Never look at a pot of humble Instant Pot pinto beans the same again!! With loads of flavor and melt in your mouth tender beans, this recipe is a MUST for pinto bean lovers! The best pot of beans EVER!
I never thought I could love beans so much. But these homestyle pressure cooker pinto beans changed everything for me!
I mean, it is a pot of beans, how special could it be? You could be wondering this…just maybe.
But every. Single. Time I make these beans (Teacher-Appreciation week, parties, for the family & neighbors) people go nuts over these. They comment how flipping delicious they are. I am telling you…done right…you will never look at a humble pot of pinto beans quite the same again!
And there will be no bank-breaking with this recipe….organic dried beans are very affordable.
I used my old pressure cooker for this recipe originally, and now I use my Instant Pot, which takes minutes to perfectly cook my soaked beans as opposed to hours. I simply ADORE my Instant Pot and think everyone should own one!
Credit for this recipe and technique go to my good friend and neighbor, Glenda. I had her teach me how to make a traditional pot of Puerto Rican beans. And I have never looked back…and consequently I think a can of refried beans would be sacrilege now! Gracias mi amiguita!
No Instant Pot? No problem!! How to make stove top pinto beans:
You can also do these pressure cooker pinto beans stove top too!!
I have done it many times…it just takes all day on a slow simmer to get those melt-in-your mouth creamy beans.
Can I make these ranchera style pinto beans ahead of time?
I like to make a big batch of these pinto beans and freeze the leftovers in individual mason jars.
Just be sure to leave some room to allow for expansion!
Should I soak my beans before cooking them?
By soaking the beans in an acid medium, you are helping break down some of the sugars that make beans more difficult to digest. So soaking = better digestion, check!
So if you normally get some toots eating beans, this might be your savior!
On top of that, you are unlocking the nutrients and making them more available to your body. Just DO it!
Yes, you can bypass this step and cook your beans longer…or follow Whole New Mom’s technique for the quick-soak method!
Serving suggestions for Instant Pot pinto beans?
- A quick breakfast or dinner. your would mash up the bean first in this family friendly meal: Quick Mexican Eggs
- One of my husband’s favorites ever, this Skillet Tamale Pie has masa rather than a cornbread topping!
- The whole family gets excited when I make these Gluten Free Oven Baked Chimichangas !
- Popular for a reason, this Baja style Paleo Fish Tacos are the real deal!
- Authentic flavors abound in my Instant Pot Tortilla Soup!
- If you’re going for vegetarian fare, try these sofritas!
Instant Pot Pinto Beans Recipe:
If you make these amazing beans, please let me know in the comments below!!
Best Darn Pot of Beans EVER - Homestyle Pinto Beans w/ a Pressure Cooker Option
Ingredients
- 2 cup dried pinto beans soaked for at least 12 hours in lots of cool water and a couple of tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar. While the soaking is optional, this helps break down some the phytates that give lots of people gas. Be sure to rinse them well after soaking to get rid of all it! Better digestion = better nutrition too!
- 1 ham hock optional, BUT SO WORTH IT!!
- 4-6 ounces smoked deli ham or cubed ham roast, finely diced, (not a sweet variety)
- 1 medium sweet bell pepper finely diced
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 2-4 tablespoons tomato paste or one 8 ounce can tomato sauce (optional)
- 1-3 teaspoons sea salt to taste (ADD AT THEY VERY END!)
Optional spices:
- 1-2 teaspoons cumin and/or chili powder can be used.
Instructions
- Place your beans in a large bowl, cover with at least 2" of water, 2 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, or kefir.
- Soak beans overnight or about 12 hours.
- Drain and thoroughly rinse the beans.
- Place beans in an Instant Pot insert or other pressure cooker along with the ham hock (if using). Cover with at least 2" of water (more is OK).
- In an Instant Pot, use the 'Manual' button and select 20 minutes. May be called 'pressure cook" on newer models (any high pressure program for 20ish minutes is fine). *Stovetop directions below in 'notes'*
- When the time is up, hit 'cancel'. Wait for the pressure to come down naturally, or do a quick release as preferred. The beans will continue to cook in the next step.
- Without draining the bean broth (add more broth or liquid if it doesn't seem soupy, we will be boiling off more liquid now as they cook some more), mix in the pepper, onion, minced ham.
- Hit 'sauté" and keep hitting until the the 'low' setting is selected. Simmer, uncovered for 1-3 (or more!) hours, or until most of the water is evaporated and the beans are melt-in-your-mouth tender. I use the 'low' sauté feature so it is not a vigorous bubble which will splatter annoyingly!
