Easy Instant Pot Black Beans (No Soaking)
Easy Instant Pot Black Beans (No Soaking) are homemade black beans cooked in the pressure cooker in minutes with no soaking required. Enjoy them plain or prepare the recipe variations for Mexican-style whole or refried black beans!
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I hope you love Mexican food because it’s going to be all about Mexican recipes from now until Cinco de Mayo! We’re kicking things off with these Easy Instant Pot Black Beans (No Soaking) because no fiesta is complete without beans is it?
Today’s post is a black bean fiesta because I couldn’t just show you how to cook black beans in the Instant Pot (or pressure cooker). I also included two variations for Mexican style whole or refried beans.
You’re welcome! 🙂
I was late to the Instant Pot party but I’m making up for lost time. This appliance has quickly become a staple for me and I love it even more than my pressure cooker because it has so many amazing features.
I own this 6-Quart Instant Pot, but if you have a bigger family with bigger needs, the 8-quart might be a better size for you.
See all of my Instant Pot recipes here.
How To Make Easy Instant Pot Black Beans (No Soaking)
The first recipe that I ever made in my Instant Pot was homemade black beans. I’m a huge fan of making my own beans because they’re so much more cost effective and the texture and creaminess is unmatched compared to canned beans.
This is the simplest way to prepare homemade black beans, because no soaking is required and this recipe only includes a few simple ingredients.
You’ll need:
- 1 lb. dried black beans, sorted through and rinsed
- Aromatics for flavor, which includes onion, carrot, celery and bay leaf
- Water
The aromatics will result in more flavorful beans. You can choose to use all of the aromatics that I’ve included in the base recipe or use the ones that you have on hand.
You may notice that I didn’t include salt in the base recipe. I always add the salt after the beans have finished cooking because salting them at the beginning can result in tougher beans that take longer to cook.
Next, pop all of the ingredients into your Instant Pot and press the Beans/Chili button. 30 minutes of cooking time will automatically display, but I decreased the cooking time to 20 minutes as I like my beans to be on the firmer side (especially if I’m going to cook them longer in my recipes).
If you like your beans softer, cook them for 25-30 minutes.
Secure the lid and you’ll have a pot full of delicious black beans in under 30 minutes!
The beans are delicious right out of the pot and can be tossed into soups, salads, tacos and enchiladas.
Use the black beans in the recipes below:
30-Minute Cheesy Mexican Rice Skillet
Black beans and rice by Cafe Delites
Chorizo, Black Bean and Kabocha Squash Chili
Spicy Black Bean and Bacon Soup
Santa Fe Chicken Salad with Tangy Lime Vinaigrette
Sweet Potato, Black Bean and Corn Enchiladas
I decided to include recipes for Mexican-style whole and refried black beans as well because they make the perfect sides or fillings for your Mexican fiestas!
Both of these variations are incredibly easy and are almost the same except the whole beans include some chopped onion and oregano, and the refried beans are mashed with a potato masher at the end.
The whole beans are great as a side dish with Cilantro Lime Rice for tacos, enchiladas or fajitas, or use in my Fish Taco Bowls.
The refried bean recipe is phenomenal as a filling for burritos, tostadas or tacos or as a side dish topped with grated or cotija cheese.
Choose your favorite toppings and omit the cheese to make them vegan.
These Easy Instant Pot Black Beans (No Soaking) are so creamy and delicious that you may never want to buy canned beans again. And why should you when you’re only 30 minutes away from making your own? 🙂
Easy Instant Pot Black Beans (No Soaking)
Ingredients
Instant Pot black beans:
- 1 lb. dry black beans rinsed and sorted
- 1 onion quartered
- 1 carrot cut into large chunks
- 1 celery stalk cut into large chunks
- 1 bay leaf
- 6 cups of water
Mexican style Whole Black Beans:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 onion finely chopped (yellow or red)
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups black beans
Refried Beans:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups black beans
Equipment
Instructions
Prepare the Instant Pot black beans:
- Place all ingredients into the Instant Pot and seal the lid.
- Select the Beans/Chili option, which will automatically pressure cook the beans for 30 minutes. I decreased the time to 20 minutes for firmer beans, especially since I like to cook them further in other recipes. If you like a softer bean, cook for 25-30 minutes.
- When finished cooking, allow the Instant Pot to cool down naturally for 10 minutes, then open the vent for quick release.
- Discard the vegetables and bay leaf and the beans are ready for use in your recipes!
Prepare the whole black beans:
- Heat the olive oil in a small pan over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic, cumin, oregano and salt and pepper to taste, and cook for 30 seconds more.
- Add the beans and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the liquid has reduced by half, or about 5 minutes.
- Top with pico de gallo if desired and enjoy!
Prepare the refried beans:
- Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Add the garlic, cumin, salt and pepper to taste and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add the black beans and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the liquid has reduced by half, or about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and mash the beans with a potato masher until they reach the desired consistency.
- Top with grated or cotija cheese, cilantro or hot sauce, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- The onion, carrot, celery and bay leaf are aromatics that lend great flavor to the beans.
- The beans may stored in an air tight container and used within one week or frozen.
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
19 Comments on “Easy Instant Pot Black Beans (No Soaking)”
Bring on ALL the Mexican recipes, Marcie!!! Especially if they all look as delicious as these beans!!! I’m kind of a black bean freak, like, I LOVE them! So this recipe is just brilliant if you ask me!! So easy and convenient! A must try for sure! Pinning! Cheers!!
There’s never enough Mexican recipes are there?? Thanks Cheyanne! 🙂
Okay I am officially the last person on the planet to have an Instant Pot, lol! This recipe is making me want to buy one immediately. I just made tacos recently and I was thinking, man these would be good with some seasoned black beans on the side. This solves that problem! They look amazing.
I wish I had gotten mine so much sooner…you’ll love it if you get one! Thanks Sarah!
Oh my goooooosh, these beans are genius!! I would never have thought to cook dried beans in the instant pot, but this is seriously such a good idea, Marcie! Definitely using this one next time I cook beans! 🙂
I live for making beans in the pressure cooker — they’re so much better! Thanks Sarah and I hope you get to try it soon! 🙂
Mexican food is my favorite so I’m excited to see all of your recipes! And I’m loving this black bean recipe. I’ve never made them in the instant pot before, so I’ve got to try this. Sounds so easy and delicious! Just what I need for all of those tacos, enchiladas, and burrito bowls!
Thanks Gayle! 🙂
Isn’t IP the best? these beans look amazing!
I’m amazed at how easy this is! So perfect for Cinco de Mayo! Hooray for all things Mexican coming up 🙂
Thank you so much Katherine! 🙂
I already decided to make this recipe with my chapati after watching very first pic. but we didn’t get IP in india yet so will make this in pressure cooker. Will update you 🙂
have a great day!
It will work wonderfully in the pressure cooker too Priya! I hope you enjoy the recipe. 🙂
Hi, I have a question about making the MEXICAN STYLE WHOLE BLACK BEANS. I assume the 2 cups of black beans in the recipe are the ones I just cooked in my InstantPot?
Secondly, in the instructions it says in step 3 to “bring to a boil” but there is no liquid in the ingredient list. So confused!
Hi Peggy! There is liquid from the beans in the instant pot — that is the liquid I’m referring to. I hope this helps!
Made the beans last night. I needed to cook them an extra 5 minutes and they came out beautifully. My husband is a fan👍🏻 Going to try the refried recipe next.
I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
Hello! Can you freeze them?
Hello! I haven’t done it myself, but everything I’ve read says that they freeze very well.