Best Keto Green Bean Casserole w/ Bacon

This amazing and delicious Keto Green Bean Casserole Recipe has been in my family for over 50 years. I have transformed it into an equally delicious Low Carb Green Bean casserole that I’m sure you will enjoy!

This Green Bean Casserole recipe has been in my family for about 50 years. It is different from the traditional green beans people make around this time of the year. 

A friend of my Mother gave it to her and she made it for many years. Then when I got married my Mom gave me a bunch of her favorite recipes and this was one of the many ones she gave me. 

I have made it hundreds of times, so many times that I don’t even need the recipe card anymore, I just remember what the ingredients are and how to make it. It’s one of my family’s favorites.

When we started our food blog Stephanie asked me to test out making it just a little different, to fit into the Low Carb category better.

Since it is different than most, it doesn’t have cream of mushroom soup or those crunchy onions rings mixed in, so those were 2 things I didn’t have to eliminate in order to make it low carb. I didn’t have to change it too much, just tweak it a little.

I hope you will enjoy making it and eating it as much as my family has.

What Ingredients are in this Low Carb Green Bean Casserole?

Mushrooms –  Mushrooms really add so much flavor and texture to this  Green Bean Casserole. The ones I use are canned mushrooms. Stems and pieces are good. There is no need to buy whole mushrooms for this recipe because they typically cost more and aren’t necessary.

Once you mix up everything with the cheese sauce you can’t tell if you are eating a small whole mushroom or a piece of a mushroom, so save a little money and buy the stems and pieces. 

Water Chestnuts  – These give it a tasty crunch. If you like water chestnuts, by all means, leave them in the recipe. It’s the combination of all the ingredients together that really make this dish unique. But if there is one ingredient that you don’t like feel free to take it out and try it that way. 

Onions – Vidalia onions and small pearl onions in a jar. The Vidalia onions are great tasting. Regular yellow onions ara ok too, but I prefer the taste of the Vidalia. They are a little milder and sweeter.

As far as the pearl onions in the jar, it’s a nice compliment to put these in your casserole. They add a different texture and taste to your casserole. If you are counting your carb just don’t eat the whole jar of them yourself. Share them with others.

French Style Green –  Canned french style green beans are the best for this recipe. They are already soft and tender, so your Green Bean Casserole just needs a few minutes in the oven. You can also use frozen french style beans too if you prefer.

Cheddar Cheese -Cheddar Cheese is the best cheese to use for this  Keto Green Bean Casserole. The flavors go well together. l like to use orange cheddar because it gives it more color than white but you can use either one, they are both equally good in taste.

Are Green Beans Low Carb/Keto?  

Yes, green beans are low carb. They are one of the good “go-to” veggies when you are on a low carb diet.  A whole cup is 7 grams of carbs, but usually, a normal serving size is ½ cup which would be about 3.5 carbs.

Variations of this Low Carb Green Bean Casserole 

Also if you are looking for some crunch in your Green Bean Casserole, you could always add some pork rinds and mix them in or just garnish the top and mix them in when you serve them.

Another option that will give your Green Beans a treat is to add some crumbled bacon on top or mixed inside if you prefer. 

Everyone loves bacon and it is always great when it can be added to a recipe. It’s a real treat and a good addition to many things. It’s so delicious!

In this recipe I usually put soy sauce, 2 tsp 10 carbs, spread out over the whole recipe.

It’s a small number of carbs, but in these Low Carb Green Beans I substituted the soy sauce with coconut aminos, which is gluten-free so these can be eaten and loved by our readers who have to be gluten-free.

I like to shred my cheddar cheese fresh but if you’re in a hurry you can use already shredded cheddar cheese. Always use cheddar. It’s definitely the best choice for your Keto Green Beans.

Should I Use Canned Ingredients or Fresh?

You could use fresh green beans, even frozen green beans, and fresh mushrooms if you prefer. The original recipe calls for canned and I happen to think that canned makes the Low Carb Green Beans more tender and soft. 

I usually use fresh ingredients for everything else that I make but for some reason, my family and friends rave over my green beans and I think using canned ingredients makes it good and also unique.

That’s the way the recipe came to me through my mother and her friend and after so many years that’s the way that I continue to make it.

How to Make a Green Bean Casserole

1. First, melt you butter in a pan.

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2. Once the butter is melted, sauté the sliced onions in butter.

3. Next add tabasco, coconut aminos, and spices

4. Add cream to butter and onion mixture.

5. Add shredded cheese and melt while stirring in.

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6. In the meantime place green beans, jar onions, water chestnuts, mushrooms into a colander, wash and drain.

7. Place half the veggies in your baking dish and mix together

8. then pour half of your cheese mixture on top.

9. You want to layer your veggies and cheese sauce so alternate them together. Add the remaining veggies and cheese sauce until the baking dish is filled and mix entire ingredients together well.

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10. Bake 375 degrees for about 30 min or until bubbling. It should look something like this once it’s finished:

11. You can serve your green bean casserole in the same baking dish, or transfer it to another serving dish if you prefer. Top with some crumbled bacon, and you’re good to go!

Other Diets this Recipe is Good for

Keto – The cheese in this casserole gives you some fat for the day. Just measure your portion so as not to exceed your vegetables for the day. It may be tempting because they are so good. If you need some extra protein and fat add some bacon to your side dish.

Low Carb – Most of the ingredients in this casserole are very low in carbs, green beans, mushrooms,…just go easy on the water chestnuts and pearl onions in the jar. They are so good but share them with others

Nut-Free – There are no nuts in this recipe at all

Gluten-Free – Yes it’s gluten-free because I replaced the soy sauce which has gluten, with coconut aminos which makes your green bean casserole gluten-free.

