The Best Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe You’ll Ever Taste

Whipping up authentic instant pot refried beans brings delightful Mexican flavors right to your kitchen.

Creamy, smooth textures emerge from simple ingredients with minimal effort.

Legumes transform magically under pressure, creating a rich, velvety side dish.

Home cooks appreciate how quickly these beans come together compared to traditional methods.

Seasoning plays a crucial role in developing deep, complex flavors that complement numerous dishes.

Minimal prep work means you can enjoy restaurant-quality refried beans without spending hours in the kitchen.

Dive into this straightforward recipe and experience the comfort of homemade Mexican-style goodness.

Instant Pot Refried Beans Benefits And Ingredients

• Quick and Hassle-Free Cooking: Instant Pot transforms traditional bean-making into a speedy process, cutting down hours of stovetop simmering to just a single cooking cycle.
• Customizable Texture and Flavor: Use an immersion blender to control exactly how smooth or chunky you want your refried beans, with the freedom to adjust seasoning to match your taste preferences.
• Budget-Friendly Homemade Dish: Preparing refried beans from scratch is significantly cheaper than store-bought versions, allowing you to create a restaurant-quality side dish at a fraction of the cost.
• Versatile Mexican-Inspired Comfort Food: Perfect as a side dish for tacos, burritos, or as a standalone dip, these refried beans bring authentic flavor to your home-cooked meals and can easily elevate any Mexican-inspired spread.

Ingredients For Instant Pot Refried Beans

• Pinto Beans: A classic legume that provides the base and primary texture for traditional Mexican refried beans.
• Water or Chicken Stock: The essential liquid that helps cook and soften the beans during the pressure cooking process.

• Onion, Jalapeño: Fresh vegetables that add depth, warmth, and a subtle spicy kick to the bean flavor profile.
• Bay Leaf: A fragrant herb that introduces a mild earthy and herbal undertone to the beans.

• Salt, Pepper: Basic seasonings that enhance and balance the overall taste of the refried beans.
• Lard: A traditional fat that adds richness, authentic flavor, and helps create a smooth, creamy texture when blending the beans.

• Spices: A blend of ground seasonings that contribute additional complexity and warmth to the refried beans.

Step-By-Step Refried Beans Instant Pot Recipe

Step 1: Prepare Beans

Carefully sort through the beans in a colander, removing any discolored or damaged beans.

Gently rinse the beans under cool running water to clean them thoroughly.

Step 2: Load Instant Pot

• Rinsed beans
• Chopped onion
• Diced jalapeño
• Aromatic spices
• Bay leaf
• Water or chicken stock
• Salt

Stir the ingredients to ensure even distribution and mixing.

Step 3: Pressure Cook

Secure the Instant Pot lid, ensuring it’s properly locked.

Set the cooker to high pressure and cook for 45 minutes.

Allow the pressure to release naturally without manually releasing the valve.

Step 4: Check Bean Consistency

Open the lid after pressure release.

Thoroughly stir the beans.

If they aren’t completely soft, add water and cook for an additional 10 minutes.

Remove any excess cooking liquid with a spoon.

Step 5: Blend and Season

Add lard to the cooked beans.

Use an immersion blender to create a smooth, creamy texture.

Gradually incorporate cooking liquid to reach desired consistency.

Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper for perfect flavor.

Tips For Instant Pot Refried Beans Success

• Remove any damaged, discolored, or shriveled beans before cooking to ensure the highest quality and best flavor.
• Use chicken stock instead of water to add depth and richness to your refried beans, creating a more complex taste profile.
• Control the consistency by gradually adding reserved cooking liquid while blending, allowing you to achieve your ideal creamy or chunky texture.
• Replace lard with olive oil or vegetable shortening for a plant-based version that's just as delicious and satisfying.
• Experiment with additional spices like cumin, smoked paprika, or chipotle powder to personalize the flavor and make the beans more exciting.

Flavor Options For Instant Pot Refried Beans

• Vegan Friendly Beans: Replace lard with olive oil or coconut oil for a plant-based version. Use vegetable broth instead of chicken stock to maintain a rich flavor profile.
• Low-Fat Option: Skip the lard completely and use a small amount of vegetable broth or water for blending. Incorporate mashed avocado for creamy texture without excess fat.
• Spicy Kick Beans: Add extra jalapeños or include diced green chiles for increased heat. Incorporate chipotle powder or smoked paprika to enhance the spice level and smoky undertones.
• Herb-Infused Beans: Mix in fresh cilantro, chopped green onions, or dried oregano during the final blending stage. Experiment with fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary for unique flavor dimensions.

