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Making the best Ultimate Instant Pot Pinto Beans from dried beans is about as close to “instant” as it gets. You don’t even need to soak the beans before cooking them! Once you see how simple it is to make pinto beans in the pressure cooker, you will be a believer. Try this quick and easy no soak pinto beans recipe, and these delicious and tasty beans will become a regular meal in your household.
If you are like me, you have a few bags of dried beans in the pantry. Well, get them out and cook them tonight with this pressure cooker pinto beans recipe. You’ll thank me tomorrow, and be adding these easy no soak beans to your regular menu rotation!
Here’s What You’ll Learn in this Post:
- Pinto Beans Nutrition
- Cooking Pinto Beans Without Soaking
- My Instant Pot Quick Soak Method
- Ingredients For the Ultimate Pinto Beans Recipe
- How to Cook Pinto Beans in the Instant Pot
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Get the Best Pressure Cooker Pinto Beans Recipe Here
- Variations for this No Soak Pinto Beans Recipe
- Get more simple, easy Instant Pot recipes:
Pinto Beans Nutrition
Not only are pinto beans delicious, but they are also an incredibly healthful dish, too. Pinto Beans are high in plant-based proteins and are full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Yet, they’re low in fat and calories.
Did you know? One serving of dry pinto beans contains:
- Calories: 245kcal
- Carbs: 45 grams
- Fiber: 15 grams
- Protein: 15 grams
- Fat: 1 gram
For those seeking healthier, more plant-based meal options, beans are an ideal solution.
Try swapping out a higher fat, animal-based dinner once a week. And swap it for one that is primarily plant-based, like beans.
Cooking Pinto Beans Without Soaking
With this easy pressure cooker pinto beans recipe, there’s no need to soak your dry beans. The beauty of pressure cooking is that pinto beans can be cooked without soaking. It takes a little longer but is almost effortless.
Just do a quick sauté with the bacon, onions, jalapeño, garlic, and spices. Then dump the beans and liquids and press start. That’s it!
But, I usually do a quick soak method right in the Instant Pot. It’s easy to do (nothing extra to clean!) and takes an hour.
While the beans are soaking, I get the rest of the ingredients together.
My Instant Pot Quick Soak Method
Here is how to do an Instant Pot quick soak method for dry beans in just 3 easy steps:
- Add dry beans and 6 cups of water to the Instant Pot.
- Press the “sauté” button until the screen shows “more.” There are three settings to the sauté mode: less, normal, and more.
- Bring the beans and water to a boil (it takes less than 5 minutes in my pot). Then press “cancel” and rest the lid or a plate on the top of the pot for an hour.
New to Instant Pot Cooking?
If you are new to Instant Pot cooking, read my Instant Pot Basics here. It covers how to safely use the Instant Pot and things you should know about pressure cooking. Then read this post on tips and hacks for the Instant Pot.
Ingredients For the Ultimate Pinto Beans Recipe
- Dried pinto beans
- Bacon
- Onion
- Jalapeno pepper
- Garlic
- Seasonings – oregano, chili powder, salt, and ground cumin
- Chicken broth
- Water
- Lime juice
- Cilantro
How to Cook Pinto Beans in the Instant Pot
This Ultimate Instant Pot Pinto Beans recipe is so easy to prepare! It takes just a few easy steps:
- First, sauté the bacon until the fat is rendered, for about 3 minutes. Add the onions, peppers, garlic, and spices. Cook for a few minutes, until the onions are translucent.
- Then pour in the broth to deglaze the pot, then add the water.
- Secure the lid, seal the pot, and set the pressure cycle.
- After the pressure cycle has completed, allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes. Finish with a quick release by carefully turning the lever to release the pressure.
- Lastly, stir in the lime juice and chopped cilantro just before serving.
Add your favorite toppings to the pinto beans to turn an ordinary looking bowl of beans into something extraordinary!
Some ideas for toppings are crumbled Cotija or shredded cheddar cheese, crushed tortilla chips, sliced jalapeno peppers, diced tomatoes and onions, salsa, and sour cream. How do you like to enjoy your Instant Pot Pinto Beans? Share your ideas in the comments!
See Below for the Full Recipe Below!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Soak the beans overnight or use the quick soak method. Follow steps 2-3 in the recipe directions below, using a large stockpot instead of the Instant Pot. Simmer the pinto beans on the stovetop for 4-5 hours.
No, you can pressure cook the dry beans.
You can easily make this a vegan-friendly recipe by subbing bacon with oil to cook the onions and garlic, and using vegetable stock instead of chicken broth.
Yes, you can substitute ham hock or salt pork for the bacon in this recipe.
I do a quick soak in the Instant Pot, which is described in the recipe, because the beans are more likely to stay whole. I have had the beans split when I pressure cooked them without soaking. It is just cosmetic and does not affect the taste.
Get the Best Pressure Cooker Pinto Beans Recipe Here
Ultimate Instant Pot Pinto Beans
Equipment
- Instant Pot (or any electric pressure cooker)
Ingredients
- 1 lb dried beans
- 4 slices bacon chopped
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 1 jalapeno pepper membranes and seeds removed, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 3 cups chicken broth hot
- 3 cups water hot
- 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice (juice of 1/2 lime)
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
Instructions
- Set pressure cooker to sauté, add the bacon. Sauté bacon until the fat has rendered, about 3 minutes.
- Add onions, jalapeño, garlic, and spices and sauce with bacon until the onions are translucent. Preheat the broth and water (I use a microwave) to speed up the cooking time. Add beans to the pot. Press cancel, add lid, seal pressure lever, and set machine on high pressure for 25 minutes for presoaked beans and 45 minutes for dried, non-soaked beans.
- Allow pressure cooker to naturally release for 10 minutes, then initiate a quick release. To thicken the beans, cook on sauté with lid off until desired thickness, stirring occasionally.Â
- Add lime juice and cilantro before serving. Top with favorite garnishes and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Variations for this No Soak Pinto Beans Recipe
- Pinto Beans with Ham Hocks. Add a smoked ham hock to the Instant Pot, and pressure cook it with the beans.
- Pinto Beans with Salt Pork. Instead of bacon, use diced salt pork in its place.
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Your instructions don’t actually say to add the beans. Anyone who cooks can figure it out but I think you should add it anyway.
Shari, thank you for bringing that to my attention. I have updated the recipe to fix that omission.