National Green Bean Casserole Day

Categories:: Food & Beverage
Tags:: American food Cooking Healthy Food
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: Every December 3
Holiday emoji:: 🍲

National Green Bean Casserole Day arrives every December 3, celebrating a beloved side dish that graces tables across America. This holiday classic, known for its simple ingredients and comforting flavor, is a staple during festive seasons. Whip up a batch, share your favorite recipe, and explore new twists on this timeless dish.

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Expected National Green Bean Casserole Day Deals

While we wait for official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that National Green Bean Casserole Day often inspires cozy, home-style deals. Look for grocery stores like Kroger, Walmart, and Target to offer discounts on key ingredients such as canned green beans, cream of mushroom soup (especially Campbell’s), and French fried onions (like French’s). Restaurants specializing in comfort food or holiday menus, such as Cracker Barrel or local diners, might feature special casserole dishes or sides. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as December 3 approaches.

Platform Guide for National Green Bean Casserole Day

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #GreenBeanCasseroleDay. Share mouth-watering photos of your homemade casserole or creative variations.

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #GreenBeanCasseroleDay. Film a quick recipe tutorial, a taste test, or a fun family tradition around this dish.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #GreenBeanCasseroleDay. Share your favorite family casserole recipes and memories in our community.

National Green Bean Casserole Day Hero

Dorcas Lillian Bates Reilly

Dorcas Lillian Bates Reilly (1917-2014) was a home economist at Campbell Soup Company who invented the green bean casserole in 1955. Tasked with creating a recipe using ingredients commonly found in most kitchens, her creation quickly became a Thanksgiving and holiday staple. Reilly's innovative dish is credited with popularizing the use of canned soup in everyday cooking and earned her a place in the Culinary Hall of Fame.

History of National Green Bean Casserole Day

National Green Bean Casserole Day was created as a holiday by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway. She is credited with covering many unique and wacky holidays in her writing career that spans from Yahoo, to Planet Save, to Energy Boom and many more. Having researched all such holidays, Shoemaker-Galloway started realizing the fun and merriment that unique holidays tend to bring. Out of the many holiday ventures the writer brought to life, one of the most prominent and celebrated was National Green Bean Casserole Day. This day pays homage to the classic holiday dish that is enjoyed by around 20 million Americans worldwide. Reports state that around 50% of all green bean casserole recipes are made between the period of November to January, which is when the holidays are in full swing.

So, how did this dish come into being? It was created back in 1955 in the Home Economics Department of Campbell Soup Company. At the time, Dorcas Reilly, the main inventor of the dish, was working as a manager and recipe creator for the company. The goal was to create something using ingredients that would be readily available in an average American kitchen. Reilly and her team selected five ingredients and created something in 10 minutes. The world was still reeling from the effects of WW2, and easy-to-make dishes were all the rage. Initially, the dish was named the ‘Green Bean Bake’. While the recipe was a great way to satisfy those hunger pangs in a few minutes, it did not take off until the 1960s when the Campbell Soup Company started putting the recipe on their soup cans. From then on, green bean casserole became a staple in Thanksgiving spreads. Reilly also became known as the “grandmother of the green bean casserole.”

National Green Bean Casserole Day timeline

1955

Green Bean Casserole is Created

Dorcas Reilly, the recipe manager at Campbell Soup Company, creates the green bean casserole using only five ingredients.

1960s

Recipe Put on Soup Cans

The company puts the green bean casserole recipe on soup cans to market it to the masses.

21st Century

National Green Bean Casserole Day

Jace Shoemaker-Galloway creates and celebrates the first National Green Bean Casserole Day.

2002

Hall of Fame

Reilly presents her original recipe card to be displayed in the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Ohio.

How Businesses Can Celebrate National Green Bean Casserole Day

Local restaurants and diners can feature special green bean casserole dishes or offer it as a discounted side with entrees. Grocery stores might run promotions on key ingredients like green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and fried onions, perhaps even offering recipe cards. Food bloggers and culinary schools can host online cooking classes or share unique twists on the classic recipe, engaging their audience with this comforting holiday favorite.

National Green Bean Casserole Day FAQs

When is National Green Bean Casserole Day?

In 2026, National Green Bean Casserole Day falls on Thursday, December 3, making it a perfect mid-week treat to kick off the holiday season’s culinary delights.

Who invented green bean casserole?

The green bean casserole was invented in 1955 by Dorcas Lillian Bates Reilly, a home economist working for the Campbell Soup Company, aiming to create a simple recipe using ingredients readily available in most pantries.

What are the main ingredients in green bean casserole?

The classic green bean casserole primarily features three main ingredients: canned or fresh green beans, cream of mushroom soup (famously Campbell’s), and crispy fried onions, which are typically sprinkled on top.

Is green bean casserole only for Thanksgiving?

While green bean casserole is a quintessential Thanksgiving side dish, it’s enjoyed throughout the entire holiday season and can be a comforting addition to any family meal or potluck gathering.

How To Celebrate National Green Bean Casserole Day

Make a green bean casserole
This is the perfect dish to make on those days when you are feeling lazy, but want something nice and comforting to eat. Now, you may be thinking this is a holiday food, but let us also tell you that this dish was intended to be made as an everyday dish, especially for those days when you just cannot be bothered. So, what are you waiting for?
Customize it to your taste
The great thing about a green bean casserole dish is how versatile it is. You can make the dish your own by adding your choice of ingredients to the main ones. When the recipe was still being developed, it had celery salt, Worcestershire sauce, and ham in it, but these were scratched off the list and the ingredients were kept as simple as possible. Nonetheless, they would still make for a good, filling casserole.
Have a green bean casserole potluck party
Invite your family and friends for some green bean casserole potluck fun. Everyone can bring a green bean casserole dish but with their own added twists. It would make for a great day of deliciousness and enjoyment.

5 Facts About Green Beans That Will Blow Your Mind

Green beans in white-pink-purple
Green bean flowers can come in the shades of purple, white, and pink.
Edible pods
Unlike the crazy internet trend that saw teens eating inedible tide pods, the pods that are actually edible are green bean pods.
Very nutritious
Green beans are extremely nutritious as they are packed with protein, fiber, iron, vitamins, and minerals.
A bit toxic when raw
If you eat raw green beans, you will most likely be consuming toxins that are concentrated and stored in the plant.
Popular and easy
After tomatoes and peppers, green beans are the most popular plant grown in people’s gardens as it is easy to grow.

Why We Love National Green Bean Casserole Day

It’s a celebration of the green bean casserole
Green bean casserole is a delicious dish through and through. If you are in the mood for something classic, you can try the original recipe, but if you wish to spice things up, you can do that too by bringing either your own flavors to the table or adding new ingredients to make something new. The canvas is just waiting to be painted.
It’s a celebration of classic holiday food
Some things are an absolute staple at every celebration because, without them, the celebration feels incomplete. Green bean casserole is one such dish. If you are in the mood for some nostalgia, a green bean casserole is the answer.
It’s a celebration of fuss-free living
The main aim of creating green bean casserole was to allow people to have a filling dish without them having to put in too much time and effort. With our busy 21st century lives, there’s nothing more comforting than preparing fuss-free food and simply enjoying the little relaxation time we may have available.