Spicy Dilly Beans Recipe (2024)

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A bit of heat from red chile flakes and plenty of garlic flavor come through with these crunchy, dill-scented green beans.

By

Marisa McClellan

Marisa McClellan

Marisa McClellan is a food writer, canning teacher, and the voicebehind the long-running food blog Food in Jars. She is the author ofFood in Jars(2012),Preserving by the Pint(2014),Naturally Sweet Food in Jars(2016), andThe Food In Jars Kitchen(2019).

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Updated September 16, 2022

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In This Recipe

  • What Are Dilly Beans?

  • Two Classic Versions

  • What to Do Before You Get Started

While on the road talking about food in jars—which is, incidentally, the name of the blog I've been writing since 2009—whether I'm promoting my cookbooks, teaching classes, leading canning demos, or answering a whole lot of questions, one thing I'm asked at nearly every event is to name my favorite recipes. While the diplomatic thing would be to say that I love them all equally, there is one recipe that stands out for me above all others. The dilly bean.

What Are Dilly Beans?

Dilly beans are green beans, suspended in a vinegar-based pickling liquid and seasoned simply with garlic, black peppercorns and either dill heads or seeds. Because beans are sturdy little suckers, they retain their crispness through the boiling water bath process. Even months after canning, dilly beans will be crunchy and intensely flavorful.

They are often considered a regional pickle and are most often found in Vermont and down South. Some commercial manufacturers do make them, but they tend to be outrageously expensive compared to the cost of making them at home. Truly, you can make four pints for what it costs to buy a single jar at a specialty grocery store.

Two Classic Versions

I tend to make two versions of dilly beans. The first is a basic, not-too-spicy pickled bean. This is the one I serve to kids and add to the condiment table at cookouts. The second is an intensely fiery take, best suited for stirring co*cktails (try it in a Bloody Mary) or giving to heat-fiends. This recipe is the spicy version, but feel free to omit the red chile flakes for a tamer take.

Before You Get Started

Read more about safe canning practices in this guide to canning basics. Once you're up to speed, start with fresh beans. The more recently they were picked, the crisper the finished pickle will be.

Spicy Dilly Beans Recipe (2)

Use regular mouth jars. The shoulders of the jar will keep the pickles positioned firmly below the brine line.

Trim the beans to fit your jars. This means that you may end up with a pile of orphaned, one-inch pieces. I like to gather those up and dedicate a jar to them.

Place all the spices in the bottom of the jar. This prevents spice loss during the addition of the pickling liquid and bubble removal.

Spicy Dilly Beans Recipe (3)

Pack the beans tightly. Save a few beans and squeeze them in once the liquid has been added to the jar.

Tap jars firmly to remove any trapped air bubbles.

Make sure to give them at least a week on the shelf after processing, so that you get their full flavor (though I will say, even a young dilly bean is a good dilly bean).

June 2012

Recipe Details

Spicy Dilly Beans Recipe

Prep10 mins

Cook35 mins

Active60 mins

Total45 mins

Serves48 servings

Makes5 pints

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds (1.4 kg) green beans

  • 2 1/2 cups (20 ounces) white vinegar

  • 2 1/2 cups (20 ounces) water

  • 4 tablespoons pickling salt

  • 5 medium cloves garlic

  • 5 teaspoons (10g) dill seed (not dill weed)

  • 5 teaspoons (10g) red chile flakes

Directions

  1. Prepare a boiling water bath and 5 regular mouth pint jars. (See canning basics.) Place lids in a small saucepan over very low heat to simmer while you prepare the pickles.

    Spicy Dilly Beans Recipe (4)

    Spicy Dilly Beans Recipe (5)

  2. Wash and trim beans so that they fit in jar. If you have particularly long beans, cut them in half. Combine vinegar, water and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. While the pickling liquid heats, pack the beans into the jars, leaving 1/2 inch for headspace. To each jar, add 1 clove of garlic, 1 teaspoon dill seeds, and 1 teaspoon red chile flakes.

  3. Slowly pour the hot brine over the beans, leaving 1/2 inch for headspace. After all the jars are full, use a wooden chopstick to work the air bubbles out of the jars. Check the headspace again and add more brine if necessary.

    Spicy Dilly Beans Recipe (6)

  4. Wipe the rims, apply lids and rings and process in a hot water bath for 10 minutes. Let pickles sit for at least one week before eating.

