Chorizo Sausage Green Bean Casserole

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This is an update on a classic!  Creamy Chorizo Sausage Green Bean Casserole is an easy recipe that’s absolutely delicious!  You can also make this ahead and simply reheat for an easy side dish.  

Now THIS is a delicious side dish recipe the whole family can get behind!  Creamy Chorizo Sausage and Green Bean Casserole – because Chorizo makes everything taste better!  It has super easy homemade creamy sauce that is slightly smokey from the chorizo.  The mushrooms give earthy flavor and that familiar green bean casserole flavor.  This recipe is savory, smokey, hearty, and oh-so-yummy!  

You can also make this ahead and simply reheat for Thanksgiving Dinner! 

Update on Mushroom Soup Green Bean Casserole

I grew up with the traditional mushroom-soup-in-a-can-based Green Bean Casserole and I love it!  However, my husband and his family?  Not so much.  So, I decided to come up with a new green beans recipe that everyone will love!  Enter CHORIZO, a delicious sausage typically made with pork meat flavored with paprika. It adds such a great flavor and texture to this dish and a little goes a long way.  And just like that, this Chorizo Sausage Green Bean Casserole was born.  It’s fresher, has more texture, and has more depth of flavor. It’s also a super comforting casserole.

Sides can often be steamed broccoli in my house.  But special occasions, such as Thanksgiving, obviously need special sides.  Here are some of my other favorite side dishes that you can try next time!

Quick note!  This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase from them.  This commission is what helps me keep this blog afloat :).  I also share these links because I have used the products, genuinely love them, and want you to know exactly what I used. 

Simple Ingredients and Substitutes

• Spanish Chorizo, precooked links – Spanish chorizo is a smoked, paprika-flavored sausage. Use fully cooked or raw sausage, not dry-cured chorizo. Remove the casing before cooking.
• Fresh Green Beans – Fresh green beans hold their shape and texture best, but frozen beans work too. Avoid canned beans, which can become mushy. You can also substitute Brussels sprouts or broccoli.
• Fresh Garlic, minced – Fresh garlic provides the best flavor, but pre-minced garlic saves time. You can also substitute dried garlic flakes or garlic powder.
• White Button Mushrooms – I used fresh white button mushrooms, but pre-sliced mushrooms work just as well. Cremini or baby bella mushrooms are great alternatives.
• Scallions (green onions) – Scallions add a mild onion flavor. Substitute diced or grated red or yellow onion, or use onion powder.
• All-Purpose Flour – Flour thickens the sauce. For a gluten-free option, skip the flour and whisk 1 tablespoon of cornstarch into the cold milk. Add this slurry in Step 3 along with the broth.
• Chicken Broth or Stock – Vegetable broth or stock works well, as does beef broth. You can also use water mixed with a chicken bouillon cube or chicken base.
• Milk – I used 1% milk for a creamy sauce without the heaviness of cream. Any milk works, including unsweetened soy, almond, or coconut milk. For extra richness, use half-and-half or heavy cream. You can also replace the milk with water or chicken stock.

No Special Equipment Needed

You need a large frying pan or large skillet plus a casserole dish. I use my absolute favorite 12″ Ceramic Pan, which is great because food really does slide right off with minimal oil and I don’t have to worry about food sticking and burning.  Then I transfer to a 9×13 baking dish or large casserole dish that’s approximately 10×10, 12×12, 10×13 or similar.

You could also make this in the oven in a dutch oven starting on the stove and then transfer it to the oven.

Save Time! Prep-Steps for Sausage and Green Bean Casserole

We are all extremely busy and making dinner during the week can be overwhelming. Here are the steps you prepare in the day(s) in advance and store in the fridge as your meal Kit… (See the recipe below for more details)

There should only be about 10 minutes of prep time, but to get ahead on this recipe, you can prep these ingredients up to 4 days in advance!

Slice your mushrooms and slice the scallions.  If your Chorizo is precooked, you can also peel off the casing and break apart the sausage into bite-size pieces.  Store everything separately in the fridge until ready to cook.

Cook your Sausage and Make the Sauce

To cook this recipe, you will start on the stove and then transfer everything to a casserole dish into the oven. 

You could also make this recipe in a dutch oven on the stove, then add the green beans, mix, and move it to the oven to bake.

Taste for seasoning and add a pinch of kosher salt or black pepper or fresh cracked pepper if you like.

Bake the Green Beans mixed with the Sauce

Pour the sauce and sausage mixture over the green beans in the casserole pan. 

Heat oven to 400 F degrees and bake the casserole for 20 minutes.

Sausage and Green Beans Potato Variation

If you want to make this an even heartier dish that’s a complete meal, you can add potatoes! To turn this into a Sausage Green Bean Potato Casserole, two large Yukon Gold or red potatoes that are peeled and diced into ½ inch pieces are a great option. You could also use a pound of baby creamer potatoes or baby potatoes quartered or two medium sweet potatoes diced.

The easiest way to incorporate them is to cook the potatoes first. You can roast them in a 400 F degree oven for 20 minutes or boil them in a large pot of salted water for 10 minutes. Then simply add them to the pan with the chorizo sausage and continue with the rest of the recipe.

FAQs for Chorizo Sausage and Green Bean Recipe

What kind of Chorizo do I need for Green Bean Sausage Casserole?

You want to look for Spanish Chorizo that has lots of delicious and smokey-flavored paprika.  Of course, if you prefer another variety, you can get that instead.  You can also swap with Bacon!

I find that the precooked variety are the easiest Chorizo to find and they are typically in the deli section.  Sometimes you can find raw Chorizo sausage in the meat section.

Can I use a different kind of sausage?

Yes, you can use any preferred sausage. Sweet Italian Sausage is a delicious mild alternative and Andouille sausage is a spicy cajun option. You can also use chicken sausage, turkey sausage, or even polish sausage. If you use another sausage but still want big flavor, you can always add 1-2 teaspoons of Smoked paprika or cajun seasoning blend. If you go with fresh/raw Italian Sausage, just make sure to cook it through in Step #2.

How far in advance can I make this to save time later?

You can cook these Green Beans and Mushrooms with Chorizo up to 3 days in advance and reheat them before cooking.  To reheat, you can place the casserole dish in a 350 F degree oven covered for 20-25 minutes until heated through. 

Can this recipe be frozen?

You can freeze these after it’s cooked.  However, beware that the beans will likely get a bit mushy once they thaw and are reheated.  You will want to chill it in the fridge and then seal it in an airtight container in the freezer.  It can be stored in the freezer up to 4 months.  To reheat, you can thaw it and then place the casserole dish in a 350 F degree oven covered for 20-25 minutes until heated through. 

What’s the best way to add heat to this Green Bean Casserole?

If you want to add a kick to this recipe, a bit of spicy heat, then you have a few different options. You could add a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne powder. You could also add jalapeno or serrano peppers. Finally, you could add a splash of hot sauce.

ENJOY!  😍 Carrie