Multiple similar recipes have been developed that "update" or "upgrade" the original recipe to use fresh beans, homemade cream sauce, and fresh mushrooms as the convenience-food based recipes of the 1950s and 1960s have become less fashionable, but according to culinary historian Shapiro, the green bean casserole remains popular for Thanksgiving for reasons of nostalgia.
Various updated versions of the recipe use fresh beans, homemade cream sauce, and fresh mushrooms instead of convenience foods from the 1950s and 1960s. Despite this shift in preference, according to culinary historian Shapiro, the green bean casserole remains popular for Thanksgiving due to its nostalgic appeal.