Instant Pot Pinto Beans – plant-based on a budget

This Instant Pot Pinto Beans recipe is a great way to start meal prep and cooking beans with an Instant Pot. It simplifies the process and ensures that you don’t have to stand in the kitchen for hours to have a bowl full of pinto beans.

Do you remember the days when you had to cook beans on the stove for hours? I don’t know about you, but I completely avoid any recipe that involves spending hours watching something at the stove and checking every 15 minutes.

Life is hectic and there is hardly any time. So the faster we can prepare a healthy and nutritious meal for our family, the better.

If you’re ready to explore more vegan instant pot recipes, check out this Vegan Bean Chili! It’s so hearty and delicious.

Why this recipe works

• A total game changerr when it comes to batch cooking for the coming days.
• So many ways to use pinto beans Create different meals throughout the week. Burritos, veggie bowls or our favorite bean salad, you’re one step ahead of the game.
• It only takes about ONE hour to cook and with almost no effort.
• No advanced cooking skills are required.

What’s in this recipe

The basics of this recipe only require three simple ingredients, two of which you probably already have on hand! You’ll also find some additional suggestions for ingredients to add if needed to give your beans a little extra flavor.

• pinto beans: Choose beans that look fresh and intact (not like they’ve been on the shelf for years) with a well-sealed bag.
• water and salt: Just the basics of cooking.
• Optional additions: Consider adding some yellow onions or garlic cloves to add aromatic flavors to your beans. If you like a little spiciness, some fresh jalapenos or red pepper flakes are excellent options. Cumin is our favorite spice we add when we cook pinto beans in the Instant Pot!

How to cook pinto beans in the Instant Pot

• 1) Add the beans, water, salt, and any optional additives you use to your Instant Pot. Set it on high pressure for 25 minutes.

• 2) When the cooking time is up, release the pressure, remove the lid and cook on the “Saute” function for an additional 25 to 35 minutes or until the beans have reached the desired tenderness. Stir occasionally.

Expert tips and FAQs

• Each bag of beans cooks a little differently. So be prepared to be a bit flexible. The variable time at the end of the recipe with the fry function accounts for this variation.
• Be sure to let the beans cool completely before storing them. When warm, the beans take longer to cool and can spoil more quickly.
• Don’t forget to include the cooking date (and the name) in storage for meal prep.
• Add your condiments of choice for a tastier Instant Pot pinto bean recipe.

How to save

Refrigerator: Cool your beans, then place them in an airtight container to store them for up to 5 days.

Warm up: If they are frozen, let them thaw in the fridge overnight. Place the beans in a saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until warmed through. If using the beans in other recipes, thawed beans can be added as directed in the recipe.

Can I Freeze Cooked Pinto Beans?

Yes you can! Once you’ve mastered how to cook pinto beans in your Instant Pot (or stovetop if you’re old school!), you may want to extend your efforts into the future by freezing your freshly cooked beans for later use to eat (or whenever cooking inspiration is running low).

Let them cool first, measure into desired portions, then place in freezer-friendly bags (like these silicone bags!).

We recommend writing the cooking date and portion on the outside for easy future use.

How to serve pinto beans

The possibilities for enjoying pinto beans in different ways are endless!

Serve them in a bowl with some rice! Or puree them for bean sauce.

You can toss them in almost any salad or soup to boost the protein content, or use them in one of these pinto bean recipes!

Need more ideas? Discover this list of 59 ways to use a can of beans! Trade every bean for pintos!

More vegan bean recipes

Photos by Alfonso Revilla