

Low Carb Green Bean Casserole Recipe - Lowcarb-ology (4)

Print Pin Recipe

Low Carb Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Creamy and delicious, this low carb green bean casserole is the perfect keto friendly side dish for all of your holiday dinners. So easy you’ll make it often.

Course Dinner, Light Dinner/Lunch

Cuisine American, American – low -carb

Keyword Casserole, green beans

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 2 servings

Calories 253kcal

Author Marye

Ingredients

  • 1 cup green beans cut and cooked
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 2 ounces cream cheese
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons dried onions
  • 1 tablespoon gluten free soy sauce
  • 2 twists freshly ground pepper
  • 1-1/2 ounces shredded mild cheddar

Instructions

  • Drain the green beans well and pat dry with paper towels. Too much liquid on the beans will thin the sauce.

  • Place the heavy cream and cream cheese in a pan over medium heat.

  • Whisk until the cream cheese softens and the sauce is smooth.

  • Add the dried onions and soy sauce.

  • Continue to stir until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon.

  • Add the green beans and simmer, stirring often, about 5 minutes.

  • Sauce will be very thick and cling to the green beans. If not continue to simmer and stir.

  • Taste and add pepper as needed.

  • Place the green beans in 2 individual cast iron casseroles OR a small, heat proof dish.

  • Sprinkle with cheese.

  • Broil, watching carefully, until the cheese bubbles and turns golden.

Notes

If you don’t drain the green beans and pat them dry they will add liquid to the sauce and it will be runny.

Nutrition

Calories: 253kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 416mg | Potassium: 197mg | Fiber: 4.4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1270IU | Vitamin C: 7.7mg | Calcium: 119mg | Iron: 0.8mg

If you liked this low carb green bean casserole recipe you may also like…

Click on the image to see the recipe. From left to right (all low carb): Low Carb Au Gratin Faux Potatoes, Low Carb Sweet Potato Mash,and Low Carb Sage “Stuffing”

Low Carb Green Bean Casserole Recipe - Lowcarb-ology (2024)

FAQs

Does green bean casserole have a lot of carbs? ›

Green bean casserole, with cheese, with cream of mushroom soup (0.5 cup) contains 10.8g total carbs, 8.5g net carbs, 13.1g fat, 7g protein, and 184 calories.

How do you keep green bean casserole from getting mushy? ›

Don't overcook the green beans: Remember when you are blanching the green beans that they will continue to cook and soften while baking in the oven with the rest of the casserole. So it's important to undercook them slightly during this first step so that they don't get mushy in the oven.

Why is my green bean casserole so soupy? ›

The Casserole Is Too Soupy

If you used frozen green beans, but didn't fully defrost and drain them prior to adding them to the casserole, that mistake will surely account for the excess water you're now experiencing.

Can I eat canned green beans on a low-carb diet? ›

Green beans are a low-calorie, nutritious vegetable that can be a part of your healthy diet. However, if you're on a low-carb diet, you may wonder if you can still enjoy green beans as part of your diet. The good news is green beans are also low-carb, so they can be incorporated into a keto-friendly diet.

Are green beans good for low-carb diet? ›

Green beans are another low-carb wonder at just 4 grams of net carbs per cup, says Newlin. Plus, they're perfect for roasting and dipping—and can offer a satisfying crunch. Green beans contain high amounts of vitamins, fiber, folate, minerals and phytonutrients like carotenoids, flavonoids and phenols.

Should green bean casserole be soupy before cooking? ›

Green Bean Casserole from Scratch FAQs

Cover and freeze until you are ready to bake. You can bake start from frozen without adding the onions until the casserole has already baked for about 20 minutes. Should green bean casserole be soupy? No, your green bean casserole should not be soupy.

Are frozen or canned green beans better for casserole? ›

When I make green bean casserole, I skip canned beans all together. Frozen green beans are the best green beans to use for green bean casserole.

How do I thicken up my green bean casserole? ›

Before you add your topping, try to thicken the casserole with flour or cornstarch so the topping sits on top and doesn't sink to the bottom. If you're freeing up your oven by making your casserole in a slow cooker or a pressure cooker (like an Instant Pot), don't add your topping until it hits the serving dish.

Should you cook onions before putting in casserole? ›

Not par-cooking vegetables, pasta, grains, or rice.

Often a quick 2-5 minutes in the microwave will just give them that great head-start. And if you're using onions in your casserole, you can sauté them for a few minutes to deepen their flavor and avoid any raw onion taste in your finished dish.

Which onions are best for casseroles? ›

Yellow onions are perfect for stews, soups, barbecues, roasts and sauces. Avoid eating them raw as they have a strong flavour.

Which onion is best for cooking beans? ›

Popular in Latin American cuisines, white onions are a great addition to huevos rancheros, refried beans, and Cuban picadillo. Feel free to sub them for yellow onions in cooked dishes, too.

Can you overcook green bean casserole? ›

Overcooking the beans won't just drain them of their appealing color, but it will also make them too soft and mushy, resulting in a less appetizing casserole.

How many cans of green beans equals 4 cups? ›

✿ 4 cups of green beans is about 1½ pounds fresh or 16 ounces frozen or 2 cans (15 ounces each) drained.

Are canned green beans high in carbs? ›

Green beans (string beans), canned, drained (0.5 cup) contains 2.8g total carbs, 1.5g net carbs, 0.3g fat, 0.7g protein, and 14 calories.

Do canned green beans have a lot of carbs? ›

Nutrition Information per Serving: Calories 80, Total Fat 2.5 g (4% DV), Saturated Fat 1 g (4% DV), Cholesterol 20 mg (6% DV), Sodium 180 mg (8% DV), Total Carbohydrate 7 g (2% DV), Dietary Fiber 1 g (6% DV), Sugars 2 g, Protein 9 g, Vitamin A 30%, Vitamin C 8%, Calcium 2%, Iron 4%.

How many carbs are in 2 cups of canned green beans? ›

Canned Green Beans (1 cup, solids) contains 6.8g total carbs, 3.2g net carbs, 0.2g fat, 1.8g protein, and 35 calories.

Are green beans a high carb vegetable? ›

This is because your body enters a state called ketosis, when your liver produces ketones from fat. Green beans are a type of vegetable that is low in carbs and high in nutrients. They are a good source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as fiber.

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