Made with dried beans and the perfect blend of spices, Instant Pot Refried Beans are creamy, flavorful, and super easy to make.
Just like my recipe for Instant Pot Beans, this recipe for Instant Pot Refried Beans starts with dried beans that don't need to be soaked before pressure cooking, making this simple Tex-Mex side dish exceptionally easy to prepare.
When it comes to side dishes for Shredded Chicken Tacos, Beef Tacos, and Chicken Enchilada Casserole, what is better than refried beans?
Homemade Refried Beans! Specifically Instant Pot Refried Beans!
Starting with dried beans that are pressure cooked with onions, jalapeno, and the perfect combination of seasonings, Instant Pot Refried Beans are creamy, flavorful, and superior to anything canned.
Pair these Instant Pot Refried Beans with a side of Instant Pot Mexican Rice, and now we are really talking!
why you will love this recipe
- Ridiculously Simple Recipe. This recipe for Instant Pot Refried Beans is the easiest and tastiest way to make homemade refried beans ever! No soaking, no sauteeing, just dump and cook!
- Super Affordable. Because this recipe starts with dried beans, this recipe costs pennies per serving.
- Restaurant-Flavor. Instant Pot Refried Beans are just as delicious as anything you get at your favorite Mexican restaurant. They are super creamy and super flavorful.
- Better for You. While this recipe produces crave-worthy results, it is made with good-for-you ingredients. No lard. No MSG. And MUCH lower in sodium than anything you can buy or get at a restaurant.
Notes on Ingredients
- Dried Beans: As I stated earlier, this recipe starts with dried beans. Pinto beans are the classic choice for preparing refried beans, but I provide instructions for using black beans as well.
- Cooking Liquid: Use a combination of water and low-sodium or salt-free store-bought or homemade chicken stock or vegetable broth to cook the rice and beans. I often use just water to keep this dish really economical.
- Onion: Use a yellow or white onion, not a red onion or sweet onion for the best flavor.
- Spices: To flavor the refried beans, use a combination of paprika, cumin, chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder, which is very similar to the spices found in taco seasoning. However, you want to wait to salt your beans until after they are pressure cooked, as salt can interfere with the beans softening.
- Garlic: Garlic cloves add a lot of additional depth of flavor. No need to mince the garlic, it will break down as the beans cook.
- Jalapeno (optional): A jalapeno adds a great amount of flavor. Remove the stems, ribs, and seeds to keep these beans on the more mild side, or leave the seed in the jalapeno for REALLY spicy refried beans.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: The vinegar really helps the flavors pop and helps the beans to break down. Feel free to replace it with white distilled vinegar.
How To Make Instant Pot Refried Beans
While this is an incredibly simple recipe, if you are unfamiliar with cooking in an Instant Pot or the functions of your Instant Pot, be sure to start with How to Use an Instant Pot for the best results on this and future recipes. You will find the full recipe in detail in the recipe card below.
- Place dry beans in a strainer/colander and give them a good rinse as they often can have residual dirt on them. Be sure to check for broken beans or rocks and discard them. You would be surprised how many times I find a small pebble in my beans, so don't skip this step!
- Place rinsed beans in the inner pot. Add water, stock, garlic, onion, jalapeno, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
- Place lid on Instant Pot and set cook time for 50 minutes. This is DOUBLE the cooking time that dried beans require, but this is so the beans get SUPER tender and are really easy to blend.
- Once the 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. If you are short on time, wait at least 15 minutes before doing a quick pressure release.
- Drain the beans in a large bowl, reserving the cooking liquid.
- Discard the jalapeno for mild beans, or leave ½ the jalapeno for a bit of spice.
- Return the beans to the inner pot and season with salt and add in the vinegar. Begin to blend with an immersion blender, adding ½ cup of cooking liquid at a time to reach the desired consistency for refried beans. If you do not have an immersion blender, feel free to use a high-power blender, just let the cap vent prevent steam from building and popping the lid off the blender as shown in the video.
Instant Pot Refried Black Beans
If using dried black beans cook for 40 minutes on high pressure instead of 50 minutes on high pressure.
Storage Instructions
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 3 months. I prefer to make a large batch of refried beans and then freeze them for future use.
Serving Suggestions
Instant Pot Refried Beans make the perfect side dish for entrees like Chicken Enchiladas or Instant Pot Carnitas. However, they also are a star ingredient in the following recipes:
If you tried this recipe for Instant Pot Refried Beans, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.
Instant Pot Refried Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried pinto beans 2 cup of pinto beans
- 4 cups chicken stock or vegetable broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 small onion peeled and quartered
- 3 cloves of garlic peeled
- 1 jalapeno seeded and de-stemmed (optional)
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar optional
- ½ to 1 teaspoon kosher salt to taste
Instructions
- Rinse dried beans and remove any rocks or broken beans.
- Place rinsed beans in the inner pot. Add in stock, water, onion, jalapeno, garlic cloves, chili powder, paprika, cumin, onion powder, and garlic powder.