Grain-Free – There are no grains in this recipe. I took out the flour so it’s safe!

How to Make this Green Bean Casserole Dairy-Free

Well, I have to say that I found making green bean casserole dairy-free is a challenge. My original recipe has milk in it and I have replaced it with heavy cream instead and also lowered the amount of it.

However, there are a couple of things to replace the dairy all together that you can use, which are almond milk and coconut milk. 

Chances are that if you are looking for a dairy-free alternative you are already familiar with these 2 options in other recipes. So pick whichever one that you prefer to use. 

Now let’s see what we can do with the cheddar cheese…I did a little research and there are several things online that are dairy-free, including dairy-free cream cheese.  

You can also make a mock cheese sauce out of nuts and a few other things in a Vitamix. Some people make that and if you are looking for a creamy consistency that will do the trick.

However, once again, if you are looking for a dairy-free alternative to this recipe you likely already have tried some of these things and you know what you already like.

What Sides Go with Green Bean Casserole? Things you can serve it with:

These delicious Low Carb Green Beans go well with so many things, any meat or fish go well with them. I always serve them with Turkey dinner, but they also go well with pork, beef, and chicken. They also go well with any baked, broiled or grilled fish. 

As a second vegetable for your dinner, a nice green salad goes so well with your Keto/ Low Carb Green Beans. That way you have a hot casserole dish and a fresh green salad to go with your choice of meat or fish.

How do you Keep Green Bean Casserole Warm?

Like with all foods, keeping your food at the proper temperature is a concern and can be a challenge sometimes. After all, you don’t want to get sick or make anyone else sick eating your food. Your food should be kept warm between 140-165 degrees. 

Some ways to keep your casserole warm are to use a warmer or chafing dish. To maintain a good temperature stir every 15-20 mins to keep warm evenly throughout the whole dish. 

You can also use a crockpot or slow cooker. Once the casserole reaches the desired temperature, turn to a low or warm setting. No matter which method you use to keep it warm make sure to cover it with a lid. It will keep in the steam and help maintain a constant warm temperature.

How to Transport a Hot Casserole

Now that you have made your Low Carb Green Bean Casserole it’s time to transport it to your party or picnic that you are going to. You may ask yourself, “how will I do that?” 

The best way I do that if possible is to prepare it the day before and store it in the refrigerator and then bake it in the oven when I arrive at the party. That makes it easier for transporting. 

But if that’s not an option, bake it before you leave and then with the lid on, cover it also with foil, double layer for insulation and then wrap the whole thing in a large bath towel. The towel helps hold in the heat and also keeps your dish from sliding around in the car when transporting it from one place to the next. 

If you don’t have a towel to use you can always wrap it in paper bags or newspapers too. They both act as insulators too. Then use one of the warming techniques mentioned in this recipe.

If you have an insulated food bag that helps transport your dish too or an insulated cooler for hot items.

How to Store this Recipe 

The best way to store your Low Carb Green Bean Casserole is in the refrigerator. 

If I have time I always prepare these Green Beans the day before I’m going to serve them. They store well, and setting a day in advance lets the flavors to come together better.

However, it’s not absolutely necessary to do that. You can prepare them and then bake them right away. 

One reason I like to prepare them the day before is that I usually make them for company, so that way it’s one thing out of the way when I’m so busy doing so many other things in preparation for my guests.

All you have to do with your Green Beans for dinner is bake for 30 min until bubbling hot and then serve.

How to Reheat a Green Bean Casserole 

So let’s say that when you make your Keto green bean casserole for your family for dinner and there are leftovers….a perfect start to your dinner the next day. I love leftovers.

It’s so nice when you come home from work and there are some tasty things in your refrigerator for dinner and you get to reap the benefits of all your cooking the day before.

So just stick it in your microwave for a few mins and it should be heated up enough to eat and enjoy. Or you could always stick the whole dish, covered, in the oven making sure to stir it once to get an even heat.

Can you Freeze Green Beans?

In our family, these delicious Low Carb Beans hardly ever make it to the freezer. They make great leftovers for dinner the next night, most likely with the other leftovers from your dinner the night before.  

But yes, if you have any leftover casserole, feel free to freeze them in airtight plastic containers and then wrap tightly in a plastic Ziploc bag to help keep them fresh until you are ready to take them out to eat them. 

If you are one or two people, freeze in small portions. If you are a family freeze in a larger portion so then you will have enough Low Carb Green Beans for everyone.

Other Tips

When a lot of people think of green bean casserole they think of the crunchy thin onion rings that either go on top when you bake it or sometimes they are mixed into the casserole.

If you are looking for that crunch but can’t have the carbs or don’t want the carbs, use some old fashioned pork rinds. They give it the same crunch as the onion rings and still have a great flavor. So enjoy guilt-free. They do not contain any carbs so they don’t add any carbs to your Keto Green Bean Casserole.

If you are looking to reheat your Low Carb Green Beans the next day just pop a portion in the microwave or stick it in the oven for about 15-20 min. or until bubbling.

Other Low Carb Side Dishes:

If you’re in the mood for some other Recipes for Low Carb Side Dishes then try our:

• Keto Mashed Potatoes
• Brussel Sprouts with Bacon
• Sugar-free Cranberry Sauce
• Roasted Green Beans

All of them are Keto-friendly and low carb, and will have your friends thanking you!

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