What Are Great northern beans and How Can I Use Them?

If great northern beans have turned up in a recipe or caught your eye at the store, here's what you need to use them with confidence and how to choose them, cook them, store them, what to substitute, and 58 recipes to try them in.

What are great northern beans?

Great Northern Beans are a delicately flavored white bean related to the kidney bean and the pinto bean. They are typically grown in the Midwestern US, though some people may grow and harvest them elsewhere.

Depending upon where you live, you may find them available canned or dried. Though called a white bean, the color of Great Northern Beans tends toward cream and some say they look similar in shape, albeit smaller, to lima beans.

Beans are certainly one of the best foods available. A cup of Great Northern Beans contains 14.7 grams of protein, and 12.4 grams of dietary fiber. These beans are also excellent sources of iron,magnesium and folate, and they have a scant 200 calories per cup.

They can really bulk up the nutritional value of anything to which they’re added, and when they are combined with brown rice, they form a complete protein.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find great northern beans: Great northern beans are usually found in the canned goods section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Great northern beans are a member of the Legumes and Legume Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

大北豆

British (UK) term

Great northern beans

en français

haricots Great Northern

en español

frijoles grandes del norte

How much do great northern beans weigh?

Related

Legumes and Legume Products

Recipes using great northern beans

There are 58 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Quick Bacon Baked Beans

A "quick" kicked-up slow cooker or CrockPot baked beans recipe. Starting with canned baked beans and augmented with two more kinds of beans, bacon, and onions, get this recipe on the table in record time.

5 Bean Soup

5 bean soup simmers pinto, navy, red, great northern, and black-eyed peas with a smoky ham bone, tomatoes, and chili powder. Hearty, high-fiber, freezer-friendly bowl.

Two Bean Salad

Simple two-bean salad with great northern beans, red kidney beans, fresh tomatoes, and Swiss chard made in a pressure cooker. A wholesome plant-based meal served over rice or pasta.

Boston Chicken Baked Beans

A copycat Boston Market baked beans recipe loaded with great northern beans, pork and beans, ketchup, BBQ sauce, softened onions, and sliced ham. Thick, saucy, and ready in about an hour. Cookout essential.

Carlene's Baked Beans

A simple yet taste baked beans that only uses 4 ingredients.

Hearty Ribs & Beans

Hearty ribs and beans bakes country-style pork ribs over Great Northern and kidney beans in a tangy tomato-mustard sauce. A two-stage casserole that feeds six.

McCormick's Minestrone

Classic Italian minestrone loaded with great northern beans, spinach, cabbage, zucchini, potatoes, tomatoes, and elbow macaroni in a herb-scented broth. The ultimate hearty vegetable soup.

Italian Pasta & Bean Soup

Italian pasta and bean soup (pasta e fagioli) simmers Great Northern beans with onion, carrot, celery, zucchini, and tomato paste, then finishes with al dente pasta. A rustic, hearty peasant-style bowl.

White Bean Soup with Sage

White bean soup with sage: creamy great northern beans simmered with onion, carrot, tomato and fragrant sage in chicken broth. A quick, low-fat soup that's on the table in about 30 minutes using canned beans.

Illiria Bean Soup

Rustic white bean soup with great northern beans, carrots, celery, tomatoes, and vegetable broth finished with extra-virgin olive oil. A hearty, naturally vegan bean soup.

Pasta O'Doole

Pasta O'Doole is a three-ingredient pantry dinner: elbow macaroni tossed with great northern beans and tomato sauce. Cheap, filling, vegan, and ready in minutes from cans and a box.

White Chili#1

Creamy white chicken chili with fresh jalapeños, ginger, corn, and great northern beans in a buttery roux-based sauce. Top with Monterey Jack and serve with cornbread.

Soup Au Pistou

Provencal soup au pistou loaded with kidney beans, white beans, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, green beans, and macaroni. A hearty, rustic French vegetable soup.

Northern White Beans

Northern white beans slow-simmered with pancetta, bratwurst, and chicken in chicken stock with thyme and bay leaves. A hearty one-pot bean stew with real depth.

Soundstage Great Northern Bean Soup

Great northern bean soup with smoked ham, minced celery, carrots, onions and tomato in a savory chicken broth. Thickened with cornstarch for body. A cold-weather Sunday supper classic.

Most Delicious White Chili

White chicken chili with great northern beans, poached chicken, green chiles, cumin, and a full pound of melted Monterey Jack. Served with sour cream and jalapenos for a hearty Southwest crowd-feeder.

Tuna & Bean Salad in Pita Pockets

A quick no-cook lunch: canned tuna, white beans, and peppery arugula tossed in a lemon-garlic dressing, stuffed into whole wheat pitas with red onion. Ready in 15 minutes.

Bean & Eggplant Stew

Rustic white bean and eggplant stew with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and Italian herbs. Slow-simmered, naturally vegan, and rich with Mediterranean flavor.

Savory Baked Beans

Savory baked beans with great northern beans, curry powder, lemon juice, and soy sauce. An oil-free, vegan-friendly baked bean casserole with Indian-inspired spicing and no added sugar.

White Bean Chili#1

Cozy white bean chicken chili spiced with ground red chile, basil, and a warm hint of cloves. Simmers for an hour and serves 6 with tortilla chips on the side.

Vegan Eggplant Parm Stew

This would probably be really good with cauliflower or zucchini instead of eggplant.

Black & White Bean Vegetable Chili

Black and white bean vegetable chili simmers black beans, great northern beans, corn, potato, and green chiles in a quick cumin broth. A 45-minute meatless chili finished with cilantro and lime.

