Instant Pot Pinto Beans 🫘 are an easy way to make tender, flavorful beans without soaking them overnight. They’re perfect for serving as a side dish, making refried beans, or adding to your favorite Mexican recipes.
Serve them as a side, make Frijoles de la Olla, or use them in soups, tostadas, and other Mexican dishes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe ❤️
- No soaking required. You can cook dried pinto beans straight in the Instant Pot.
- Easy and hands-off. Once everything is in the pot, let the Instant Pot do the work.
- Perfect for meal prep. Make a batch and use the beans throughout the week.
- Budget-friendly. Dried beans are inexpensive and a great staple to keep in your pantry.
-Maggie
Instructions
Preparing the Beans
- Sort beans, removing all broken beans.
- Wash and rinse several times, removing all the dirt.
Cooking Instant Pot Beans
- Place in the Instant Pot.
- Add the water and oil.
- Seal the Instant Pot lid and set the steam valve to “Sealing.”
- Set to high pressure for 35 minutes.
- When the cycle ends, allow for the full natural release.
- Move the switch valve to “Venting.” Allow all the steam to release before opening.
- Carefully open the lid and add salt.
- Mix to combine.
- Serve and enjoy!
Once cooked, serve them as a side, make Frijoles Refritos, or use them in soups, tostadas, and other Mexican dishes.
Pro Tips
⭐️ There will be more cracked beans than pinto beans cooked on the stovetop or in the slow cooker.
⭐️ They are also more mushy, but if you’re using them in a soup, this isn’t a problem.
⭐️ Full natural release is better than quick release. It will help prevent all of the above.
⭐️ The only problem that I found with the NO SOAK method: The beans are not as plump. Soaking allows the beans to absorb the water and get nice and plump. If you decide to not soak the beans, know that they will be smaller.
⭐️ With an Instant Pot, you can only add so much liquid in order for the beans to cook properly. That’s why you can’t make a big pot of beans. Instead, I recommend cooking them in batches.
🙋🏻♀️ Frequently Asked Questions
No. This recipe uses the no-soak method, so you can cook the dried beans right after sorting and rinsing them.
For this recipe, cook the beans on high pressure for 35 minutes, then allow for a full natural release. The total time will be longer because the Instant Pot also needs time to come to pressure and release the steam.
Pinto beans cooked in the Instant Pot can be softer and more likely to crack than beans cooked on the stovetop. A full natural release helps reduce cracking and gives the beans a better texture.
Yes. Soaking the beans can help them become more plump and may give you fewer cracked beans. If you prefer larger, plumper beans, soaking is a good option.
Cooking time can vary depending on the age and quality of the dried beans. If your beans are still firm, lock the lid back in place and cook on high pressure for another 5 minutes. The Instant Pot should come back to pressure more quickly since it is already hot.
I don’t recommend doubling the recipe in the Instant Pot. Beans expand as they cook, and the pot needs enough room for the beans and cooking liquid. If you need a larger batch, it’s better to cook them in separate batches.
🫘 Mexican Recipes Using Beans
Instant Pot Pinto Beans make it easy to keep a batch of homemade beans ready for the week. Serve them with your favorite Mexican meals, turn them into refried beans, or enjoy a warm bowl on their own. Once you see how easy they are to make, you may find yourself making them every week, just like I do.
Instant Pot Pinto Beans (No Soak)
Ingredients
- 1 lb pinto beans
- 8 cups Water
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Sort beans, removing all broken beans.
- Wash and rinse several times, removing all the dirt.
- Place in the Instant Pot.
- Add the water and oil.
- Seal the Instant Pot lid and set the steam valve to “Sealing.”
- Set to high pressure for 35 minutes.
- When the cycle ends, allow for the full natural release.
- Move the switch valve to “Venting.” Allow all the steam to release before opening.
- Carefully open the lid and add salt.
- Mix to combine.
- Enjoy!
Perhaps since I am at higher elevation, my beans needed about 10 more minutes to cook in the Instant Pot. The flavor was great though.
You are right. I never took into account elevation when I first published this recipe. Thank you for letting me know.
Only way to make beans now. Quick, easy, and tasty.
Yes! The best way ever!
Could you use bacon grease for the oil?
Yes. I’m sure the beans will come out yummy too!
Absolutely 💯 delicious!!
My new go to recipe for perfect beans
Thank you!!!@
So glad you enjoyed this!
I halved this recipe and it worked out great within the same time limit and not being soaked. Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed this!