Instant Pot Baked Beans may not be baked, but they are undeniably delicious and insanely easy to make! Using dried beans and a rich maple sauce, this Instant Pot Baked Bean recipe will quickly become a staple for all your gatherings!
![Instant Pot Baked Beans Baked Beans in White Dish next to Instant Pot.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Pressure-Cooker-Baked-Beans-1.jpg)
My Papa was known for his Old Fashioned Baked Beans. It was a must-make every summer cookout, along with sour cream cucumber salad, burgers, and Texas sheet cake. And while I absolutely love my papa's recipe for Boston Baked Beans, I wanted to see if I could speed up his classic recipe using the Instant Pot.
This recipe for Instant Pot Baked Beans took me weeks to perfect. I bought 20 pounds of dried beans and tried this and that and had so many failures. I had mushy baked beans, hard-baked beans, flavorless baked beans--but finally, I have NAILED how to make the most Perfect Instant Pot Baked Beans! And now YOU can too with this Instant Pot Baked Beans recipe!
Notes on Instant Pot Baked Beans Ingredients
![Instant Pot Baked Beans Ingredients for Instant Pot Baked Beans on white counter](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Ingredients-for-Instant-Pot-Baked-Beans.jpg)
- Dried Navy Beans: I have included instructions for soaked, unsoaked, and canned beans. Trying to help cover all your bases for you!
- Sweeteners: Maple syrup and molasses are musts for good baked beans. Both will add smokey undertones and sweeten the beans. If you love you beans extra sweet, you can op to add I love maple-flavored baked beans. And because maple syrup is so rich in flavor, a little goes a long way.
- Apple Juice: This may sound crazy, but the apple juice sweetens the beans and pairs beautifully with the maple syrup. It works really well as the liquid needed for this Instant Pot recipe.
- Tomato Sauce: The tomato sauce will add a nice depth of flavor and balance out the sweetness.
- Onion: Use a yellow or white onion, which will help to balance out the sweetness of the beans.
- Bacon (Optional): My Papa's recipe includes the addition of bacon, but it is optional. If adding, use thick-cut pork bacon. Baked beans is not the time to use turkey bacon.
- Seasonings: Salt, dry mustard, and apple cider vinegar. If you don't have dry mustard use a squirt of yellow mustard.
How To Make Instant Pot Baked Beans
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Soak Navy Beans (Optional)
I know, I know, my recipe for Instant Pot Dried Beans doesn't require you to soak the navy beans, so why does this recipe? Technically you don't have to, BUT navy beans get a bit mushy if they aren't soaked first. So I do recommend soaking navy beans overnight. If you don't have the time, skip soaking the beans. I have done them many times and I promise your baked beans will still be delicious!
Pressure Cook Beans
Whether you soaked the navy beans or not, the beans should be pressure cooked separately before adding the sauce that makes navy beans, baked beans! Cook the dried beans in water for 20 minutes on high pressure if not soaked and 10 minutes on high pressure if the dried beans were soaked. Once the cooking time has elapsed, allow the pressure to release naturally and then drain off the cooked beans.
![Instant Pot Baked Bean Recipe Dried Navy Beans in Instant Pot](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Instant-Pot-Baked-Beans-without-soaking.jpg)
Sauté Bacon (Optional)
If you would like to add bacon to your Instant Pot Baked Beans, you will need to sauté the bacon prior to pressure cooking the baked beans. This will allow your bacon to render out its fat, which will flavor the baked beans and give the bacon a bit of texture. If you are sauteing bacon, throw the minced onion in with the bacon as well.
![Instant Pot Baked Beans Recipe Bacon and Onion in Instant Pot.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Instant-Pot-Baked-Beans-with-Bacon.jpg)
Deglaze The Inner Pot
If you sauteed the bacon, you MUST deglaze the inner pot to prevent a burn notice from happening. To do this, add in the some of the apple juice and scrape up browned bits on the bottom of the Instant Pot using a wooden spoon or spatula.
Make Instant Pot Baked Bean Mixture
Now that the beans are cooked and the bacon is crispy, you simply fold the ingredients together inside the inner pot. Easy-peasy!
