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Instant Pot Pinto Beans are so easy to make with just 7 ingredients! This no-soak recipe uses dried beans cooked in the pressure cooker. These pinto beans are full of rich flavor, creamy and are great to serve as a main dish with a fresh salad and cornbread. But don’t stop there! They’re also perfect as a side dish, in tacos, chilies and just the thing when you’re feeding a crowd.
In This Post
About a month ago, I asked my followers on Facebook to share their favorite comfort food. I got over 150 comments that included everything from fried chicken to cheese pizza, baked spaghetti to loaded nachos. But a big surprises was that folks think of pinto beans as one of their favorite comfort foods. As a matter of fact, it’s in the top 5 list of most loved recipes.
After a bit of thought, I came around to that idea. I also realized that I didn’t have a recipe for pinto beans on A Southern Soul. I’m a big fan of a big bowl of beans served with some warm cornbread so I got to work on coming up with the easiest way to make that possible. I came up with this method of cooking beans using the Instant Pot. This is a great “short cut” recipe since you don’t have to soak the beans. You can have a big pot of beans ready in a little over an hour.
Instant Pot Pinto Beans Ingredients
- Dried Pinto Beans
- Olive Oil
- Ham
- Vegetable Stock
- Onion
- Garlic
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Salt
This is what I call one of my “cheap and cheerful” recipes. Dried beans are super inexpensive and can really stretch your grocery budget. They are great when you’re feeding a crowd, too. These beans are easy to make and as a bonus, freeze beautifully. I like to use them in nachos, chili recipes and they’re great to add to rice.
Pro Tip
Use leftover pinto beans in Easy Cheesy Chili Mac! It’s a hearty one-pot dish that will become a family favorite.
Don’t have an Instant Pot? No problem! You can make these beans on the stovetop. Here’s how:
- Add the dried beans to all large pot, cover with cool water and allow to soak overnight. Drain the beans.
- Sautee the onion and ham, add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add in the stock, water, salt, and pepper.
- Bring the beans to a boil over high heat and boil for 15 minutes. Reduce the temperature to low and allow the pinto beans to simmer until they tender about 2 to 3 hours. Add water to the beans as needed.
What To Serve With Pinto Beans
- Chopped onions – my fav!
- Fresh or pickled jalapeños
- Chow Chow – my Mama’s favorite
- Slaw
- Cornbread
- Hot sauce
More Instant Pot Recipes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 8 once ham steak – cut into cubes
- 1 small onion – chopped
- 2 tablespoons garlic – minced
- 1 pound dried pinto beans
- 4 cups vegetable stock
- 1 ½ cups water
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
Instant Pot
- Set Instant Pot to sautee. Add olive oil, onion and, chopped ham. Cook for approximately 3 minutes. Add garlic and, cook for 1 minute. Pour in vegetable stock and water. Add beans, salt and, pepper.
- Secure lid on Instant Pot and close. Set to PRESSURE COOK/MANUAL and set timer to 45 minutes.
- Once timer goes off, allow the steam to release naturally, which will take about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Remove the lid and stir beans. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve with your favorite toppings.
- ** Beans can be kept in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for 3 months.
Stove Top
- Add the dried beans to all large pot, cover with cool water and allow to soak overnight. Drain the beans.Sautee the onion and ham, add garlic and cook for 1 minute.Add in the stock, water, salt, and pepper.Bring the beans to a boil over high heat and boil for 15 minutes. Reduce the temperature to low and allow the pinto beans to simmer until they tender about 2 to 3 hours. Add water to the beans as needed.
Want To Know More About Using The Instant Pot?
If you are new to cooking with an Instant Pot or just don’t know where to start, I’ve got something to help. I’ve put together a helpful guide with tips and recipes to get you using the Instant Pot like a pro!
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Tonya Redden
How long do I cook if i soaked the beans?
Michele
Is there a substitute for vegetable brotj
Water.
