The classic Thanksgiving dish highlighted in this question is the green bean casserole, a recipe that has become one of the most iconic and enduring sides on American holiday tables. It was created in 1955 by Dorcas Reilly, a home economist working in the Campbell Soup Company test kitchen. Her task at the time was to develop simple, affordable recipes using pantry staples that American families typically had on hand. Green beans, canned cream of mushroom soup, and crispy fried onions were all common mid-century ingredients, and the combination proved to be both practical and comforting. What made green bean casserole so successful was its unique blend of convenience and flavor at a time when casseroles were enormously popular in American home cooking. It required only a handful of modest ingredients, used a single dish, and could be assembled quickly—factors that aligned perfectly with the cultural trends of the 1950s, when postwar households were embracing modern appliances, packaged foods, and streamlined meal preparation.
Although initially intended for a Campbell's company cookbook, the recipe rapidly spread beyond its promotional purpose. Newspapers, community cookbooks, and women's magazines began sharing it widely, giving it national exposure long before social media or televised cooking segments existed. By the 1960s and 1970s, it had firmly established itself as a staple of Thanksgiving gatherings, often appearing right alongside turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. Dorcas Reilly would later reflect on its unexpected cultural impact, noting that she never imagined a simple test-kitchen creation would someday become synonymous with an American holiday.
Today, the dish remains remarkably popular, still prepared in its original form in millions of homes each year. Campbell's estimates that roughly 40 percent of all cream of mushroom soup sold in the United States goes toward making green bean casserole, especially during the holiday season. While many modern variations exist—featuring fresh beans, artisan mushrooms, or homemade crispy onions—the classic three-ingredient version continues to endure. Its longevity owes much to the familiar comfort it offers and the nostalgic connection it holds for generations who grew up seeing it on the Thanksgiving table year after year.