![How to Make Baked Beans in the Instant Pot Beans with seasonings in Instant Pot.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Instant-Pot-Maple-Baked-Beans.jpg)
Pressure Cook Baked Beans
Pressure cook the baked beans with a full natural pressure release. This will help to keep your beans intact and the sauce finish developing flavor.
Thicken Sauce (optional)
If you would like your baked beans to have a super thick sauce, simmer the beans using the sauté button until thickened, stirring often.
![Pressure Cooker Baked Beans Baked Beans Cooked inside Instant Pot.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Cooked-Baked-Beans.jpg)
Serving Suggestions
Along with his famous baked bean recipe, my Papa taught me that the best way to eat baked beans is to ditch the silverware and use plain potato chips to scoop the beans. If you haven't tried it--I am urging you to give it a try! The sweet and salty combo is insanely delicious.
![Recipe Baked Beans Instant Pot Potato Chip Scooping up baked beans from white bowl.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Recipe-Baked-Beans-Instant-Pot.jpg)
Instant Pot Baked Bean Recipe FAQs
If you mix the tomato sauce gently into the apple juice instead of placing it on the bottom of the inner pot, you should NOT get a burn notice. However, if your instant pot is sensitive to getting burn notices, simply pour the tomato sauce on top of the cooked beans. Mix into the sauce AFTER pressure cooking.
For really sweet baked beans, much like my Papa's baked beans, add ¼ to ⅓ cup of brown sugar to the bean mixture.
Technically, no. You can use water but you will need to increase the sweetener. If you use water in place of the apple juice, you will need to double or triple your maple syrup or sweetener of choice and add in more salt for flavor.
Yes! To use canned beans in place of dried beans, skip the step of cooking dried beans in water and use 4 cups of canned navy beans that have been rinsed and drained.
Entrees To Pair With Baked Beans
Instant Pot Baked Beans make a fabulous side dish to endless dishes. Below are a few of my favorite entrees that pair beautifully with a side of baked beans.
- Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts
- BBQ Chicken Burger
- Beef Burgers
- Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Pork Chops
If you enjoyed these Instant Pot Baked Beans, I would love for you to share a review and leave a comment below.
![Instant Pot Baked Beans in White Dish next to Instant Pot.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Instant-Pot-Baked-Beans-Recipe-360x360.jpg)
Instant Pot Baked Beans
Ingredients
For the Beans
- 1 pound dried navy beans or pinto beans, see notes
- 6 cups cold water
For the Baked Beans
- 4 ounces bacon, chopped optional
- 1 onion minced
- ¾ cup apple juice
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried mustard
- ¼ cup molasses
- 2 teaspoons salt
- â…“ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Optional: Place navy beans in large glass bowl, cover with water, cover bowl and let sit at room temperature for 12-24 hours. After soaking, drain off the soaking liquid.
- Place soaked or unsoaked navy beans into the inner pot along with 6 cups of water. Close lid and seal the lid, and set to cook on high pressure for 10 minutes for soaked beans, 20 minutes for unsoaked beans.
- Once the cooking time has elapsed, let the pressure release naturally for 20 minutes, then do a release of any remaining pressure. Remove beans from Instant Pot and drain off any excess liquid in a colander. Set the beans to the side and dry out the inner pot and return to the instant pot base.
- If adding bacon: Turn Instant Pot to sauté, add the bacon and onion. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until bacon begins to brown and the onion begins to soften. Turn the Instant Pot OFF by hitting cancel on the pressure cooker.
- Add in 1 cup of apple juice and scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the inner pot. NOTE: If using an 8 quart Instant Pot you need to use 1 full cup of apple juice plus ¼ cup water.
- Add in tomato sauce, seasonings, vinegar, molasses, and maple syrup and stir just to incorporate. If you didn't sauté onion, add the minced onion to this mixture as well. Stir in cooked beans. Place lid on the pressure cooker and be sure the vent knob is sealed. Set to cook on high pressure for 20 minutes.
- Once the cooking time has elapsed, let the pressure release naturally for at least 15 minutes.
- OPTIONAL: If you would like your baked beans to have a thicker sauce, you can simmer the baked beans after they have cooked. Simply turn hit sauté and allow the beans to simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring often or until sauce reaches your desired thickness.
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