Green bean casserole is a Thanksgiving staple

Thanksgiving dinner would be missing something important without the famous green bean casserole side dish. Sure, it's not exactly the healthiest complement to your Thanksgiving turkey, but it certainly is tasty.

If you want to educate yourself before you eat it, Shape broke down the good, the bad and the ugly of green bean casserole.

First, green bean casserole has one redeeming quality: The main ingredient is a vegetable. So it has that going for it.

Unfortunately, cooking the green beans removes some of the health benefits -- there are 4 grams of fiber in one cup of green beans, but less than 1 gram in cooked green beans, Shape points out.

Finally, the ugly: Green bean casserole recipes are often made with canned ingredients, upping the sodium and fat content.

Still, we love our green bean casserole, so we want to make sure you have a few good recipes at the ready for Thanksgiving.

A healthy version: Green bean casserole with caramelized onions

Ingredients:

For the onion topping:

• 1/2 teaspoon canola oil
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs

For the sauce and green beans:

• 2 cups skim milk
• 6 black peppercorns
• 1 bay leaf
• Pinch grated nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon canola oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 pound mushrooms, trimmed and sliced (3 cups)
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 (9 ounce) package frozen green beans (2 cups)

Keep reading for cooking directions >>

Green bean bacon casserole

Ingredients:

• 2 (16 ounce) cans whole green beans, drained
• 1/2 cup French dressing
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 6-9 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled

Keep reading for cooking directions >>

More great green bean casserole recipes

5 Of the best green bean casserole recipes
4 Ways to serve green beans
Toddler treat: Green bean casserole