Green Bean Casserole, Lightened Up
With the fried onion topping and heavy cream and cheese mixed in, a typical green bean casserole serves up 550 calories in just one side dish. You can still enjoy the classic flavors while slimming down some of the fatty ingredients. Here’s how.
Green beans provide tons of nutrients, such as fiber, beta-carotene and vitamin C. A cup of fresh, plain beans contains 40 calories and no fat. A traditional Thanksgiving green bean casserole usually includes sticks of butter, cups of heavy cream (or cream of mushroom soup) and either loads of cheese or fried onions on top. All this tallies up to 550 calories and 35 grams of fat in just a single serving.
It’s all about substitutions when lightening up this classic dish. The heavy cream packs on 821 calories per cup. Typically a recipe feeds around eight people, so that’s about 100 calories alone from artery-clogging fat. Instead, make your own creamy sauce by combining flour (or cornstarch) and low-fat or skim milk. Or take some plain yogurt and combine it with chicken broth or stock. If you don’t have time to make your own, choose healthy varieties of canned soups or stocks with less sodium and avoid the creamy ones.
Some green bean casserole recipes call for cheese -- it tastes unbelievable on green beans, but portion control is the key. Aim for 2 tablespoons of shredded or grated cheese per serving or just halve the amount in the recipe. If possible, choose a low-fat variety of cheese, but steer clear of fat-free cheeses since many don’t melt well and lack flavor. Read more of our tips for selecting healthier cheeses.
Instead of those fried onions, add a few tablespoons of chopped onions for flavor and what about some panko breadcrumbs for the crunch? If you just can’t do without the fried stuff, then add a few tablespoons (2 tablespoons have 45 calories and 3.5 grams of fat).
You can also pick up canned green beans to save time, but they can be chewy and have added sodium. If you're worried about that, get fresh or frozen ones.
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Lighter green bean casseroles to try:
Of course, a casserole isn't the only way to go. We love our green beans dressed up just a bit with extra flavoring. If you're looking to make them more of the star of the dish, try these recipes:
