A little reason to celebrate
National Green Bean Casserole Day
Food ยท December 3
A day for green bean casserole, the baked American side dish of green beans, creamy mushroom sauce and crunchy fried onions on top.
National Green Bean Casserole Day falls on Thursday, December 3, 2026. That is 37 days away.
Green bean casserole is a baked side dish built from three main parts: green beans, a creamy mushroom sauce and a layer of crisp fried onions on top. It shows up on a lot of American holiday tables, often in the same dish year after year.
The classic version leans on the pantry. Canned or frozen green beans get stirred into condensed cream of mushroom soup with a splash of milk, then baked until bubbling. The onions go on near the end so they brown without burning. The result is soft and savory underneath, crunchy on top, and very hard to serve neatly.
Cooks who like to tinker make it from scratch. They blanch fresh beans so they stay bright and a little snappy, build a sauce from butter, flour, broth and sauteed mushrooms, and slice and fry their own shallots or onions for the topping. Others keep the classic base and add a handful of cheese, a little garlic or some crumbled bacon.
It also travels well, which explains its place at potlucks and family dinners. Assemble it ahead and keep it in the refrigerator, then hold back the onions until baking so they keep their crunch. Leftovers should go back in the fridge once the meal winds down, and they reheat well in the oven.
The corner pieces, where the sauce caramelizes against the dish, tend to disappear first.
Ways to celebrate
- Bake a classic green bean casserole for dinner tonight.
- Try a from-scratch version with fresh beans and homemade mushroom sauce.
- Fry your own shallots for a crunchier topping.
- Bring a small casserole to share with a neighbor or coworker.
- Ask a relative how their family makes it.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday, December 3 |
| 2027 | Friday, December 3 |
| 2028 | Sunday, December 3 |
| 2029 | Monday, December 3 |
| 2030 | Tuesday, December 3 |
All national days on December 3
Also on December 3
Categories: Food days