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Brown Sugar Glazed Green Beans with Caramelized Onions, Cranberries, Walnuts and Goat Cheese

These Brown Sugar Glazed Green Beans with Caramelized Onions, Cranberries, Walnuts and Goat Cheese will quickly become your new favorite green bean dish for the holidays! They are comforting, full of flavor and are healthier than a green bean casserole!

Brown Sugar Glazed Green Beans with Caramelized Onions, Cranberries, Walnuts and Goat Cheese Recipe Lighter Closeup

The Good 'Ol Green Bean Casserole

We're already a week into November which means we should be talking about Thanksgiving, right?!  This year I have teamed up with a local grocery store here in the Twin Cities, Lunds and Byerly's, to create three fun and unique Thanksgiving recipes.  Twists on classics, if you will.  First up: the good 'ol green bean casserole.

Brown Sugar Glazed Green Beans with Caramelized Onions, Cranberries, Walnuts and Goat Cheese Beautifully Arranged and Ready to Be Served

Green bean casserole is a staple that has been at my family's Thanksgiving table since I can remember. There's something so comforting about that creamy yet slightly mushy green bean filling. Especially when combined with the crunchy fried onions on top.

While I'm not one to pass up a generous helping of the traditional casserole, I think I have found a new favorite green bean dish for the holidays. Brown Sugar Glazed Green Beans with Caramelized Onions, Cranberries, Goat Cheese, and Walnuts is the name. Now THAT is a mouthful!

Now That Is a Mouthful!

The dish starts out with fresh, not canned, green beans. Then cooked in a mixture of butter, brown sugar and Dijon mustard. They are sautéed until cooked through but still a bit crunchy. The only other things you will have to cook are the walnuts and onions, which are preferably done low and slow to get that rich caramelized flavor and color (p.s. the walnuts and onions can definitely be prepared a day in advance).

After that, you simply top the green beans with the caramelized onions, dried cranberries, creamy goat cheese, and toasted walnuts.

In addition to being full of flavor, I would say this green bean dish is a healthier option compared to green bean casserole. As there are no Cream of Mushroom Soup cans or fried onions anywhere to be found! It will definitely be making an appearance at my family's Thanksgiving table this year and I hope at yours too!

Brown Sugar Glazed Green Beans with Caramelized Onions, Cranberries, Walnuts and Goat Cheese with Plates in the Background

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Brown Sugar Glazed Green Beans Recipe

Brown Sugar Glazed Green Beans with Caramelized Onions, Cranberries, Walnuts and Goat Cheese

These Brown Sugar Glazed Green Beans with Caramelized Onions, Cranberries, Walnuts and Goat Cheese will quickly become your new favorite green bean dish for the holidays! They are comforting, full of flavor and are healthier than a green bean casserole!
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Calories: 136kcal

Ingredients

for the caramelized onions:

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 yellow onion thinly sliced

for the green beans:

  • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 24 oz green beans cleaned, and ends trimmed
  • 2 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • 1-2 tablespoon water
  • ¼ teaspoon salt more to taste

for the rest:

  • ¼ cup dried cranberries
  • ¼ cup toasted walnuts
  • ¼ cup crumbled goat cheese

Instructions

To make onions:

  • In small skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium-low heat.
  • Add sliced onion and cook until caramelized about 45 minutes.
  • Stir often, and reduce heat if you notice they are browning too quickly.

To make green beans:

  • In large skillet, melt additional 2 tablespoon butter.
  • Add brown sugar and dijon mustard, stirring to combine.
  • Add green beans, coating with sauce.
  • Add water to thin out the sauce, if needed to coat the green beans.
  • Cook 10-12 minutes over medium-high heat, until green beans are slightly softened but not overcooked, stirring often.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Transfer to a serving platter.
  • Top with caramelized onions, cranberries, walnuts, and goat cheese.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Start out the dish with fresh, not canned, green beans!

Nutrition

Serving: 8g | Calories: 136kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 127mg | Potassium: 216mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 791IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @greensnchocolate to let me know!
Need more ideas?Find all of my recipe pins @greenschocolate

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  1. When I read that you used dijon mustard when cooking the green beans, a light went off inside my head! Why have I never done that? YUM!!

  2. I made these for Thanksgiving, and I think it was my favorite dish! I almost like it w/out the cranberries better. I LOVED the sauce and caramlized onions, so didn't want the cranberries competing when I ate (all of) the leftovers for lunch the next day 🙂

    1. So glad you loved it Gina! I can see what you mean about the cranberries - the sauce and onions totally steal the show!

  3. Hi, Taylor! I just wanted to tell you that we made these green beans for Thanksgiving this year, and they were SO good! This recipe will definitely be made again and again in our kitchen.