Pickled Green Beans (Dilly Beans)

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.

Few things compare to the satisfaction of pulling some chilled pickled green beans out of a jar, dripping with a flavorful salty brine, and biting into them to hear that resounding snappy “crunch.” This easy pickled green beans recipe is made with a delicious vinegar-based brine packed with pickling spices, garlic, and dill. Also known as Dilly Beans, they are quite simply a pure delight!

I’m an avid gardener and among several dozen vegetable varieties that I grow each year, I grow at least a dozen different green bean varieties (just check out my post on How to Cook Green Beans to see the “bean” portion of my garden). This last season alone I harvest over 80 pounds of fresh green beans! One of my favorite ways to use them is to make pickled green beans. They’re the perfect wholesome snack. Also known as dilly beans, they’ve been a beloved classic for generations. Because they’re just so good! And if you’re looking for the perfect hostess gift that is sure to elicit a smile, bring along a jar of these homemade pickled green beans!

Pickled Green Bean Ingredients & Variations

• Fresh Green Beans: Start by using the freshest green beans you can find. They should be very firm – not soft, floppy or wrinkled. You can use any variety of green bean but they’re best if they’re about equal in length just so they can fit into the jar nicely.
• Garlic: Use fresh garlic and peel the cloves. You can leave the cloves whole, cut them in half, or slice them, whichever you prefer.
• Pickling Spices: My favorite flavor profile for these dilly beans is to include coriander seeds, yellow mustard seeds, dill seeds, red pepper flakes, black peppercorns, and a bay leaf. For added dill flavor I love to add some fresh sprigs of dill. They add a whole separate flavor component to the dill seeds. I recommend using both if you can. To change things up you can also try different flavor profiles by adding spices like cloves, cinnamon, allspice berries and cardamom. And if you like a bit of heat you can either increase the amount of red pepper flakes or you can add some red chili peppers, jalapenos or habanero peppers to the jar before pouring in the brine.
• Vinegar: I like to use a combination of white vinegar and red wine vinegar but if you only have one or the other, or white wine vinegar instead of red, that’s fine.
• Salt and sugar: These add flavor and balance. If you prefer your sweeter pickled green beans feel free to increase the sugar.

Pickled Green Beans Recipe

Let’s get started!

Make sure to select the freshest green beans you can find. Wash them and then trim the stem side of the beans, leaving the other side intact.

Add the spices to the bottom of a large jar.

Pack the beans, cut stem side down, as tightly as you can into the jar.

Press some sprigs of fresh dill down in between the beans.

Now it’s time to make the pickling brine.  Add all the brine ingredients into a small saucepan and bring to a boil.  Boil for 2 minutes.

Pour the boiling brine over the beans.

Top off with more pickling brine if needed to ensure the beans are fully immersed under the brine.

Gently tap the jars against the counter a few times to remove all the air bubbles.

Let the jars cool to room temperature. Store the pickles in the refrigerator. The pickles will improve with flavor as they age — wait at least 4 days before cracking them open.  They’ll keep in the fridge for up to 2 months.

Storage & Canning

Pickled green beans will keep in the fridge for up to 2 months and are best consumed within that time. If you’d like to store them even longer, they can be canned using the water bath canning method: Put the beans and brine in sterilized canning jars, wipe off the rims, place the lids on the jars and screw on the rims. Process for 10 minutes. Remove the jars and let them sit undisturbed until fully cooled, then store in a cool dark place where they will keep for up to a year. The beans will still have some crisp to them but won’t be crunchy like the refrigerator pickled green beans.

Enjoy!

For more pickled vegetable recipes be sure to try my:

• Pickled Carrots
• Pickled Pepperoncini Peppers
• Pickled Beets
• Pickled Okra
• Pickled Jalapenos
• Giardiniera
• Pickled Asparagus
• Pickled Green Beans
• Pickled Banana Peppers
• Pickled Peppers
• Pickled Turnips
• Refrigerator Pickles
• Bread and Butter Pickles
• Sauerkraut (technically fermented, not pickled, but it’s a must make regardless!)

Originally published on The Daring Gourmet August 18, 2017