Suggested Pairings For Instant Pot Refried Beans

• Fiesta Flavor Companions: Serve these creamy refried beans alongside warm corn tortillas for an authentic Mexican dining experience.
• Hearty Meal Enhancer: Pair with grilled chicken, slow-cooked carnitas, or carne asada for a protein-packed dinner that satisfies serious hunger.
• Versatile Topping Delight: Spread on tostadas, use as a base for nachos, or dollop onto tacos to elevate your favorite Mexican-inspired dishes with rich, smooth bean goodness.
• Crowd-Pleasing Side Kick: Create a build-your-own burrito station where guests can scoop these homemade beans alongside rice, salsa, and fresh toppings for a interactive meal celebration.

Proper Storage For Instant Pot Refried Beans

• Store cooled refried beans in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Seal tightly to prevent moisture and odors from affecting the flavor.
• Transfer beans to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, leaving some space for expansion. Freeze for up to 3 months. Label with the date and contents for easy tracking.
• Place beans in a microwave-safe dish, add a splash of water or broth to prevent drying. Cover and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until heated through and creamy.

FAQs

• Can I use dried beans instead of canned beans?

Yes, this recipe is specifically designed for dried pinto beans. Rinse and sort the dried beans before cooking, and follow the Instant Pot instructions exactly as outlined.

• Do I need an immersion blender to make refried beans?

No, you can use a potato masher or regular blender to mash the beans. If using a regular blender, mash in small batches to achieve the desired consistency.

• Is lard necessary for the recipe?

While lard adds traditional flavor, you can substitute with vegetable oil, olive oil, or bacon fat. For a vegetarian option, use vegetable oil or butter.

• How spicy will these refried beans be?

The jalapeño adds mild heat. For less spice, remove the seeds before adding. For more heat, include the seeds or add extra jalapeño.

Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe

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4.7 from 18 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Creamy, authentic Instant Pot Refried Beans deliver Mexican comfort straight to your kitchen. Hearty pinto beans slow-cooked with aromatics create a rich, velvety side dish you’ll crave with every meal.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 1 pound (454 grams) dried pinto beans
• 6 cups (1.4 liters) chicken stock or water
• 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) lard or bacon fat

Aromatics and Spices:

• 1/2 white onion (diced)
• 1 jalapeño (sliced)
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder

Seasoning:

• 2 teaspoons kosher salt (plus more to taste)

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Instructions

1. Thoroughly rinse dried beans in a colander, carefully removing any discolored or damaged beans.
2. Transfer rinsed beans into instant pot, combining with chopped onion, diced jalapeño, aromatic spices, bay leaf, and liquid (water or chicken stock). Mix ingredients thoroughly to ensure even distribution.
3. Secure instant pot lid and program for high-pressure cooking at 45 minutes. Allow complete natural pressure release after cooking cycle.
4. Open lid and vigorously stir beans. If beans remain undercooked, incorporate an additional cup of liquid and continue cooking for 10 more minutes.
5. Drain excess cooking liquid, reserving separately for potential moisture adjustment. Introduce rendered lard into cooked beans.
6. Utilize immersion blender to transform beans into creamy consistency, gradually incorporating reserved cooking liquid until reaching desired texture and smoothness.
7. Taste and fine-tune seasoning with salt and pepper, adjusting to personal preference.

Notes

• Always choose fresh, high-quality dried pinto beans for the best flavor and texture in your refried beans.
• Customize the heat level by adjusting the amount of jalapeño or using milder peppers like poblano for a gentler spice profile.
• For a vegetarian version, swap out lard with olive oil or vegetable shortening to maintain a creamy consistency.
• If you don’t have an immersion blender, a potato masher works great for creating a rustic, chunky texture that adds more character to the dish.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 55 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Pressure Cooking
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 210
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 550 mg
• Fat: 9 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 27 g
• Fiber: 8 g
• Protein: 12 g
• Cholesterol: 10 mg