How to Make Quick Pickled Green Beans

Jump to Recipe

This quick pickled green beans recipe is so easy! It’s made with green beans in a simple brine of garlic, spices, and vinegar. They are crisp, tangy, and delicious. The best part is there is no need for pressure canning or ice water baths to make these pickled green beans, just pop them in the refrigerator and enjoy!

a picture of pickled green beans on a plate with a jar in the background

Want to Save This Recipe?

Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Simple and Savory

If you love green beans, you might also enjoy our healthy green beans recipe with bacon.

Why you will love this recipe

This recipe is for a small batch, make one jar at a time!
Refrigerator pickles are easy to make with simple steps and no special equipment is needed.

picture of green bean ingredients on a plate with water, sea salt, garlic, peppercorns, herbs, green beans, olive oil, vinegar

Here is what you will need

This is a brief summary of the ingredients needed to make this pickled green beans recipe and a convenient shopping list from my Instacart affiliate link. For a printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions, scroll down to the recipe card section.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients

Green beans
Garlic
Red pepper flakes
Black peppercorns
Sea salt
Apple cider vinegar
Fresh herbs such as parsley, thyme or dill

🥄Equipment

Get the Ingredients from Instacart!

How to make quick pickled green beans

Prepare the ingredients: Clean and trim the ends off of the green beans and rinse the herbs. Chop the garlic, and measure the spices and vinegar.

Clean and sanitize the jar by washing it in hot soapy water, rinsing it, and placing it into a pan of boiling water for a few minutes. Carefully remove it from the hot water and allow it to dry and cool off.

STEP 1. Fill the jar with green beans. Once the jar is cool, place the green beans vertically into the jar. As you add the green beans add a piece of garlic clove intermittently so that the garlic is evenly distributed in the jar; top with fresh herbs, black peppercorns and red pepper flakes.

STEP 2. Heat the brine. Place the water, salt, and vinegar into a small saucepan and heat over medium-high heat, and cook stirring occasionally to let the salt dissolve.

green beans in a jar with brine pouring ib

STEP 3. Pour the pickling brine over the green beans making sure that the beans are immersed in the brine mixture.

STEP 4. Refrigerate. Once the jar is filled, cover it and give it a gentle shake to combine all of the ingredients, and place in the refrigerator.

Green beans in a jar with brine parsley on the side

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

The full list of ingredients to make pickled string beans is above. Below are notes about some of the ingredients along with ideas for substitutes.

Green beans. Use good quality fresh green beans that are firm and blemish-free. Wax beans or yellow beans can be substituted for green beans.

Apple cider vinegar. I like apple cider vinegar for its health benefits and its tangy flavor.

If you prefer a milder vinegar flavor, it can be replaced with an equal amount of white vinegar, rice vinegar, or red wine vinegar.

Fresh herbs. Any variety of fresh herbs can be used to make these green beans. In this recipe, I used thyme and parsley.

Sea salt. can be replaced with kosher salt or pickling salt.

Variations

Customize your pickle brine and try some of these suggestions.

More heat – In addition to the pepper flakes or in place of them, add a pinch of cayenne pepper, a few slices of jalapeno peppers, or cherry peppers.
Spices – Add up to a few teaspoons of dill seeds, pickling spice, bay leaves, or mustard seeds in addition to or in place of peppercorns.
Sweet – Add a teaspoon or two to the taste of honey or sugar.
More Flavor – Add sliced red onions to the pickle brine with the cloves of garlic.

Serving suggestions

Serve pickled green beans or dilly beans as they are also called on a charcuterie board, in a bloody mary, with your favorite burger, or sandwich. They also are a great idea for a low-calorie snack!

How to store refrigerator pickled green beans

Store your refrigerator pickled green beans in a tightly sealed mason jar for 4 to 6 weeks.

Tips

Make sure that the green beans are totally submerged in the brine before placing them in the refrigerator.
Since this is a quick pickle recipe, the pickled green beans are not processed and must be stored in the refrigerator.
Be sure that the green beans have been washed thoroughly before adding them to the pickle jar.

Should you blanch the green beans before pickling them?

It is not necessary to blanch the green beans before pickling them. The hot brine and the salt will soften the green beans enough for a slightly crispy bean. If you prefer them to be softer, then blanched beans are recommended.

What is the best jar to use to make pickled green beans?

Any type of jar that has a tight sealing lid will work. I like to use Mason jars, but as long as the jar is cleaned and sanitized, threaded sealing lids will work.