- Close the Instant Pot and be sure the valve is turned to "seal." Set to cook on high pressure for 50 minutes. Hit manual or pressure cook and use +/- buttons to adjust cook time to 50 minutes.
- Once cook time has elapsed, allow pressure to release naturally for at least 15 minutes.
- Remove lid drain beans over a large mixing bowl, to reserve cooking liquid. Discard jalapeno, then return beans, onions, and garlic to the inner pot or blender. Add in ½ teaspoon salt and vinegar, if using, and stir well.
- Blend with an immersion blender or food processor, adding ½ cup of the reserved liquid at a time until beans are smooth and the desired consistency is reached. Taste and adjust seasoning/salt if needed.
Equipment Needed
Notes
- If you are using taco seasoning, wait until AFTER beans have cooked. Use only ½ tablespoon of prepared homemade taco seasoning and adjust to add in more if needed.
- For Instant Pot Black Beans cook for 40 minutes on high pressure.
Nutrition
Bob
This has been our go-to recipe for refried beans for months now. Really tasty and easy. If we wanted a double batch, would we use total of 12 cups liquid or just be careful to stay under the max line?
Thanks!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Bob! I am so happy to hear you enjoy these beans so much! For a double batch, you would need to double the water--be sure not to fill your Instant Pot more than 2/3rds full. The cook time will remain the same, it will just take longer to come to pressure.
Cody Gerlach
So wonderful! I was skeptical when throwing the dry beans without soaking first, but this blew my mind. Perfect creamy refried beans that hands-down beat anything you'd get in a can. Delicious!!!!
Kristen Chidsey
I am so happy you enjoyed Cody! We love them so much as well.
Jan
How would I adapt this recipe for cooking in a crockpot?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Jan! Without soaking the beans, this is not a recipe I would recommend using the slow cooker for. The pressure cooking helps to soften the beans. To make this recipe work, I would soak the beans in 8 cups of cold water overnight. Drain the beans and place them into the slow cooker with 4 cups of stock, onion, jalapeno, and seasonings. Omit the water, and cook for 10-12 hours on low, or until the beans are super tender, and then process as recipe directs
Amy
Hi Kristen, I have cranberry dried beans, do I cook them for less time? Thank you!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Amy! I would keep the cooking time the same 🙂
Amy
These were delicious! I was hesitant about the vinegar at the end but it gave them the slightest tang!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Amy! I am glad you gave the vinegar a try--it really does make the flavors "pop."
Stephanie D
Thank you for this recipe!! I have tried refried beans (the regular method) a few times and have failed. Your recipe was fool-proof and delicious. And thank you for the no-salt-while-cooking advice & explanation; mom has advised me for years to never cook beans with salt but every recipe says otherwise. Thx to you, I now understand and have finally succeeded!!!
Stephanie McCandless
Hi there! I want to make the adjustments for black beans but your recipe and notes about black beans is confusing. The pinto bean recipe as written/printed is using 6 cups of liquid total (4 cups stock & 2 cups water) but in your notes you say to reduce from 7 cups total liquid to 6 cups total liquid for the black beans. Could you please clarify?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Stephanie! Sorry about that! I removed the note to reduce the liquid from 7 cups to 6 cups. The only difference is the cook time. Enjoy
Elaine
These turned out great! Thank you for a delicious, healthy and money-saving recipe. I was just wondering, if I wanted to make a double batch, would I still double the liquid as well as the beans? Would the cooking time remain the same?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Elaine! I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe. For a double batch, you would need to double the water--be sure not to fill your Instant Pot more than 2/3rds full. The cook time will remain the same, it will just take longer to come to pressure.
Elaine
Thank you!
Regina Huset
I see spple cider vinegar in the ingredients, but I don't see when it is added during cooking. Is it added before or after the beans are cooked?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Regina! I add after cooking the beans. I will be sure to clarify on the directions
Jodi
This recipe looks great! Any thoughts on how much liquid to use if the (pinto) beans are presoaked? I haven't done beans of any sort in the Instant Pot yet (I've made your lentil soup though - it's been the staple lunch here for most of the past two months of working at home - super tasty!), and I'd like to presoak them and discard the soaking liquid before cooking. --Thanks
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Jodi! I am so happy to hear you enjoy the lentil soup. If your beans are pre-soaked, I would cook for 30 minutes on high pressure for refried beans.
Jodi
Thanks! I'm looking forward to trying them 🙂
Erica
I like to use fresh cilantro when making refried beans. When do you think I should add it?
Kristen Chidsey
I would stir it in after pressure cooking.
Dianna
I consider myself a beginner using my Instant Pot ~ with reservations. I made these beans last night & they were great! I am now a believer & willing to experiment with other recipes. Thank you for sharing your great recipes!!!
DM
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you had success! I hope you find many more recipes and tips here to enjoy--don't hesitate to reach out with questions.