Easy Refrigerator Pickled Green Beans

These refrigerator pickled green beans are an easy way to preserve some of your garden fresh beans. Pickling them extends the shelf life of fresh beans, allowing you to keep them for months.

Be sure to try making these fermented cauliflower pickles for something a little bit different.

Originally published in July, 2016; this post has been updated.

jars of pickled green beans.

Pickling is one of the easiest ways to preserve some of your garden bounty, whether you’re processing your pickles to be shelf stable or just whipping up a batch of refrigerator pickles.

These refrigerator pickled green beans are  my new go-to for pickling. They’re easy to make in small batches as beans from the garden ripen.

white pottery tray with pickled green beans ready to serve.

Refrigerator Pickled Green Beans

This particular recipe makes a small batch of pickled green beans and doesn’t need to be processed in a water bath canner. They’re refrigerator pickles. That means it’s an easy project for those of you who are new to the idea of preserving your garden harvest. These pickles will last for months in the fridge.

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And this is an easy pickle recipe. It took me about half an hour to put up this quick pickled green beans recipe — faster, even, than a trip to the grocery store!

ingredients for making quick pickled green beans on a marble surface.

Ingredients

Green beans You can use any variety of green bean for pickling. Whatever you’re growing for the dinner table will also work for making these refrigerator dilly beans. Choose fresh green beans that are unblemished. If you’re growing several different kinds of green beans, don’t hesitate to combine them here.

Vinegar I used apple cider vinegar in this recipe. Be mindful of this little tidbit when buying apple cider vinegar

Dill You can make this recipe with fresh or dried dill, whichever you have available.

Sugar Use your favorite brand of granulated cane sugar. I prefer organic.

Seasonings Fresh garlic, red pepper flakes, and salt round out the flavors in this recipe. If you prefer less spicy dilly beans, you can omit the pepper flakes.

Prepping the Green Beans

Wash and trim the ends. If you’re using a quart-size jar, you shouldn’t need to cut the beans any shorter. Long beans may need to be trimmed to fit into a pint-size jar.

panel showing green beans being boiled, then drained.

Filling the Jars

If you’re new to pickling and filling jars, worry not. It’s easy. Just tilt the jar as you fill it, to keep the beans pointing in mostly the same direction. This allows you to get more in the jar than just putting them in all catty-wampus.

jar with green beans before addition of brine.

You can use upcycled glass jars for this recipe, since you won’t be processing the jars full of beans. 

amber liquid poured through a funnel into a mason jar filled with green beans.

Once the jars are filled, bring the water, vinegar sugar, salt, and pepper flakes to a boil. Pour the hot liquid over the beans in the jars. Use a knife to release any air bubbles. Add more brine if necessary to make sure the beans are submerged, screw on a lid, and refrigerate for at least a week before trying them. 

Here’s how to make shelf stable pickled green beans that can be stored at room temperature if you’d like to save space in the fridge!

Using these Quick Pickled Beans

Having a jar or three of these crunchy pickles on hand allows you to add flavor to your menu. 

  • Chop finely and use them as you would dill pickles in potato salad, tuna salad, or egg salad. 
  • Add them to a charcuterie board. 
  • Use them to garnish a Bloody Mary.
  • Snack on these green bean pickles straight out of the jar.

open jar of pickled green beans, looking into jar.

★ Did you make these dilly green beans? Don’t forget to give them a star rating below! ★

jars of pickled green beans.

Quick Pickled Green Beans

Yield: 2 quarts
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Inactive Time: 7 days
Total Time: 7 days 30 minutes

Preserve your fresh produce -- make these easy refrigerator pickled beans. They're easy to make, maintain their crispness, and don't require a water bath process. 

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds green beans
  • 8 sprigs fresh dill
  • 4 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups apple cider or white wine vinegar
  • 4 teaspoons granulated organic cane sugar
  • 2 tablespoons sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Fill a large stock pot with about a gallon of water and bring to a boil.
  2. Meanwhile, wash and trim the ends from beans.
  3. When the water comes to a boil, drop the beans into the pot and cook 8-10 minutes, until crisp but tender.
  4. Drain in a colander and rinse with cold water to halt the cooking process.
  5. Pack beans into glass jars, snug but not too snug (you'll fill 3-4 pint jars, depending on how tightly you pack the beans).
  6. Divide the dill and garlic between the jars.
  7. Bring the remaining ingredients to a boil. Using a canning funnel, pour liquid over the beans. Use a butter knife to release any air bubbles. Make sure beans are completely submerged.
  8. Secure the lid; refrigerate for at least a week before serving.

Notes

If you do not have fresh dill, you can substitute 2 tablespoons dried dill weed, divided evenly between the jars.

You do not need to use canning jars for these quick pickled beans as they aren't processed to be shelf stable. This is a great time to reuse your upcycled glass jars!

My recipe is adapted from one found in Kids and Grandparents: An Activity Book.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 104Unsaturated Fat: 0gSodium: 167mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 6gSugar: 10gProtein: 4g

Did you make this recipe?

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refrigerator pickled green beans in 2 jars with purple linen

More refrigerator pickles to try: 

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About the author: Kris Bordessa is an award-winning National Geographic author and a certified Master Food Preserver. Read more about Kris and how she got started with this site here. If you want to send Kris a quick message, you can get in touch here.

