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!
Pinto Beans Nutritional Information
Not only are pinto beans delicious, they are an incredibly healthful dish, too. Pinto Beans are high in plant-based proteins, and are full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Yet, they are 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
- Sodium: 407 mg
- Thiamine: 28% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Iron: 20% of the DV
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, you do not need to soak your beans at all. The beauty of the Instant Pot is that cooking pinto beans without soaking works just fine. 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 just takes an hour.
While the beans are soaking, I get the rest of the ingredients together.
My Instant Pot Quick Soak Method
Add dry beans and 6 cups of water to the Instant Pot. Press the “sauté” button until the screen shows “more.” There are three setting 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 this first. It covers the basics of how to safely use the Instant Pot. For tips and hacks on how to use your Instant Pot, I have this article.
What Ingredients are in 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
Get ready for the best pinto beans, made right in the Instant Pot. They are a flavorful and easy one-pot meal, perfect for a weeknight or the weekend.
The dried pinto beans do not need to be presoaked. Soaking them before pressure cooking lessens the chance of the beans separating, though that is purely cosmetic. See *recipe notes* for instructions on how to quick soak the beans right in the Instant Pot.
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
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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.
-
Add lime juice and cilantro before serving. Top with favorite garnishes and serve.
Recipe Notes
My Instant Pot Quick Soak Method: Add 6 cups of water to the Instant Pot. Set the Instant Pot on “Sauté” then select “More” (usually that means pressing the sauté button twice until the screen shows the word “More”), add the beans, and bring to a boil. This should only take 5 minutes. Stir the beans. Press “Cancel” and let the lid simply rest on top of the Instant Pot. Let soak 60 minutes. Drain beans and rinse pot.
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.
Now, go make something special!
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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.