Instant Pot White Beans

Name: Instant Pot White Beans
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 1 pound dried white beans ((Cannellini, Northern*, Navy, Butter or Lima)); 1 teaspoon salt; 3 cups hot water ((preheating your liquid saves time)); 3 cups hot chicken broth ((can substitute with more water))

Instant Pot White Beans are a creamy, delicious meal. Using dried beans is affordable, and with a pressure cooker, they’re no soak. In this easy bean recipe, you can use any white beans like Cannellini, great northern, or navy. Make them anytime for an easy make-ahead dinner or for meal prep!

a wooden bowl of pressure cooked great northerni beans with a sprig of basil on top and a gold and white napkin and instant pot in the background

Looking for a fast and easy way to make white beans? Pressure cook them right in the Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi! You don’t even need to presoak them first.

Just put the beans in the pot, add liquid, and press start. In minutes, you’ll have tender, delicious white beans that are perfect for salads, soups, or just as a side dish.

Why we Love Instant Pot White Beans

We love making this Instant Pot White Beans no soak recipe because it saves so much time! No need to soak the beans overnight or even for a few hours. Just put them in the pot and let the pressure cooker do its job.

Making your own beans is a great way to avoid the preservatives in canned beans.

Canned beans are often high in sodium, but when you make them yourself, you can control the ingredients and make them healthier. Plus, they’ll taste better than the store-bought variety!

a wooden bowl of cooked cannellini beans with a sprig of basil on top and a gold and white napkin and instant pot in the background

Also, this recipe is very affordable. A pound of white beans costs less than $2.00 at most stores. That’s enough to make a large batch of white beans like Cannellini, or great northern beans in Instant Pot that will last for 2-3 meals.

The best thing about beans is they are high in plant-based protein and fiber, which makes them really filling. So, making dried beans is an affordable way to get healthy nutrients and plant based protein in your diet.

Plus, there are so many types of beans that you aren’t likely bored with them! You can use any type of white bean you like, such as navy beans, or lima butter beans in this Instant Pot recipe. And, you can adjust the seasonings to taste.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Dried white beans – I used Cannellini but you can also use the beans of your choice like Great Northern, Navy, Butter, or Lima.

Presoaking is optional with this recipe. If you use presoaked beans, reduce the natural pressure release time to 10 minutes.”
Salt – you can also omit or reduce the amount of salt if desired.
Liquid – I used a combination of Hot water and chicken broth. But you can also use just plain water or vegetable broth.

clear bowls of broth and water and dried white beans over a green and white towel and a wooden salt and pepper mill

Equipment Used for Instant Pot White Beans

Instant Pot (or any electric pressure cooker)
Colander – for draining beans

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Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1

If you like this Instant Pot White Beans recipe, try our Instant Pot Lima Beans and Ham Soup, Instant Pot Calico Beans, and Instant Pot Pinto Beans.

Cooking White Beans in Instant Pot

Add the ingredients together. Put the dried beans in the Instant Pot liner.

dried beans in the instant pot ready for broth and pressure cooking

Pour the broth and water over them. If you want to cook faster, use hot water and broth.

dried beans in the instant pot covered in broth ready to pressure cook

Pressure Cook the White Beans. Twist to lock the lid, and turn or press the pressure lever if needed. Then set it to high pressure for 25 minutes. Add 10 minutes for great northern beans.

When the timer goes off, let it naturally release for 20 minutes. Do not touch the pot during this time.

After 20 minutes, you can release the pressure quickly by twisting or pressing the pressure lever/quick release button.

white beans cooked in the pressure cooker with a metal spoonful of them up close

Ready to Serve. Carefully remove the pot liner using a pot holder and drain the beans into a colander. Then rinse the beans until the water runs clear. Serve the beans right away or store them in the refrigerator or freezer for later.

Recipe Variations

Use water only instead of chicken broth for a vegetarian version.
Add a few cloves of garlic, diced onion, bay leaf, or herbs like rosemary for extra flavor.
For a creamier texture, mash some of the beans before serving.
If you want your beans to be more firm, shorten the natural pressure release time to 15 minutes. For softer beans, use a 25-minute natural pressure release.

How to Serve Instant Pot White Beans

There are so many ways to enjoy these white beans in Instant Pot! Here are a few of my favorites:

Serve them as a side dish for chicken or fish.
Stir in some diced tomatoes and serve over rice.
Add the beans to your favorite soup or chili recipe.
Make a white bean dip by mashing them with a little olive oil, garlic, and salt. Serve with crackers or raw veggies.
Use them in this slow cooker mixed beans recipe.
Make a batch of white bean breakfast burritos and freeze them for busy mornings.

How to Store Pressure Cooker White Beans

Leftover Cannellini or northern beans in Instant Pot can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Put them in a covered container or plastic bag. When ready to use, reheat them on the stove over low heat until warmed through. Add a little water or broth to moisten them.

Can I freeze this Pressure Cooker White Beans?

You can freeze cooked white beans for up to six months. Place them in a freezer-safe bag (squeeze out excess air) or container and label with the date. When ready to eat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight then reheat using the same instructions above.

Cooking Tip: If you plan on freezing these white beans, I suggest cooking them without any salt or other seasonings. That way, you can add fresh seasonings when you reheat them. This will help them taste fresher.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ratio of beans to water in Instant Pot?

The ratio of beans to water for the Instant Pot is typically one pound to six cups, depending on if you are making soup or just beans. So, for every cup of dried beans, you’ll need six cups of water, broth, or a mixture.

Do I need to presoak the beans before cooking them in the Instant Pot?

No, you don’t need to pre soak the beans before cooking them in an electric pressure cooker. Just add them to the pot with the liquid and cook according to the recipe instructions.

Does pressure cooking beans remove lectins?

There is no definitive answer to this question. Some people believe that pressure cooking beans remove lectins, while others believe that it doesn’t make a difference. If you are concerned about lectins, you may want to soak your beans overnight before cooking them in the Instant Pot.