Instant Pot Refried Beans

Instant Pot Refried Beans are the easiest and tastiest refried bean recipe ever! Pressure cooker refried beans are creamy, and full of flavor and made with hardly any effort!  

Be sure to check out more Instant Pot Recipes, like Instant Pot Rice and Beans, Instant Pot Baked Beans, Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce and Instant Pot Yogurt.

Two years ago if you asked me what is the one canned good you would always find in my pantry would be, I would tell you beans.

I ALWAYS had canned beans and refried beans stocked up for easy dishes like Black Bean Tacos, Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili, and Mexican Quinoa Salad.

Now thanks to my Instant Pot I have said good-bye to canned beans and only stock dried beans in my pantry.

Dry beans are not only much more affordable, they are also so much better for you than canned beans. No lard added, no sodium, no preservatives!

I just never relied on them as a kitchen staple BEFORE my Instant Pot because of the time it took to cook them. Once I realized how easy it was to make Instant Pot Dried Beans WITHOUT soaking, well I was sold, hook, line and sinker.

Instant Pot Beans is now one of my go to Instant Pot recipes, but so is my Instant Pot Refried Beans.

So it is high time I shared with you all my recipe for refried beans made in the pressure cooker.

Instant Pot Refried Beans

Sure there are great quality canned versions of refried beans on the market. BUT when I can make tastier, healthier refried beans for pennies, homemade is the way to go.

Instant Pot Refried Beans are creamy, smooth and full of flavor–just like you get at your favorite Mexican Restaurant!

How To Make Refried Beans in the Instant Pot

Step One: Rinse Dry Beans

• Place dry beans in colander and give them a good rinse–they often can have residual dirt on them. Also check for broken beans or rocks and discard.

Step Two: Add Ingredients for Refried Beans

• Rinsed Beans–I use pinto beans for this recipe
• Water or Stock–use water or vegetable stock for extra flavor
• Onion–for flavor
• Taco Seasoning If you use water, add an additional teaspoon of taco seasoning beans for extra flavor.
• Garlic (optional) –for flavor
• Jalapeno (optional)–for Spicy Refried Beans, I take one jalapeno that has been seeded and de-stemmed and place in pressure cooker along with ingredients. Just be sure to discard jalapeno after cook time and before blending up beans or you will have REALLY spicy refried beans.
• Apple Cider Vinegar (optional)If you find beans to be hard on your stomach or make you gassy, either pre-soak beans overnight first and/or add in 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar while cooking.

Step Three: Cook Beans

• Place lid on Instant Pot and set cook time for 50 minutes. This is DOUBLE the cook time than dried beans require, but this is so the beans get SUPER tender and are really easy to blend.

Step Four: Let Pressure Release

• Once cooking time has elapsed, let pressure NATURALLY release. This can take up to 30 minutes. It is really important to NOT do a quick release, as this will change the texture of the beans. The same is true for rice, stock and tough meat–find out more about NPR at Instant Pot 101. 

Step Five: Blend Refried Beans

• If you have a lot of excess cooking liquid, dip a measuring cup into inner pot and remove up to 1 cup water.
• Discard Jalapeno if using.
• Blend the beans and onion with the remaining cooking liquid, adding the removed liquid as needed . You can use a hand held immersion blender OR a food processor.

How to Store Refried Beans

Store leftover cooked beans in the refrigerator for 5 days or in 1 to 2 cup portions in freezer safe bags/containers in the freezer for up to 6 months. I prefer to make a large batch of refried beans and then freeze for future use.

To freeze refried beans:

• Cook refried beans as recipe directs.
• Allow refried beans to cook.
• Place in 1 cup portions in either freezer safe bags or small plastic containers.
• You can thaw refried beans in refrigerator overnight or remove from plastic container/bag and defrost in microwave.
• You can also put frozen beans into a oven safe bowl (remove from plastic bag/container first) and place in your instant pot’s inner pot on a rack. Pour in 1 cup water under rack and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes, this will defrost and heat 1 cup portions of refried beans.
• Refried beans will keep in freezer for 4-6 months.

Recipes that use Refried Beans

• Easy Bean Burritos
• Homemade Veggie Tostadas
• Healthy Vegetarian Mexican Lasagna
• Taco Pizza

Instant Pot Refried Beans

The easiest, tastiest recipe for homemade refried beans made right in the Instant Pot. 

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: Refried Beans

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Pressure Release: 30 minutes

Total Time: 52 minutes

Servings: 16

Calories: 103kcal

Author: Kristen Chidsey

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried pinto beans
• 7 cups stock or water
• 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
• 1 small onion peeled and quartered
• 2 cloves of garlic peeled
• 1 jalapeno seeded and de-stemmed (optional)
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar optional

Instructions

• Rinse dried beans and remove any rocks or broken beans. 
• Place all ingredient in inner pot of Instant Pot.
• Cook on high pressure with valve turned to "seal," and set to cook on high pressure for 50 minutes. 
• Allow pressure to release naturally (about 30 minutes).
• Remove lid and discard jalapeno. If the beans seem to have too much liquid, remove up to 1 cup of cooking liquid and reserve to the side. 
• Blend with an immersion blender or food processor until smooth, adding reserved liquid as needed. 

Notes

• Use chicken stock, vegetable stock, or water. 
• If you use water, add an additional teaspoon of taco seasoning beans for extra flavor. 
• For Instant Pot Black Beans, use only 6 cups liquid and 40 minutes cook time. 

Nutrition Facts

Instant Pot Refried Beans

Amount Per Serving

Calories 103

% Daily Value*

Sodium 350mg15%

Potassium 391mg11%

Carbohydrates 19g6%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 6g12%

Vitamin A 265IU5%

Vitamin C 1.7mg2%

Calcium 25mg3%

Iron 1.9mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

I would love to know how you enjoy this recipe!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram or Facebook - I would love to see!

To Make Vegan Refried Beans, You May Need

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Kristen Chidsey

Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

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