Southern Great Northern Beans Recipe (2024)

Published: Oct 23, 2023 · Modified: Dec 27, 2023 by Melanie Cagle · Leave a Comment

A classic southern great northern beans recipe that is super simple, yet really delicious.

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Southern Great Northern Beans Recipe (1)

This recipe for Southern Great Northern Beans is a classic side dish that pairs perfectly with a yummy piece of cornbread and some rice.

Southern Great Northern Beans Recipe (2)

Typically, we would eat these southern style white beans like this when making some fried fish, or chicken. They're really good with most fish, chicken and pork dishes.

Shoot, they're good with pretty much anything.

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❤️ Why you'll love it
🧅 Ingredients
🥣 Instructions
🔄 Substitutions and Variations
🔌 Equipment
📘 More Beans Recipes
🧊 Storage
💡 Tips
👩‍🍳 FAQs
Southern Great Northern Beans Recipe
Fan Favorite Recipes
💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love it

There are few ingredients, making it a simple and economical recipe.
You can really make this recipe your own by adding a different type of pork, more (or less) seasoning, etc. It's very flexible.
My favorite thing about this easy recipe for creamy northern beans is that there is lots of fiber! Great for the gut!

🧅 Ingredients

Southern Great Northern Beans Recipe (3)

Great Northern Beans
Salt Pork
Chicken Broth
Celery
Sweet Onion
Garlic
Creole Seasoning
Bay Leaf

See recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities.

🥣 Instructions

This is an overview of the recipe steps. For more detailed instructions visit the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Southern Great Northern Beans Recipe (4)

Step 1: Add all the ingredients to a large heavy bottomed pot, like a Dutch Oven.
Step 2: Add the chicken broth and stir well.
Step 3: Bring to a boil then turn down to a simmer and cover.
Step 4: Simmer for about 4 hours, stirring now and then.

Southern Great Northern Beans Recipe (5)

Hint: Stir the beans often at the end of cooking time to add some creaminess. The more creaminess you like, cook for longer and stir more for a creamier consistency.

🔄 Substitutions and Variations

Smoked Sausage - instead of salt pork.
Smoked Tasso - instead of salt pork.
Ham Hocks - or a leftover ham bone instead of salt pork.
Navy Beans - or cannellini beans can be used in place of the great northern beans.
Bacon - can be added or instead of salt pork.
Mustard Powder - can taste good with this recipe.
Cajun Seasoning - instead of Creole Seasoning.
Green Onions - can be added at the end if you like that.
Green Bell Pepper - adds good flavor.
Hot Sauce - add a splash as you like for heat.
Black Pepper - for some smoky flavor.
Olive Oil -you could add some at the beginning for cooking the ground meat - I find it unnecessary though.
Ham shanks - these are great in place of the salt pork.
Fresh parsley - throw in some at the end.
Onion powder - for more flavor.
Vegetable stock - instead of chicken stock.
Pork chops - use your leftover pork chops!
Yellow onions - instead of sweet onions.
Liquid smoke - to add a touch of smokiness.

Southern Great Northern Beans Recipe (6)

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🔌 Equipment

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

I like to use a heavy Dutch Oven for this recipe, for even heat. I have an affiliate link in the recipe card below.

Any large heavy pot will work.

📘 More Beans Recipes

Southern Baked Beans Recipe
Slow Cooker Cajun Red Beans and Rice
Crock Pot Pinto Beans
Chicken and Lima Beans

🧊 Storage

Once these southern great northern beans have cooled completely, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

They do freeze really well. Store in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.

💡 Tips

Expert Tip: If you don't want ALL the beans to be creamed you can take a cup or two of the beans and blend them, then add them back. This will give you a creamy texture where you still have most beans in tact.

Use your food processor to finely dice your onions and celery, for great minced onion.

Southern Great Northern Beans Recipe (11)

👩‍🍳 FAQs

What are Great Northern Beans used for?

They have a lovely mild flavor and are often used in casseroles, soups and stews.

Don't I need to soak the dried beans first?

You don't have to. You can though, it will shorten the cooking time, say if you soak the beans overnight.

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