This easy recipe will teach you how to cook Great Northern beans in the Instant Pot. The beans are cooked under pressure with smoked ham, savory aromatics, and chicken broth. They become pillowy soft and full of flavors that you can’t resist.
You can find white beans in my Tuscan white bean soup and chana masala, but have you ever thought about eating them by themselves? With the right spices, they can be very filling and tasty!
This Instant Pot Great Northern Beans recipe is what I use when I want a healthy side dish, a protein-rich topping for grain bowls, or a quick recipe for a potluck. It’s hard to say no to these beans, and the ham in a flavorful broth makes them even better. I almost never have leftovers after a meal. Table of Contents.
Great northern beans are a versatile legume popular in many cuisines. With their mild, nutty flavor and creamy texture, these white beans can be used in a variety of dishes from soups to dips Keep reading to learn all about what makes great northern beans unique and how to use them in your cooking
Great northern beans are a variety of white bean native to the Americas. They are medium-sized oval shaped beans that are larger than navy beans but smaller than lima beans. When cooked, these beans have a smooth creamy texture and a delicate, nutty flavor.
Some key features of great northern beans:
- Color: White
- Size: Medium
- Texture: Smooth, creamy when cooked
- Flavor: Delicate and nutty
Unlike other bean varieties that have an earthy, robust flavor great northern beans are prized for their mild taste. Their ability to take on the flavors of other ingredients makes them a versatile pantry staple.
Nutrition Profile
One of the biggest benefits of great northern beans is their stellar nutritional profile. Just one cup of cooked beans contains:
- 12g fiber
- 19g protein
- 80% of daily folate needs
- 25% of daily iron
The fiber and protein content makes these beans excellent for digestive health and keeping you full. They also contain various vitamins and minerals like thiamine, potassium, magnesium, and zinc.
With complex carbs, lots of fiber and plant-based protein, great northern beans can be a nutritious meat substitute in many vegetarian and vegan dishes. Their high nutrient content makes them a smart addition to any balanced diet.
Common Uses in the Kitchen
Now let’s get into the good stuff – how to use great northern beans! Here are some of the most popular ways to enjoy them:
Soups and Stews
The creamy texture makes great northern beans perfect for soups and stews. They hold their shape nicely when simmered for long periods, making them an ideal addition to hearty winter warmers like bean stew, minestrone soup, and white chicken chili.
Casseroles and Bakes
Mixed with veggies, pasta, or meat, great northern beans bake up nicely in casseroles. Try them in dishes like baked bean casserole, enchilada bake, and vegetarian shepherd’s pie.
Salads
Chilled, cooked great northern beans lend protein and fiber to fresh salads. Toss them in grain bowls, bean salads, or use in place of garbanzo beans in a white bean salad.
Dips and Spreads
Blending cooked great northern beans with olive oil, garlic, and herbs makes a protein-packed dip or sandwich spread. They can be used to make hummus, bean dip, and white bean bruschetta topping.
Purees
The smooth, creamy texture of great northern beans makes them perfect for pureeing into thick dips, sauces, and soups. Try white bean puree seasoned with rosemary or sage.
Tacos and Burritos
Great northern beans are a tasty, protein-rich filling for tacos and burritos. Season them with taco spices and wrap in tortillas for a satisfying meatless meal.
Rice and Grain Bowls
Cooked beans layered over grains like brown rice, quinoa or farro make balanced, nutritious bowls. Season them simply with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Substitutions
With their mild flavor, great northern beans work well as a substitution for navy beans, cannellini beans, or pinto beans. Swap them 1:1 in any recipe.
Tips for Cooking Great Northern Beans
Follow these tips for cooking perfect pot after pot of great northern beans:
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Soak before cooking: Soaking dried beans reduces cooking time and improves texture. Soak 8-12 hours or use the quick soak method.
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Season the cooking liquid: Add aromatics like onion, garlic, bay leaves, and herbs to the bean cooking liquid.
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Don’t add acid early: Acidic ingredients like tomatoes and vinegar slow bean cooking. Add them at the end.
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Check often towards the end: Cook beans until tender but not falling apart, about 90 minutes.
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Store cooked beans properly: Let beans cool in their liquid before refrigerating for up to 5 days or freezing for 6 months.