- Keep careful watch on your water level, and add more liquid if you need to. I like to leave my beans a little bit saucy, but this up to you! You could also choose to mash them up a bit for a refried-style.
- Finally, stir in the tomato paste or sauce, sea salt, and the cumin/chili powder as you like.
Notes
Nutrition
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Instant pot is the way to go on this awesome bean recipe. Used black beans (it was all I had) and just chopped ham lunch meat.(didn’t have ham hock either) no more added salt except the meat. Just enough salt for my low salt diet.
Awesome Kim! Glad
You enjoyed them!
Good recipe – some changes I did – I used ham hocks and added smoked bacon ends – added great flavor and some salt – we have a local butcher shop that only does pork and was able to get both there. They cut the ham hock into four pieces, purchased the smoked bacon ends there as well. We like a bit of heat, so I added 4 Serrano chiles too. I sautéed diced onion, chiles, Smoked bacon ends and spices first, then added ham hocks, beans and liquid and used the bean/soup button on my Insta Pot Ultra with a natural release. They turned out great!
Great Shelley, love the additions!! Yum!
My hubby is a huge pinto bean fan . . . I’m going to try your instant pot version out on him! thnaks!
These beans were so very tasty! I a couple cloves of minced garlic because I love garlic and it was just fantastic! I did a 3 minute quick soak method with some apple cider vinegar and no gas for us!
Thank you for sharing
Awesome Janet, thanks so much for coming back to let me know, comments make me happy!!!
Making this week! Love this recipe. Thanks so much for sharing.
YUMMY !
These definitely look like the best ever beans, and I love the pressure cooker option to speed things up!
The vinegar!!??? Genius! How have I not thought of that before. Thanks and this recipe sounds delicious.
I love all the flavors in this recipe and it’s so fall perfect. yum !
This sounds delicious and I am about to make them. I purchased all the ingredients in the ingredient list. Your instructions do not mention all of the ingredients, only the beans and ham hock. Is everything put in at once, nothings is sautéed first?
Hi MJ! They’re added in on step 8! I think I could write that better, will fix it up soon, thanks!
Hmm, sounds like this should become my new go-to potluck dish. It would be great for meal prep too and I can add the beans to so many dishes during the week!
This looks so easy and delicious! I’ll have to try soaking beans with apple cider vinegar the next time I make them.
Tessa, such a great recipe!! I really appreciate finally having a go-to recipe for pinto beans, because I have actually always loved them. One of my favorite comfort foods! I’m super happy to see your soaking directions, the ham hock and the sea salt at the end — you wise woman! Truly perfect; pinning lots! 😉
I love that this freezes well! That ham hock makes it taste so amazing I bet!
I have to agree, pressure cooking pinto beans is a total game changer. I made a recipe similar to this, and for the fist time, I made beans according to my bean-loving husband “as good as my mom’s or maybe better” haha
That looks like some serious bean goodness! Yum!
I am a big bean lover so this is for me! I definitely see how the ham makes a big difference. It’s a game changer!
So much yes to soaking the beans!!! It makes such a huge difference. Pinto are my favorite, these beans look perfect.
Hello Ms Tessa!
Ive been looking for a recipe that will cook the beans so tender like my Grandmothers. Her beans were so tender and tasty….but that was a long time ago. I am anxious to try your recipe and have one quick question…. What meat other then pork would you suggest to help flavor this dish?
Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Maybe a touch of liquid smoke instead? Or a smoked turkey leg? Worth a shot David!!
A Smoked Turkey Wing or Leg etc. Just one will do it!
yes, those turkey legs are monsters!!
Ok…so we’ve been using your recipe now for a few month…..several pots and we love em! My Grandmother would be envious. And we have found a replacement for the ham, we are using smoked turkey legs and oh my….it’s delicious.
David and Karen
Excellent idea David, so glad you are loving them!!!
Hello again Ms Tessa!
Here we are on Christmas Day cooking another pot of your beans😊. Of course we’ve added a few things, like garlic cloves, little brown sugar, and some Worcestershire.
Thanks again for the inspiration!!
Merry Christmas David!
If I double the recipe would I adjust the time at at? Thank you! Sounds delicious!
nope, you just need a pot to accommodate it all!! Thanks Kiki!
I made this recipe with bacon instead of the ham and ham hock, only because it was what I had on hand at the time. So incredibly delicious!!! I can’t wait to make them again with the proper ingredients. This is now my go-to bean recipe. Thank you!!!
