Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe (2024)

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You’ll be shocked at how simple and delicious it is to make this homemade Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe!

Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe (1)Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe (2)I’m always surprised when I realize how much easier the Instant Pot (pressure cooker) makes cooking up certain recipes. Dried beans typically take ALL DAY to cook up, but not with the Instant Pot! You can have these delicious beans ready in about 1 1/2 hours from start to finish with very minimal hands on time.

Ingredients:

  • Corn Oil – can also use avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil
  • Onion – I prefer yellow onion here
  • Jalapeño – use more or less to increase spice level
  • Dried Pinto Beans – this recipe would also work with dried black beans or a combination of the two
  • Chicken Broth – you could also use vegetable broth or water with chicken bouillon.
  • Chili Powder
  • Garlic Powder
  • Salt
  • Lard – this is what makes the beans have that authentic flavor. You could omit this step, but I highly recommend trying it with the lard.

Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe (3)

How To Make Instant Pot Refried Beans:

  • Start by rinsing dried pinto beans under water to get rid of any dirt. Pick out any broken or misshaped beans and discard those.
  • Sauté onion and jalapeños in the pot of your pressure cooker, then add in the dried beans, chicken broth, chili powder, salt and garlic powder.
  • Set the pressure to HIGH and let cook for just 45 minutes!
  • Once they’re done cooking, remove the beans and juices from the pot and turn the pot back to Sauté mode. Add in a few tablespoons of lard and then pour the beans back in and let them fry for a few minutes, before mashing with a potato masher to your desired consistency.

Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe (4)

How Long To Cook

These beans cook up in a fraction of the time it takes to make in the slow cooker or stove top, without any soaking of beans involved.

Sautéing the onions will take about 3 minutes, then you can expect about 8 minutes for the pot to build pressure, 45 minutes under pressure, plus a 20 minute natural release time. Frying the beans will add an additional 5 minutes. Total cook time should be about 1 hour 20 minutes.

How To Double Beans In The Instant Pot

Want to make more? Great! It’s super simple to do, just make sure you follow these tips below…

  • For beans you’ll want to double ALL THE INGREDIENTS in the instant pot. This includes the liquid.
  • The cook time will remain the same as if you’re cooking the original (non doubled) recipe. You DO NOT need to double the cook time!
    • The instant pot cooks based on the size of the food being cooked, not necessarily the volume.
  • Remember to not fill the instant pot more than 1/2 way full for items like beans and rice (which expand when cooked).
  • This recipe was tested in an 8 quart Instant Pot. Smaller pots may take longer to cook because they will come to pressure faster. Adjust cook times accordingly.

Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe (5)

What To Serve With Refried Beans?

We eat these refried beans along with all of our favorite Mexican dishes. Here are a few of our most popular!

  • Ground Beef Enchiladas
  • Chicken Tamale Casserole
  • Easy Mexican Rice
  • Instant Pot Pork Carnitas
  • Quick Steak Fajitas

Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe (6)

Can I Use a Slow Cooker?

Yes! I actually have a fantastic Slow Cooker Refried Beans Recipe that was the basis of how I came up with this Instant Pot version. It’s a little more hands on, and takes more time, but yields amazing results.

How To Store Refried Beans

Refried beans are great because they’re easily freezable. Simply place the beans in a zip close bag and lay the beans flat till they are cooled to room temperature. Place the bag in the freezer flat, so it freezes nice and thin then once frozen you can easily stack them.

Beans can be frozen for up to 5 months or refrigerated up to 7 days.

Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe (7)

Of course my favorite way to eat these beans is topped with shredded cheddar cheese. YUM!

I know you’re going to love this recipe and how easy it is to make authentic Mexican Refried Beans at home!

Helpful Products To Make This Recipe:

Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe (11)

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Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe

These authentic Mexican Refried Beans are made quickly and effortlessly in the Instant Pot.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time45 minutes mins

Total Time50 minutes mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: 8 cups

Calories: 91 kcal

Author: Shawn

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp corn oil, or vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup yellow onion, diced
  • 1/2 large jalapeño, sliced (optional)
  • 2 cups pinto beans, dried , rinsed and picked through
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1/2 tbsp salt
  • 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 3 tbsp lard, found in the baking aisle

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Turn the instant pot to Sauté mode and add in the 1 tbsp corn oil. Once hot add in the onion and jalapeño and sauté for about 3 minutes, until onion is tender.

  • Add in the rinsed pinto beans, chicken broth, salt, garlic powder and chili powder. Place on the lid and make sure the valve is set to the sealed position.

  • Cook on HIGH pressure for 45 minutes with a Natural Pressure Release for 20 minutes, then release any remaining pressure. Remove beans and liquid from the pot and place in a separate bowl (careful, beans will be hot).

