The best Instant Pot Black Beans are easy to make and have delicious Mexican flavor. You can serve these pressure cooker Black Beans as a side dish or as a main dish. You can toss these beans on top of some homemade nachos, into tacos and stuff them in burritos and of course, just cook them up and serve them as a side to any entrée.
Instant Pot Black Beans
Making Black Beans in the Instant Pot is the perfect way to have the absolute best, tender, and flavorful black beans as a side dish, or ready to use in all your favorite Mexican recipes.
While making some Mexican Chicken Stew I was thinking how good it would be to have some black beans with this dish. I could toss them on top of my bowl of stew or serve them alongside it.
Either way, having an extra serving would provide even more fiber and protein for my family and would bring even more flavor to this otherwise fantastic dinner recipe.
When I sat down to make a meal plan for the week, I put enchiladas with my favorite homemade enchilada sauce and Homemade Instant Pot Enchilada Rice on our menu, and decided to add these pressure cooker Mexican Black Beans.
And as I made Salsa Chicken with Corn Salsa to go in burritos, I realized this was the 3rd time in less than a week that I needed black beans. But I wanted an easy way to make them, so this Instant Pot Black Beans recipe was born!
I knew after having multiple instances recently while meal planning and serving dinner that I needed to find an easy way to incorporate more black beans in our meals since we already eat so many other dishes that they would either compliment, are already in so why not make more, or would just be nice to have extras of for leftovers.
Finding easy ways to turn regular recipes into Instant Pot recipes is a favorite challenge of mine.
I also love how affordable making black beans in the Instant Pot can be. This is a great recipe to make for meal prep and then have enough black beans for other recipes all week long if you want to.
What I really love about this recipe is the fact that it’s basically a 'Dump and Go' recipe. Dump the ingredients into the Instant Pot insert and let it come to pressure, release it and wait for it to be ready. That makes it easier for you to get other things done in the kitchen.
Do Black Beans Need to be Soaked?
Not when cooking them in the Instant Pot. The pressure cooker cooks beans much faster than any other method.
How to Make Black Beans in the Instant Pot
- Add your black beans, water, olive oil, salt, onion, garlic, bay leaves, and jalapeño to the Instant Pot insert.
- Next, close the lid and turn the sealing valve to the sealing position.
- Press the Pressure Cook/Manual Button and select HIGH pressure cooking for 40 minutes. It will take several minutes for the pot to come to pressure.
- Once it has finished cooking, turn the pot off and let it sit undisturbed for 15 minutes (15 minute natural release). Then turn the sealing valve to venting to release the last bit of pressure built up.
- Once the pin in the lid drops back down, you can open the lid.
- Stir the beans and taste them. Adjust seasonings. Add your queso and cilantro garnishes if desired, and serve.
What’s the ratio of dried black beans to water in your Instant Pot
- In order to properly cook your dried black beans in the Instant Pot, you need about 2.5 cups of water to 1 cup (or 8 ounces) of dried black beans.
- So, with our Instant Pot recipe, we use 1 pound (16 oz) of beans, so we need 5 cups of water (which is what the recipe calls for).
Can This Recipe Be Doubled?
- It depends on the size of your pot. This recipe is for a 6-quart size. My only suggestion is to make sure you have enough space in your Instant Pot for the expansion of the beans.
- Never fill above two-thirds full when cooking beans as they expand and are considered a "foaming food". So you need more room. I do think the 8-quart size pot would be better for doubling. Maybe increase by half.
What to Serve With Black Beans and Rice
The ways to use these black beans are endless. I mentioned so many of the things I wanted to put them in earlier. But here are a few more ideas to use your Black Beans from the Instant Pot:
• Toss some on top of your Egg Casserole.
• Add some into any of your favorite Instant Pot Soups and Stews.
• Serve in a bowl with your choice of garnishes.
• With Chicken Fajita Casserole.
• On top of scrambled eggs or an omelet.
What Makes Instant Pot Beans Better Than Canned?
• There’s something so much more filling, satisfying and overall better about using homemade black beans in your recipes or a side dish instead of plopping some out of a can.
• Sure, using canned black beans could be easier, but using cooked dried beans is cheaper and usually more flavorful. They tend to have a better texture too, than canned beans, which can end up feeling mushy.
• Plus, you won’t have all the preservatives and additives that you’d find in canned beans. With Instant Pot Black Beans you’re getting the better bang for your buck, more flavor and more nutrients!
You Might Also Like
Instant Pot Enchilada Rice
Instant Pot Hamburger Baked Beans
Instant Pot Rare Roast Beef
Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup
How to Store Cooked Black Beans
- If you have leftover black beans to save for later, you can store them in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge.
- You can also make a double batch and freeze leftovers in an airtight freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
- To thaw your beans, simply remove them from the freezer and let them thaw in the fridge or at room temperature.
How to Reheat InstaPot Black Beans
Reheat your beans on the stove top or in the microwave. You may need to add some more water when reheating.
Black Beans in the Instant Pot- Tips and Variations
- Want some heat with your beans? Add some cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
- These make a great base recipe for refried beans!
- This recipe cook time does not include the time it takes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure as this will vary for each make and model of Pressure Cooker.
- You may want to place a dish towel over the vent where the steam is released to prevent any potential burns.
- This recipe time doesn’t include all the time it takes for steam and pressure to be released as this varies as well.
If this versatile pressure cooker Black Beans recipe sounds like something you’ve been searching for, grab the simple ingredients and make some fantastic Black Beans in the Instant Pot today!
If you make these easy pressure cooker black beans recipe, please let me know. Just leave a comment below with a star rating. I would like to know how you liked them!
Instant Pot Black Beans
Equipment
- Electric Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 pound Dried Black Beans, sorted and rinsed
- 5 cups Water
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Salt
- 2 Bay Leaves
- ½ Onion, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 3 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 1 Jalapeño, halved
Garnish
- 1 bunch Cilantro, chopped
- ½ cup Queso Fresco, for serving, optional
Instructions
- Place the black beans, water, olive oil, salt, bay leaves, onion, garlic, and jalapeño in the pot.
- Close the lid and set the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
- Press the Pressure Cook/Manual button or dial, then the +/- button or dial to select 40 minutes. High Pressure. The pot will take several minutes to come to pressure.
- When the cook cycle has finished, turn off the pot and let it sit undisturbed for 15 minutes (15 minute natural release). Then turn the steam release knob to the Venting position to release the remaining steam/pressure.
- When the pin in the lid drops back down, open the lid.
- Add cilantro and/or queso to the top of each serving.
Notes
- Double this recipe (in 8-quart pot) and freeze half of the beans to use later.
- These make delicious refried beans.
- Serve these as a side dish or on tacos, nachos or with chips.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Kristen says
These beans were so delicious! I went ahead and used a whole onion, but other than that I made them following the recipe.
Sandy says
Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed them!