Simple Great Northern Bean Recipes
Here are 3 quick and easy recipe ideas to start cooking with great northern beans:
White Chicken Chili
Simmer beans, chicken, onions, chili powder, and cumin for a hearty and comforting chili. Garnish with cilantro.
Rosemary White Bean Dip
Puree cooked great northern beans with olive oil, garlic, rosemary, and lemon juice. Serve with toasted baguette slices.
Greek Salad with Beans
Toss great northern beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, olives, and feta cheese with a red wine vinaigrette.
The Takeaway
With their versatility, nutrition, and budget-friendly price, great northern beans deserve a spot in every pantry. Their mild taste allows them to take on any flavor while adding protein, fiber, and nutrients to dishes. Soups, stews, salads, tacos – you name it, these creamy white beans fit right in.
Recipe tips and variations
- Speed up the soak. I quickly soak the dried beans when I’m in a hurry. In order to do this, put them in a pot with water and bring it to a boil over high heat. Once the water starts to boil, take the pot off the heat and let the beans soak for about an hour and a half.
- Adjust the cooking time. If you don’t want to soak the beans, add 10 minutes to the cooking time.
- For a deeper flavor. To start the recipe, use the Saute function on an oiled Instant Pot to cook the onions and garlic. Their developed flavors will soak right into the beans!.
- Instead of smoked ham. You can add air fryer bacon, pancetta, prosciutto, pastrami, turkey pastrami, or any other cured or deli meat you like to the beans to make them taste better.
- Vegetarian substitutions. To make this recipe vegetarian, just leave out the ham and cook the beans in vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Season with fresh herbs. Put fresh thyme, oregano, parsley, bay leaves, and/or parsley in the beans while you cook them to make them taste more Italian.
To store: Once the white beans are cool, put them in a container that won’t let air in and put it in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
To freeze: The cooked beans also freeze well for up to 6 months. Let them thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
To reheat: The easiest way to reheat the beans is in the microwave in 30-second increments. You could also heat them up again in a pot over medium-low heat with a little broth.
These three varieties of white beans are very similar and are good substitutes for each other. But they are all a little different in taste, texture, and size. Navy beans are smaller than Great Northern beans and cannellini beans (also called white kidney beans).
I don’t know if this recipe will work with canned Great Northern beans because I haven’t tried it. Usually, cooking canned beans in the Instant Pot leads to overcooked and mushy beans (since they’re already cooked).
The beans need to be soaked overnight or for at least 4 hours if you’re not using an Instant Pot.
What are Great Northern beans?
Great Northern beans or Northern beans are a type of white bean. They’re about the same size as chickpeas and cannellini beans, have a mild, almost nutty flavor, and cook up firm but tender.
They’re often added to stews and soups, but they’re also delicious on their own or as a topping for salads or vegetable sides.
Here are some other reasons why I love this recipe:
- Completely hands-off. I can relax while the beans cook in the Instant Pot because it’s so easy.
- Anything but boring. Like butter beans, white beans may not sound like a very exciting side dish, but a few flavor boosters will make you want them for days after you eat them.
- Always crowd-pleasing. When I need an easy-to-make side dish for dinner that is also healthy and good for my family, this is it.
- Change it! Want a vegetarian or vegan version? Want to make this recipe stand out more? It’s easy to do! Check out the Variations section for ways to change it.
All it takes is a handful of flavor boosters to help these beans taste their best:
- Great Northern beans. The taste of dry beans is better than canned ones, and they’re cheap and easy to cook. They also have a lot of fiber, plant-based protein, vitamins, minerals, and other good things for your health (source).
- Garlic and onion. The base flavor of this recipe comes from these two savory aromas.
- Water. To make the beans softer and keep them from sticking to the Instant Pot
- Chicken stock. When you cook white beans in both water and chicken broth, they get lots of tasty flavors. You can use water or vegetable broth if you want.
- Smoked ham. You can buy sliced smoked ham at the deli counter or follow my recipe below. It makes the beans taste a little sweet, smokey, and salty. Leftover home-cooked ham works just as well!.
- Seasonings. You need salt, pepper, paprika, and ground cloves.
Cannellini Beans Great Northern Beans What’s The Difference
FAQ
What are great northern beans good for?
What is the difference between white beans and Northern beans?
Are Great Northern beans the same as baked beans?
Are great northern beans like kidney beans?