  • Return the instant pot liner to the instant pot and set to Sauté mode. Add in the lard and let melt until slightly bubbly and hot. Add the beans back to the pot and let them fry in the lard for a few minutes. While still frying, use a potato masher to mash the beans to your desired consistency. Turn off the Instant Pot and enjoy.

Notes

How To Double:

  • You can double this recipe by doubling the ingredients list (use the scale button up top for ease [2x])
  • Keep the cook time and NPR (natural pressure release) time the same.
  • Make sure to not fill your Instant Pot more than 1/2 way full before cooking.

Recipe was tested in an 8 quart Instant Pot. Smaller pots may require a longer cook time as smaller pots will come to pressure faster.

Nutrition

Calories: 91kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 874mg | Potassium: 331mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 416IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg

Keywords: Authentic, Easy, Instant Pot, Refried Beans

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Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe (12)

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Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ratios for beans in Instant Pot? ›

What is the Ratio of Beans to Water in the Instant Pot? When cooking beans in the Instant Pot, you'll use 2 1/2 cups of water for every 1 cup of dry beans. I've tried using less than that, but since beans expand as they cook, the ones that aren't fully submerged in liquid will cook unevenly.

What makes restaurant refried beans better? ›

If you're wondering what is the secret ingredient for restaurant-quality refried beans, the answer is fat. Restaurant-made refried beans honor traditional Mexican culinary practices by adding a hearty helping of lard or bacon fat drippings to their recipe.

Can you overcook beans in an Instant Pot? ›

Yes, technically speaking, you can cook beans in the Instant Pot without soaking. However, you will find that the cooking times can be all over the place, and the final product is often inconsistent. Some beans will be overcooked and completely decimated, while others are still gritty or firm in the center.

How do you make refried beans thicker? ›

Cream Cheese Is The Simple Addition For Thicker Refried Beans.

How long should I cook beans in a pressure cooker? ›

Here are approximate pressure cooking times for unsoaked beans:
  1. Black beans: 20-30 minutes.
  2. Kidney beans: 20-30 minutes.
  3. Navy beans: 25-35 minutes.
  4. Pinto beans: 15-20 minutes.

What is the ratio for beans? ›

Place rinsed beans in a large cooking pan. Cover with 3 cups of water per 1 cup of beans. Use 10 cups for a 1 pound bag.

Why do Mexican restaurant refried beans taste so good? ›

Why Do Restaurant Refried Beans Taste So Good? Most authentic Mexican restaurants use lard in their refried bean recipes which adds another layer of flavor and helps achieve the ideal creamy texture.

Do most Mexican restaurants use lard in refried beans? ›

Most Mexican restaurants buy their refried beans already canned, so it's likely they contain lard. It's very easy to buy canned refried beans without lard, but you have to do it on purpose. If you are concerned about lard or no lard, you will have to ask the server at the restaurant.

What can I add to refried beans for more flavor? ›

I like to sprinkle in some taco seasoning, but you could add whatever spices you like — garlic powder, cumin, and chili powder are all good calls. Then, you mash the beans up directly in the pan and add just a little bit of vinegar at the end to really make the beans sing.

Why are my beans still hard after hours of cooking? ›

Dried beans typically have a moisture content of around 16%. However, as they age, moisture evaporates, giving pectin time to age and harden the skin. These beans can often take much longer to soften while soaking and cooking, up to twice the time!

How do restaurants make refried beans taste so good? ›

If you're wondering what is the secret ingredient for restaurant-quality refried beans, the answer is fat. Restaurant-made refried beans honor traditional Mexican culinary practices by adding a hearty helping of lard or bacon fat drippings to their recipe.

Should I drain canned beans for refried beans? ›

No matter if you're cooking pinto beans from scratch or popping open a can, make sure you reserve the liquid. Drain the beans in a strainer set over a bowl to make it easy to separate, and let gravity do its work.

What can I add to refried beans to make them smoother? ›

Include a dollop or two of sour cream

The sour cream makes refried beans smooth and balanced, offering richness to the earthiness of the beans. For every 16 ounces of canned beans, you'll want to add around ⅓ to ½-cup of sour cream.

What is the best bean to cup ratio? ›

Whilst each bean to cup machine works differently, the principles are still the same. You want to use a '1:2 ratio' for your espresso. Meaning that, for a double shot, if you're using 20g of ground espresso into your machine, you want 40g (40ml) of liquid espresso extracted into your cup.

How many cups of coffee bean to water ratio? ›

According to the Specialty Coffee Association of America, the “golden ratio” is 1:18 – 18 ml of water per gram of coffee. Of course, this ratio depends on your brew method, coffee choice, and personal taste preference. For example, if you want a more intense flavor, you would use less water.

How much water do you add to soaked beans in a pressure cooker? ›

Return the soaked beans to the electric pressure cooker. Add 8 cups of water, 1 teaspoon of salt, onion, garlic, bay leaf and oil to the pot. Cook the beans: Secure the pressure cooker's lid and set the pressure to high for 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the beans you are using.

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