Instant Pot Pinto Beans

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If you are looking for an easy dish to make, this instant pot pinto beans recipe is all you need!

This recipe requires only a few ingredients you likely have at home or can find at your favorite grocery store. Moreover, you don’t have to be an expert chef to make it!

I love this dish because it is easy to make, delicious, filling, and healthy! Also, since we don’t have to soak our pinto beans beforehand, it’s a good alternative when we’re craving a comfort dish but don’t want to wait hours to eat.

Besides the ingredient list and step-by-step instructions, I’ll share some tips to help you get the best and most delicious results. Are you ready to start? Read on to find my instant pot pinto beans recipe!

Tips to Make Delicious Instant Pot Pinto Beans

This recipe is so easy to make, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy these flavorful pinto beans. However, I’ll share some tips to make them even better.

• Remove the lid from the instant pot and simmer your pinto beans on Sauté Mode uncovered for 15 minutes after pressure cooking to have a thicker bean broth
• Scoop a cup of pinto beans out of the instant pot, make a puree using a blender, and stir the mixture back into the pot to make the bean broth thicker
• Cut the pressure cooking time to just 20 minutes by soaking the dry beans (after sorting them, cover the pinto beans with water and let them sit overnight)
• Add salt after cooking to have better flavors and make the beans more tender
• Use minced garlic and jalapeño to add more flavor to your pinto beans
• Substitute the onion and bay leaves for other spices (garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, onion powder, and cumin) if you want to save much more time
• Don’t overfill your instant pot and fill only up to the line that marks ½ since pinto beans and other foods expand while cooking

Can I Store Cooked Pinto Beans?

Yes, of course! If you have some leftovers after making this recipe, you can store your cooked beans and eat them later!

It’s a great idea because 2 cups of our cooked pinto beans replace one store-bought 15-ounce can of beans. So, we can store the ones we made and use them later for other recipes.

I just transfer them to airtight containers and store them in the refrigerator for a few days! You can also freeze them in freezer-safe containers. Instant pot pinto beans will be safe to eat for up to 6 months!

When I want to reheat them to make another recipe or eat them, I just put my pinto beans in the microwave for about 5 minutes. That’s it!

Should I Soak Beans Overnight If I’m Using an Instant Pot?

One of the advantages of pressure cooking is that we don’t need to soak our pinto beans overnight before cooking them.

This amazing tool can cook unsoaked beans evenly and fairly quickly!

Therefore, whether we don’t have time to soak our dried beans or have forgotten to do so, using a pressure cooker or instant pot is a great option.

However, I personally find that soaking beans for at least eight hours before cooking makes them more digestible.

Moreover, when we soak beans, we can remove gas-causing sugars from our pinto beans and even cook them faster.

So, when I know I’ll make pinto beans and plan to make this recipe ahead, I always try to soak my dried beans. It’s worth the effort!

What to Serve with Instant Pot Pinto Beans

I love Mexican pinto beans, so I always make them in my instant pot. When I want to eat them alone, I replace part of the water with chicken broth. It’ll give this recipe a lot more flavor!

I also add chopped onion and other vegetables to make a complete, more filling meal!

These delicious pinto beans pair well with many dishes like puerto rican rice and beans. The following are some of my other favorites:

• Flatbread
• Quinoa
• Rice
• Jollof rice
• Turmeric coconut rice
• Gluten-free cornbread
• Toasted bread slices
• Green salads

Recipe Variations

When I cook pinto beans, I also get creative and experiment a bit to create new recipes!

Sometimes, I add some protein to my instant pot pinto beans, such as pieces of grilled chicken breast. I just love it!

I’ve also added bacon to my pinto beans to give them a smoky flavor and make them more delicious. I think ham is another good alternative to get this result!

Also, when I cook instant pot beans and store some leftovers, I use them as a dip.

I just mash the cooked pinto beans a bit using a masher and eat this delicious version with tortilla chips and a cheese sauce.

Final Thoughts: Is This Pinto Bean Recipe Worth Trying?

With this tool, cooking pinto beans is so easy, don’t you think? That’s why I love instant pot recipes!

Whether you want to make some refried beans or save some to prepare other recipes later, cooking beans in the instant pot is the best alternative!

Besides cooking pinto beans fast, this tool allows me to store and use the cooking liquid to make soups or other dishes and save money I would otherwise spend to buy canned beans.

Making dishes with soaked beans is great! I love when they’re tender and delicious. However, we need at least one extra day to prepare them.

Therefore, I think instant pot pinto beans are one of the best and easiest recipes we can try!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Use Other Tools to Cook Dried Pinto Beans?

Yes, of course! You can use many utensils if you want to cook these beans. My favorites are instant pot, pressure cooker, and slow cooker.

Can I Use These Beans to Make Refried Beans?

Yes, of course! Pinto beans cooked in the instant pot can be the perfect base to make refried beans.

I always use some of the cooking liquid left in my instant pot and a stick blender to mash my cooked beans and make this Mexican recipe. They’re great for stuffing burritos!

Can I Store Cooked Beans In The Refrigerator?

Yes, you can! As I mentioned, just transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the fridge. They’ll be safe to eat for up to three days!

However, if you don’t want your beans to go bad, you should wait until they are completely cool to refrigerate them!

One of the best beans with the longest shelf life is my dilly beans recipe.

How Long Should I Cook These Beans If I Use My Instant Pot?

Ideally, you should cook dry pinto beans for at least 30 minutes at high pressure and continue cooking for 10 minutes (natural release) if they aren’t soaked.

How Long Should I Cook Pinto Beans If I Soaked Them For 8 Hours?

I often cook soaked pinto beans for 10 minutes at high pressure, followed by 10 minutes of natural release. However, it may vary depending on the type of beans and equipment you use.

Therefore, you should cook them for at least 15 minutes in each phase the first time and adjust the cooking time accordingly.

What Is the Ratio of Water to Make Beans in the Instant Pot?

If you want to make these beans in your instant pot, you must add 6 cups of water per each pound of dry beans.

I think this amount of water gives the beans enough liquid to cook and get so tender!