Cajun Green Bean Casserole

Name: Cajun Green Bean Casserole
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 10
Ingredients: 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste, for boiling; 2 pounds green beans, ends trimmed, halved crosswise; 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil, divided; 4 strips bacon, chopped; 3 cloves garlic, chopped; 2 stalks celery, chopped; 1 small onion, chopped; 1 small red bell pepper, chopped; 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, divided; 4 tablespoons salted butter; 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 2 1/2 cups whole milk; 1/2 cup half-and-half; 2 teaspoons hot sauce; 2 (2.8-ounce) cans crispy fried onions

Casserole World-Cuisine

Time: 1 hour

Yield: 10 servings

About

Cajun Green Bean Casserole does Louisiana proud by staying authentic to its Creole roots! The holy trinity of celery, onion, and bell pepper makes its appearance, as does the zesty and spicy seasoning blend that makes New Orleans cooking so memorable! The crisp-tender green beans still have their garden freshness, which pairs beautifully with the succulent bacon, the spicy cream sauce, and the crunchy fried onion topping. You'll never make traditional green bean casserole again after trying Cajun Green Bean Casserole, because the original just can't compare with something this original!

Ingredients

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste, for boiling
2 pounds green beans, ends trimmed, halved crosswise
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil, divided
4 strips bacon, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, divided
4 tablespoons salted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup half-and-half
2 teaspoons hot sauce
2 (2.8-ounce) cans crispy fried onions

Directions

Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Step 2 -Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.

Step 3 -Add the green beans to the water and cook until bright green and crisp-tender, about 3-4 minutes.

Step 4 -Drain the green beans and rinse them under cold water. Pat the green beans with a towel to dry.

Step 5 -Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Step 6 -Add the bacon to the skillet and cook, stirring, until just crisp, about 3-4 minutes.

Step 7 -Add the garlic, the celery, the onion, and the bell pepper to the bacon and cook, stirring continuously, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes.

Step 8 -Stir 1 tablespoon of the Cajun seasoning into the vegetable mixture. Remove the vegetable mixture from the heat.

Step 9 -Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add the butter to the Dutch oven and allow it to melt.

Step 10 -Sprinkle the flour into the butter and stir to make a paste.

Step 11 -Whisk the milk and the half-and-half into the flour mixture.

Step 12 -Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and cook until thick and smooth, about 2 minutes.

Step 13 -Whisk the hot sauce and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt into the sauce.

Step 14 -Add the vegetable mixture and the green beans to the sauce and mix well to coat the green beans.

Step 15 -Transfer the vegetable mixture to a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Step 16 -In a medium bowl, toss the fried onions with the remaining olive oil.

Step 17 -Sprinkle the fried onions with the remaining Cajun seasoning and toss to coat.

Step 18 -Scatter the fried onions over the top of the casserole.

Step 19 -Bake the casserole until the sauce is bubbly and the topping is browned, about 15 minutes.