I bet bacon was good too Rebecca, glad you love them too!! Who knew beans could be so darn tasty??!!
Hi! I would really love to know where I could find these super adorable soup bowls! Can’t wait to try these beans!
Home Goods Misha!
Yum! Thanks for sharing! I’m always looking for new ways to make beans.
I have a pressure cooker and I adore beans. This recipe has my name all over it! Plus we love mexican. Thank you!!!
My husband is from Texas and these remind me of some of the delicious food we eat when we go back. I’d love to try these. Thanks for linking up with #freefromfridays
I don’t eat beans very often, but would like to try these. What would you serve these with?
Hi Karen! Either over a bowl of rice with some sauteed veggies or as part of regular Mexican taco nights!
We like to pour the beans over corn bread or add rice of your choice in the beans or on the side, as well as corn bread. As a southern/coon ass cook, we just love them and always have the hot sauce nearby.
Hot sauce is a must in this house too Karen, thanks for your feedback!! Glad you are enjoying them!
Hi. Do you simmer the beans inside the pressure cooker for 1-3 hours after you’ve already cooked them for the 14 to 16 minutes?
yes Sarah, with the lid off to simmer off some the water and make sure the beans are super soft and tender and full of flavor!
Do you use the sautée function for this? It seems like it would be too hot? I’m hoping to be able to leave them alone for at least 1.5 hours.
I do Erin…but I have to watch them must more closely since it IS so hot as you said! If you’re worried about it, simmer on the stove and then they can simmer much lower.
I’m new to the instant pot. What do I leave the instant pot on to simmer? So I remove the instant pot lid and then press what to simmer? Thank you!
I use the saute button!! Just watch them…the liquid simmers off quicker on this feature as opposed to the stove! (Sorry it took so long to respond…my backend was not letting me log in but I just got it fixed!!!) Welcome to the Instant Pot world Nicole, let me know if you need more tips or help!!!
Don’t have a pressure cooker. Will this work in a crock pot?
sure Patt, however the lid will need to be vented at the end to simmer the extra water off and make a thicker bean!!
Hi Patt, no problem. You will need to vent the lid at the end long enough to achieve the thickness you are looking for. It will definitely be an all day endeavor in a crockpot!
Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! 🙂
Hope your week is great! Can’t wait to see what you link up this week!
Cindy from vegetarianmamma.com
I bought a super big pressure cooker, and I am loving it so much…its much easier now for me…and family loves the food
Hi Tessa,
I just love using my pressure cooker, it really speeds up the cooking time and the beans taste so good. Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday!
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
How incredible are these beans! I’m excited you shared such a great recipe. Looking forward to trying them out!
Your pot of pinto beans sounds delicious. Thank you so much for sharing it at Tasty Tuesday. I am featuring it this week.
Have a great day.
Your Pinto Beans look really comforting and delicious, Tessa – perfect cold weather food! I’m hearing some amazing things about pressure cookers these days – it sounds like they have had a real renaissance. Thank you for sharing your experience and another delicious recipe with us at the Hearth and Soul hop.
Thank you for linking up at Tasty Tuesdays! Your post has been pinned to my Recipes from Tasty Tuesday board. I can’t wait to see what you link up next week!
Have a terrific weekend!
Cathy
APeekIntoMyParadise.com
#TastyTuesdays
Okay, you have me. I am pinning this recipe for later. I do like beans and these look yummy.
Thanks for sharing at Wildcrafting Wednesday.
This looks so good! I can’t wait to have all the ingredients to make it! Is it okay if I don’t have deli ham or ham roast? Is that a large part of the flavor? Thanks so much!
Hi Jeanine! I think the ham is really delicious in this and makes the exceptional, but the recipe will still be delicious without. Let me know if the flavor is still excellent when you try it!
Hi! I am loving my pressure cooker and this pot of beans is ready to simmer but I don’t know which function to press for the “simmer for 1-3 hours” part. Thanks!
Hi Beth…if you have an Instant Pot with a slow cook option, use that. You could also use the saute feature, but that is so hot, you might get scalding on the bottom and a boil over a simmer, so watch carefully. I usually just finish it on my stove as I can control the temperature better.
These look amazing, Tessa!!!! Love when I can make things fresh from scratch. These would be such a great addition to a potluck or Mexican fiesta party too. I have to say, I love pinto beans (they don’t love me, but what’s new). They are so buttery and rich.
Great recipe friend!! Sharing these!
Hugs,
–Amber
Thanks for sharing on Tuesday Greens. I don’t have a pressure cooker, but love your mix of ingredients, so may try making this same recipe the old fashioned way!