Easy Low-Fat Chili

If you're looking for a healthy alternative to chili, this simple and easy to understand recipe is for you!

Olive Garden Pasta Fagioli

Olive Garden-style pasta fagioli with great northern beans, stewed tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, and spiral pasta. A one-pot Italian soup that simmers in a Dutch oven.

Jalapeño Chicken White Chili

Jalapeno chicken white chili goes creamy, built on a roux-and-cream base loaded with chicken, great northern beans, and corn. Fresh and pickled jalapenos bring double the heat. Top with Jack cheese.

Traditional Italian Pasta Fagioli Bean Soup

Traditional Italian Pasta Fagioli Bean Soup recipe

Stewed Lamb Shanks

Stewed lamb shanks braised with great northern beans, tomato, red wine, rosemary, and bay. A rustic Italian-style one-pot dinner with fork-tender meat falling off the bone.

Pumpkin Bean Turkey Chili

Turkey pumpkin chili with great northern beans, kidney beans, crushed tomatoes, and canned pumpkin. A lean, high-fiber fall chili loaded with cumin, oregano, and chili powder.

Spicy White Chile

Spicy white chicken chili with great northern beans, green chilies, Monterey Jack cheese, cumin, and cayenne. A creamy, cheesy twist on classic chili ready in 45 minutes.

Great Northern Bean Soup

Great northern bean soup simmers white beans with smoked sausage, onions, and garlic for two hours, then mashes to a creamy, hearty bowl. Old-school Southern soup that pairs beautifully with warm cornbread.

Smoked Sausage & Bean Soup

Chunky smoked sausage and bean soup packed with potatoes, cabbage, mixed vegetables, and two kinds of beans in a brothy, no-oil base. A filling one-pot meal in 60 minutes.

Vegetarian Chili with Rice

30-minute vegetarian chili with kidney beans and great northern beans simmered in tomato sauce, spooned over fluffy rice. Quick, low-cal, and full of flavor.

Layered Tortilla Casserole

Layered Mexican tortilla casserole with kidney beans, corn, cottage cheese, and cheddar made entirely in the microwave. A low-fat vegetarian enchilada-style bake ready in 30 minutes.

White Chili 2

White chicken chili with great northern beans, green chiles, and cumin in a creamy Monterey Jack broth. The Tex-Mex alternative to red chili, slow-simmered to silky.

Lamb & White Bean Stew

Lamb and white bean stew braises tender chunks of lamb in a red wine and tomato sauce with rosemary and thyme, then folds in creamy great northern beans. A rustic, slow-cooked Mediterranean comfort bowl.

Old Fashioned Baked Beans with Molasses & Vinegar

Slow-baked beans sweetened with molasses and brown sugar, spiked with tangy apple cider and white vinegar. This old-school recipe bakes low and slow for 6 hours until creamy and rich.

Hearty Bean Vegetable Soup

Three-bean vegetable soup with kidney beans, chickpeas, Great Northern beans, tomatoes, and zucchini simmered together with basil and bay. A pantry-friendly meatless soup that feeds ten and freezes beautifully.

Upstate Minestrone Soup

Hearty minestrone with sweet Italian sausage, great northern beans, cabbage, zucchini, and tomatoes simmered in beef broth. A thick, warming one-pot soup for cold nights.

Great Northern Minestrone

Great northern bean minestrone with carrots, zucchini, cabbage, tomatoes, and elbow macaroni in a basil-oregano broth. Hearty, thick, and full of vegetables.

All American Barbecued Beans

Savory baked beans with crispy turkey bacon, tangy mustard, and Worcestershire depth. Lightened-up side dish simmered in ketchup-vinegar sauce for classic barbecue flavor.

White Chili with Salsa Verde

Poached chicken chili with white corn, great northern beans, and green chiles, served over crushed tortilla chips and Monterey Jack with a fresh tomatillo salsa verde.

Black & White Bean Salad

Black and white bean salad tossed with sauteed red onions, red wine vinegar, bell peppers, and garlic. A tangy, high-fiber side dish that comes together in 30 minutes.

Western Beans 'N' Franks

Western beans and franks slow-baked with two kinds of beans, molasses, brown sugar, bacon, and diced orange. A hearty, smoky bean pot with citrus sweetness.

Easy Bean Bake

Easy bean bake brings together great northern beans, smoky bacon, brown sugar, and molasses in one pot for a sweet and savory side that bakes hands-off in the oven. Classic American baked beans done the slow way.

Peasant Soup

Peasant soup is a humble Tuscan-style bean stew with great northern beans, carrots, celery, garlic, and tomato simmered low and slow. Plant-based comfort food made from pantry staples.

Chicken, Spinach & Bean Stew with Basil Pesto

A light, brothy stew packed with chicken breast, baby spinach, and white beans, finished with a fresh basil-parmesan pesto stirred right in. Ready in under 30 minutes.

Italian-Style Beans & Pasta

Italian bean and pasta stew with chickpeas, kidney beans, great northern beans, tomatoes, carrots, and celery. A thick, hearty one-pot meal that's naturally vegetarian.

Three Beans & Smoked Sausage Casserole

Three-bean casserole with lima, kidney, and great northern beans, baked beans, and smoked sausage in a sweet ketchup-mustard sauce. One-pan potluck classic for 12.

Low Fat Three-Bean & Wild-Rice Casserole

A colorful vegetarian casserole that is perfect for dinner outside in the summer heat.

Escudella De Pages (Country Stew)

Escudella de pages, a traditional Catalan country stew with veal, chicken, salt pork, cabbage, beans, rice, and pasta in a saffron-scented bone broth. Old-world Spanish peasant food that eats like a meal in a bowl.

All 58 recipes