    Spicy Dilly Beans Recipe (7)

Special Equipment

Mason jars, canning pot

  • Pickling
  • Vegan Sides
  • Vegetarian Sides
  • Green Beans
  • Dill
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
13Calories
0g Fat
2g Carbs
1g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 48
Amount per serving
Calories13
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g0%
Saturated Fat 0g0%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 316mg14%
Total Carbohydrate 2g1%
Dietary Fiber 1g3%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 3mg15%
Calcium 14mg1%
Iron 0mg1%
Potassium 46mg1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Spicy Dilly Beans Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long after making dilly beans can you eat them? ›

Quick-pickled vegetables can be eaten immediately, but you're better off waiting at least 24 hours before digging in. Dilly beans get better as they age, so if you can, wait at least a couple of days before opening up the jar. Quick-pickled beans can last several months in the refrigerator.

What are dilly beans made of? ›

Dilly beans are green beans, suspended in a vinegar-based pickling liquid and seasoned simply with garlic, black peppercorns and either dill heads or seeds. Because beans are sturdy little suckers, they retain their crispness through the boiling water bath process.

How to make Paula Deen green beans? ›

Add green beans to pan and sauté over medium heat for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add boiling water to pan and cover. Cook for about 15 minutes, just until beans are tender. Add vinegar, butter and salt and pepper and stir.

Can you use Mrs wages dill pickle mix for green beans? ›

One bite and I knew that I had a new favorite canning recipe for green beans. When I asked for her recipe, she let me in on her secret. She bought Mrs. Wages Quick Process Kosher Dill Pickle Canning Mix on the canning aisle at King Soopers and simply added the vinegar and water to it.

Why did my dilly beans get wrinkly? ›

When the pickled beans are removed from the canner, the beans may appear shriveled and wrinkled. This is normal because the salt in the pickling solution has drawn moisture out of the bean. As the pickled beans sit in storage, they absorb the pickling solution and plump up again.

How many minutes does it take beans to be ready? ›

Place soaked beans in a large pot; cover with fresh water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer gently until beans are tender but firm. Most beans will cook in 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on the variety. Periodically, try a taste test or mash a bean against the side of the pot with a fork or spoon.

Why are they called dilly beans? ›

Dilly beans, or pickled green beans, are a means of preserving this summer legume. Often flavored with dill, hence the name, they may also contain garlic, Tabasco sauce, and red pepper.

How do you eat dilly beans? ›

There's nothing quite like a dilly bean. Whether they're next to a plate of cheese and crackers, on a sandwich, or taken straight from the jar in the middle of winter when you're sick of potatoes and pasta, these are the perfect snacks or addition to any meal.

Do pickled beans go bad? ›

According to the USDA, high-acid foods like pickled green beans are good for up to 18 months, at least from a safety point of view. However, you may want to eat those beans more quickly than that. Most home-canned goods should probably be consumed within a year, as they degrade in quality.

Why cook green beans in baking soda? ›

In doing a little research, America's Test Kitchen recommends adding some baking soda to the boiling liquid to help the beans tenderize faster, as well as absorb more flavor.

What is Paula Deen seasoning? ›

The ingredients listed in order are: "sea salt, granulated garlic, black pepper, granulated onion, ground cumin, and other spices". I have used the recipe listed on this site and included equal amounts of garlic powder and onion powder.

Which vinegar is best for dill pickles? ›

Most pickle recipes call for distilled white vinegar. This is the clear, colorless vinegar made by fermenting grains. It has a mellow aroma, tart acid flavor and does not affect the color of light-colored vegetables or fruits.

Is apple cider vinegar or white vinegar better for dill pickles? ›

Because apple cider vinegar is made from apples rather than barley, corn rice or wine, it gives pickles a mellower taste. Using a white distilled vinegar, for example, will create a harsher flavour. But as well as being gentler on your palate, using apple cider vinegar also adds health benefits to pickles.

What spices are in Mrs. Wages dill pickle mix? ›

Ingredients: Salt, Dehydrated Garlic, Spice (Includes Mustard Seed), Maltodextrin, Spice Extractives (Includes Turmeric Extract & Mustard Oil), Citric Acid.

How long to wait before eating pickled beans? ›

For best flavor results, wait at least 24 hours before eating the pickled green beans. The longer you wait, the more intense in flavor they will get. Make sure your jars are completely clean and sterilized before using them. Depending on the size of your green beans, you may need more or less to fill the jars.

How long do you let beans sit after cooking? ›

It's important for beans to remain submerged in a few inches of water throughout the cooking process so they don't dry out. Cover pot, bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and then remove from heat. Let rest 1 hour. (You can also quick-soak beans in the Instant Pot or another pressure cooker.)

How long after canning green beans can you eat them? ›

That's simply a USDA guideline and has been for a long time: the shelf life of your canned food is one year….. We always adhere to current USDA guidelines, and that is, once you preserve your food you have one year to eat that to get the best nutrient value out of that.”

How long after canning can you eat beans? ›

As long as the can is in good shape, the contents should be safe to eat, although the taste, texture and nutritional value of the food can diminish over time. Home canned foods should be used within 1 year.

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