34 comments… add one
  • Anne Aug 18, 2023 @ 9:24

    Super yummy and quite easy. I have used this for beans and cucumbers . I actually used white vinegar as that is what I had on hand. Loved then … might just pickles other veggies in this brine!

    • AttainableSustainable Aug 24, 2023 @ 5:52

      Glad you loved it!

  • Penny Jun 24, 2023 @ 3:44

    Just sharing something I learned the hard way. If you want crunchy pickles or beans use distilled water rather than well water or treated town water. I made these a bit hotter with the addition if a cayenne pepper and they’re awesome!

    • AttainableSustainable Jun 29, 2023 @ 12:55

      Sounds delicious!

  • Darleen M Clark Jun 24, 2023 @ 0:45

    Can I process them so they stay good on the self and not in refrigerator?

  • Nicole Jul 13, 2021 @ 18:13

    How long will this recipe last in the fridge?

    • Kris Bordessa Jul 16, 2021 @ 16:37

      Many months!

  • rob wilk May 5, 2021 @ 2:40

    Good job.

  • Maria Mar 17, 2021 @ 21:36

    Lovely recipe. I am going to make it as soon as I have a glut of them from the allotment.
    Thanks for sharing.

  • Mary Iversen Jul 15, 2020 @ 14:35

    I had a lot of kale and beet stems lying around and I didn’t want to waste them so I used your brine recipe and packed three jars of the raw stems, and they turned out so well! I love the flavor. Will definitely be making them again! Thanks!

    • Kate B. Jul 19, 2020 @ 15:30

      I never thought of pickling kale stems. This is going to be a must-do this fall. Thanks for the tip.

  • Susan C Jul 11, 2020 @ 17:03

    I just made these and it’s so easy. Thanks for the awesome recipe!

  • Jul Jun 25, 2020 @ 6:06

    You said any variety of green bean. Does that mean you can’t pickle purple pole beans?

    • Kris Bordessa Jul 1, 2020 @ 8:23

      Purple pole beans are fine!

      • Jynell Mccollam Jun 30, 2023 @ 7:09

        Can you store these on the shelf, or do you have to keep in refrigerator?

        • AttainableSustainable Jul 5, 2023 @ 9:38

          They aren’t processed to be shelf stable, but they will last for months in the fridge.

  • Eric Hathaway May 9, 2019 @ 13:07

    It works fine without the sugar

  • Michelle Mar 24, 2018 @ 21:43

    Yummy and easy to make.

  • Mona Oct 1, 2015 @ 16:25

    Can I raw pack the beans (without blanching) and pour the boiling brine over my beans in their jars? I have a batch made and all the tops sealed…I wanted them crunchier:)

    • Kris Bordessa Oct 5, 2015 @ 8:14

      I’ve tried this, but they ended up really tough.

  • Lynn Ludeman Jun 19, 2015 @ 7:44

    I am on the autoimmune protocol, specifically to try to re-set my insulin resistance problem. With that protocol, no sugar! Have any advice about using this recipe with an alternate sweetener, like stevia? Would that work?

    • Kris Bordessa Jun 22, 2015 @ 17:33

      If it were me, I’d try it without the sugar at all.

  • Yolanda Jun 15, 2011 @ 13:43

    What a nice recipe! How long will these stay good to eat?

    • Kris Bordessa Jun 15, 2011 @ 17:07

      Because of the vinegar content, they’ll keep pretty indefinitely. Kind of like dill pickles. (Let us know how they turn out!)

  • Julia in West Des Moines Jun 10, 2011 @ 17:34

    I’ve done this using Sandor Katz’s recipe, which looks the same. they’re very good. got here from simple lives thursday.

  • Cindy C Jun 10, 2011 @ 16:17

    I am making these now. I was wondering if you know how long they keep in the refrigerator? We are down to a household of 3 and I know I’ll love them, just not sure about the other 2.

    • Kris Bordessa Jun 10, 2011 @ 16:32

      Because of the vinegar content, they’ll keep pretty indefinitely. Kind of like dill pickles. (Let us know how they turn out!)

  • NoPotCooking Jun 9, 2011 @ 10:54

    I’ve never had these – they sound really good. When we get an excess here in late summer I’ll try it.

  • Jane Boursaw Jun 8, 2011 @ 20:51

    Oh those look gorgeous. And with the garlic and dill – yummy. I love green beans.

  • Mike Jun 8, 2011 @ 11:14

    These sound so good. I’ve never been a big fan of canning green beans and usually just blanch and freeze them, but this is going to get tested out in my kitchen this year.

    • Kris Bordessa Jun 8, 2011 @ 15:30

      Mike, I don’t can green beans, either, because of the low-acid factor. I really like this way of preserving them and have had better luck with these than regular pickles.

  • Roxanne @ Champion of My Heart Jun 8, 2011 @ 7:31

    Great pix. These sound really good. Alas, our beans are just now coming up. We won’t have any produce for quite some time.

    • Kris Bordessa Jun 8, 2011 @ 15:29

      Roxanne, you know where to find the recipe when your beans are ready!

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