~Donya
Jen V
Cooking now, I have 8quart IP, I am doubling the recipe how long should I cook for
Donya
Hey there Jen!
I hope I didn’t catch you too late! If you’re doubling the recipe I would recommend you set to pressure cook/manual and set the timer to 1.5 hours. After the timer goes off, allow the steam to release naturally which will take about 20 minutes. I hope this is helpful!
~Donya
Leanne Murdoch
These were fantastic! I had country ham so I used that instead of regular ham and omitted the salt. I came across this recipe searching for Instant Pot pintos – when I read the mention of chow chow I knew this was a site for me! Then I went to the about section and was not surprised to learn you are a Tarheel. Me too – born, bred, dead! My grandparents lived in eastern NC and my granny made the best chow chow. If you have a recipe for chow chow, I will be forever grateful! Thank you for sharing your kitchen.
Donya
Hey there Leanne!
Wow! It really seems like you were just meant to find my post, I love seeing comments from my NC family. I am absolutely thrilled you’ve found me, thank you so much for your support. I don’t have a Chow Chow recipe up yet, but I’ll let you know if I put one up. Now, I don’t know if it would compare to your Granny’s recipe, most food never compares to Granny’s recipes, but I sure would put my southern soul into it! Thanks again for your sweet words, your fantastic rating, and your support! Welcome to the ASouthernSoul family!
~Donya
Wayne Booth
Don’t know if I’m off base or not, but I really liked your Waldorf Salad.
Donya
Hey Wayne!
Thank you so much for both of your great ratings and sweet comments! I am thrilled you like the Waldorf Salad, its a favorite of my husbands and a real classic. I also saw your previous comment about the Pinto Beans and I can already tell you really are a Southern Soul at heart. There’s nothing better than a comforting dinner of cornbread and Pinto beans over rice, and you’re right you cant forget the sweet tea! I am thrilled you’re liking these classic southern recipes, its the cooking I love to do and love to share! I hope you have a great day!
~Donya
Wayne Booth
Comfort , I’d be here all night writing. Your pinto beans, I like them just the way you have them plus some Jiffy cornbread. I got a sweet tooth. It’s kind of a toss up because I like the white beans and ham plus you guessed it, Jiffy corn bread. Pinto’s over rice is a very nice meal with fried cornbread. How about fried catfish slaw, taters, and Jiffy cornbread. Don’t forget the sweet tea.
Wendy Bowers
All I can say is DELICIOUS!!!!
I used 1/8tsp of cheyenne pepper instead of red pepper flakes.
Also used himalayan pink salt fine grain instead of kosher salt.
Used 1lb of smoked ham in slices,I like it meaty…
Thanks for the recipe
Wendy Bowers
North Carolina
All of these additions sound OUTSTANDING! I love it, Wendy. Thank you so much for the great rating, too.
Have a wonderful weekend,
~Donya
Tami
They came out very tasty, but they weren’t quite soft enough, so I had to cook them on the slow cooker option in the instant pot a little longer. I also didn’t get that good, creamy gravy, but that may have been because I used country ham.
Barbara Rascoe
I use smoked turkey
Donya
Hey there Barbara!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe! Using smoked turkey is a great idea, sounds like a tasty meal to me! Let me know if you ever have any questions about a recipe, I’d be happy to help!
~Donya
Stacey English
I got an Instant Pot Christmas before last. I used it once with not good results. I am thrilled to see an I.P. recipe from a ‘trusted source’! Will definitely be trying this!
Cathryn Kulp
I love the sounds of this recipe <3 But I don't eat ham, I was wondering if you might have a substitution idea that would be good in these beans? Thank you!
Hey Cathryn!
You can leave out the ham all together if you like. You can also substitute bacon if that’s a food you eat.
Hope this helps!
XO,
~Donya
Dawn
I have heard of people using smoked turkey legs in pintos. I think you can buy them in meat department.
Dawn