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Canning is in my blood. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been in the kitchen with Mom and my grandmas, learning and preserving. Now, you can learn the same way right along with me!
Dill beans may be a new idea for you. Or, maybe you’re like me and have enjoyed them throughout your entire life. Either way, these are a quick and easy way to preserve beans, using a simple, vinegar brined pickle. Dills seeds give them that instant nostalgic flavor but the bean itself gives the best crunch.
Dare I say it? Maybe they’re even better than a traditional pickle!
Food safety tip: This recipe may not be approved by the USDA. To prevent the risk of botulism, always check with the USDA Canning Guide.
What makes a pickle a pickle?
A pickle does not have to be made with cucumbers. That’s the most traditional but numerous vegetables can be pickled.
There are two types of pickles:
- naturally fermented
- vinegar brined
Since these dilly beans use vinegar, water, and salt, they’re a vinegar brine pickle. The vinegar mixture is heated together then poured over the beans along with seasonings. After being processed in a water bath, they’re shelf-stable and taste like a perfect briny, sour dill pickle!
Why not use dill flowers to flavor?
Often in pictures for dill pickles, you’ll find beautiful flower heads in the jar. And don’t get me wrong: they can work great. But I find that you need to pick them at just the right stage for the seeds to impart the necessary flavor. Depending on the size and age, each flower could have a varied amount of flavor. Also, we don’t all grow dill.
Instead, I use dill seed, which can be easily found in the spice aisle of the grocery store. Dill seeds always have the same, even flavor. And when added to each jar, you can control the exact flavor you’re getting!
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Watch how to make these dilly beans
How to Can Dilly Beans
Equipment
Ingredients
For the jars
- 3-4 lb fresh green beans cleaned and washed
- ½ medium onion cleaned and thinly sliced
- 3 tsp dill seeds separated
- 3 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
For the brine
- 3 cups water
- 3 cup distilled white vinegar (5%)
- 1 tbsp canning salt
Instructions
- Prepare lids and rings, water bath, and brine. Bring water bath and brine to a boil as the jars and beans are prepared.
- Divide sliced onion in the bottom of each sterilized jar. This can be adjusted to personal preference. Take a bean, and, using the jar as a guide, trim the bean to within a ½-inch of the top (leaving ½ inch for headspace). Trim all the beans using the "guide" bean for the length.½ medium onion, 3-4 lb fresh green beans
- Place beans in jars, standing them upright and packing them slightly until the beans are tight in the jars. Add dill seeds on top of the beans. Optional: If a spicy bean is desired, add crushed red pepper flakes to each jar.3 tsp dill seeds, 3 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- In a saucepan, combine the water, vinegar, and canning salt. Bring to a boil to form the brine.3 cups water, 3 cup distilled white vinegar (5%), 1 tbsp canning salt
- Once the water bath and brine are boiling, ladle brine on each jar, leaving ½ inch of headspace. Place prepared lids and rings on jars and place them in the water bath. Process for 12 minutes once the water starts to boil again.
- After processing, use a jar lifter and set jars out of the water. Let rest for 12-24 hours before removing the rings. These should sit at least two weeks before being enjoyed but will last up to a year in a cool, dark place.
I just adore your camera presence. Great recipe! Thanks!
Used this recipe last year and had to find it again! Definitely a hit!
Just wondering why no salt.? Seems it would give them better taste.
There is 4 1/2 teaspoon salt in the brine recipe.
Yes, can you please clarify the amount of salt? I’m canning 4 lbs. of beans tomorrow… The recipe above clearly states 1 Tbsp. Thanks!
1 tbsp in the brine is correct. Enjoy canning!
Why, since we have to pressure seal green beens don’t we have to pressure seal these beans? Why can they just go into a water bath?
These green beans are dilly beans and since they are made with a brine which contains vinegar it makes it a high acid food. Just plain green beans need to be pressure canned because they are a low acid food because the have no acid in the recipe just salt and water.
vinegar brine just like pickles can be water bathed. The high acidity makes it a water bath candidate
Have you ever tried yellow beans?
Can I use the same recipe for pickled asparagus? Thanks for the inspiration. My friend and I pickled for the first time; we made Mexican jalapenos with carrots and onion, serranos, and fresno chile peppers.
I can’t find those 24oz canning jars anywhere for a reasonable price. Do you have a reliable supplier?
I just bought some online at Walmart. I had to stalk the wrong site until they came back in stock at 1 am and bought them for pickup the next day at my local store. I’ve been looking for weeks.
The USDA and National Center for Home Food Preservation have not ok’d more than pint jars for pickled green beans but have not said quarts are bad.
The Ball Blue Book c.2014, p. 93 of 203 in the ebook, uses pint and quart jars for pickled Dilly Beans with 10 min. in the boiling water bath for both. The Ball Blue Book is highly respected.
Video shows what looks like 3 Tb salt but recipe only says 1 Tb. Which is correct?
I love everything you do!!!!! I wish I could have you live with me. You make everything look so effortless. Thank you for sharing your stories and everything!!!!!!!
Well that is a huge compliment, thank you! So glad you enjoy!
Great site. Thank you
Kaleb is that 1/2 tsp dill seed and 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper per jar?
I have a bumper crop of green beans so I’m going to try to make these silly beans with all the excess. This will be my first canning experience; I’ve been intimidated by canning but you make it look very approachable- so thank you for giving me some confidence! Have you ever added a clove or two of garlic to each jar? We love garlic so I think I will try it! Thank you!
I’m hooked on your videos!!
If beans aren’t fully submerged in brine, will that be a problem?
What is your favorite vinegar to use for this recipe?
What type of vinegar do you use for this recipe? Just regular white? I can’t wait to try!
How much dill seed do you add to this recipe? How much pepper flakes do you add?
Question about your dilly bean recipe: 3 teaspoons dill seed per jar? or 1/2 teaspoon per jar since the recipe makes 6 pints… thank you….
Where can I get pint and a half tall wide mouth jars?
Thank you for making it make sense on the ” dill head ” dilemma for me! I had been searching for dilly bean recipes and could not figure out what stage the dill head was supposed to be picked for the recipe I had found. It will be much easier using this recipe that calls for dill seeds. I’m on it!
I can’t seem to find the taller jars you used in dilly beans recipe. Are the 24oz. or 16oz.
Super fun and easy recipe resulting in deliciously dilly beans! Love your recipes!
Such a good recipe! Made dilly beans for the first time this year, just finished my 2nd batch. Easy to follow recipe and love that you can customize it to your tastes. We love the spicy ones best!