Instant Pot Refried Beans
Made with Pinto Beans, Refried Beans are a popular side dish served in tex mex & mexican cuisine. With this No Soak method, your refried beans are ready in less than 1 hour from scratch!
Learn how to make this easy REFRIED BEANS in your instant pot pressure cooker with step by step photos & video tutorial.
INSTANT POT REFRIED BEANS
Pinto beans are cooked and mashed along with onion, garlic, spices and lemon juice to make the most delicious refried beans. Although authentic refried beans are made with pinto beans only, you can make kidney beans or even black beans refried beans for a change!
WHY SHOULD YOU TRY IT?
Homemade refried beans tastes 100 time better than store bought!
You know exactly what are ingredients in your recipe
No preservatives at all
Numerous ways to serve them
Instant Pot cooks the beans from scratch in less than 40 minutes.
Double this recipe for birthday parties, super bowl parties
Ingredients you'll need
Detailed ingredient measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page. Here is a summary -
To get started, you’ll need the following ingredients
HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT REFRIED BEANS WITH STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
SAUTE - Press sauté button on Instant Pot. Once oil is heated, add onion, garlic and jalapeños. Saute for 2 minutes until the onion is translucent.
ADD STOCK - Add a splash of stock to deglaze. This step is essential for those INSTANT POT'S that throws a BURN SIGN often. Turn off the Sauté Mode. Add the remaining stock.
ADD THE REMAINING INGREDIENTS - Add beans, spice powders and bay leaf.
PRESSURE COOK – Close and secure the lid to the locked position. Check to make sure the vent is turned to SEAL. Press Pressure Cook and set the timer for 35 minutes, adjust time using the up or down arrow. Pressure Cook HIGH for 35 minutes.
When the timer has finished, allow the pressure to release naturally for about 20 minutes. Turn the seal to VENT and remove the instant pot lid. Press ‘CANCEL’ to turn off the keep warm mode.
Open the lid, remove the bayleaf and drain the beans into a colander to collect the liquid. { This is optional } Transfer the beans back to the Instant Pot insert.
MASH OR BLEND - Place the immersion blender into the Instant Pot and pulse until smooth, moving the blender around the pot until you have it smooth. If you like your refried beans chunkier, use a potato masher and mash it up coarsely. Add a splash of cooking liquid to adjust the consistency, if needed.
ADJUST SEASONING - Taste and add more seasoning if needed. Squeeze some lime juice.
SERVE - Serve warm with a garnish of coriander leaves, red onion and tomatoes.
If you don't have an Instant Pot Pressure Cooker, you can still make them with Canned Pinto Beans!
TOP TIPS & SUGGESTIONS
DO I NEED TO SOAK THE BEANS?
Soaking the beans is optional. I have tried both the methods for cooking the beans - Soak and No Soak.
Both of them work well.
How to Cook Chickpeas - Soak & No Soak in pressure cooker?
How to Cook Pinto Beans in pressure cooker without presoaking?
CAN I MAKE REFRIED BEANS WITH KIDNEY BEANS OR BLACK BEANS?
You can make refried beans with any beans. The flavours and textures might vary!
CAN I MAKE REFRIED BEANS WITH CANNED PINTO BEANS?
Fry the onion, garlic and jalapeños in oil for 2 minutes. Add the drained canned beans, ½ cup of stock/water and spice powders. Cover and cook for at least 5 minutes until soft. Mash them until you achieve the desired texture.
SHOULD I USE IMMERSION BLENDER OR POTATO MASHER FOR MASHING THE BEANS?
The choice is urs. However I like to use the immersion blender as its quick, easy and effortless. Less mess too! If you don't have one, use a potato masher.
Once the beans has cooled down a bit, you can also transfer them to the food processor/ blender and blend it batches.
HOW TO STORE LEFTOVER REFRIED BEANS ?
Leftover refried beans may be refrigerated for up to a week in airtight container. You can also freeze them up to 3 months. Make small portions and fill them in freezer safe bags/containers.
Pick one bag at a time as per use and thaw them!
MEXICAN RECIPES YOU WILL LOVE
HAVE YOU MADE THIS RECIPE ?
Pressure cooker refried beans is a versatile mexican side dish and it goes well with pretty much everything. We love to enjoy a refried beans toastie too..
Post a photo on my Facebook page, share it on Instagram, or save it to Pinterest with the tag #sandhyaskitchen. I would love to see your take on this delicious dip
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 white onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jalapenos minced
- 1 cup Pinto Beans, sorted & rinsed
- 3 ½ cup Vegetable Broth or Stock
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- ½ - 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoon Cumin Powder
- 1 teaspoon Oregano
- 2 Bayleaf
- Lime Juice of ½ lime
- Salt to taste
Toppings
- Coriander leaves
- Red Onion
- Tomatoes
Instructions
- Wash the Pinto Beans and set it aside.
- SAUTE - Press sauté button on Instant Pot. Add Oil followed by onion, garlic and jalapenos . Saute for 2 minutes.
- ADD STOCK - Add a splash of stock to deglaze. Turn off the Sauté Mode. Add the remaining stock.
- ADD THE REMAINING INGREDIENTS - Add Beans, spice powders and bay leaf.
- PRESSURE COOK - Secure the lid. Turn the valve to sealing position. Select PRESSURE COOK HIGH for 35 minutes. Allow natural pressure release for 20 minutes and then carefully turn the valve to vent. Open the lid and drain the beans into a colander to collect the liquid. { This is optional } Transfer the beans back to the Instant Pot insert.
- MASH OR BLEND - Blend the cooked beans to a smooth creamy puree or to a desired consistency. Add a splash of cooking liquid to adjust the consistency, if needed.
- ADJUST SEASONING - Taste and add more seasoning if needed. Squeeze some lime juice.
- SERVE - Serve warm with a garnish of coriander leaves, red onion and tomatoes.
Karma Wheeler says
This looks like an amazing recipe however there should be instruction on refrying the beans. This is simply pureed pinto beans, not at all refried.
Kait | Slumber & Scones says
Refried beans are one of my favorite side dishes, and this recipe looks super easy! With the fresh ingredients and such a variety of spices, these one are so full of flavor.
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says
I love a good Instant Pot recipe. I never thought of making refried beans with it. This sounds so good!!
Denay DeGuzman says
What a festive, flavorful side dish! My sister-in-law found this Instant Pot recipe on Pinterest. We made it today and loved it!
Anita says
I'm not a fan of canned refried beans. This, however, is another matter altogether. Easy, simple, and the delicious flavors all around.
Mahy says
Refried beans have never been more inviting! Delicious and just the way I like them. Can't wait to give your recipe a try!
Sandhya Hariharan says
Thank you Mahy. I am pretty sure your family and yourself will love it.