Forget about canned black beans and learn how to cook black beans using an Instant Pot at home for better flavor and texture. Bonus – I’ve included 4 easy and healthy recipes with black beans you can prep ahead and store in the fridge or in the freezer for a great meal prep black beans option during the week!
I love black beans. Actually, I love any type of beans. But black beans have a special place in my heart. They are high in protein, high in fiber, and versatile. They have an intense flavor and dense texture. YUM! And there are so many health benefits of black beans that it would be a shame NOT to include them in my diet.
Have you ever made your own homemade black beans recipes using dried black beans, rather than canned? Believe it or not – it’s easier to cook black beans in an Instant Pot (or pressure cooker) than to soak them and cook them on the stove. Yay! Plus, you can add all sorts of flavors and the texture is waaaaay better than canned beans.
Why not just buy canned beans? Canned beans are a great option to have on hand if you need a quick addition of beans and you don’t have the time to make your own. The taste is shockingly way better when you cook black beans at home. Not to mention the texture! I didn’t know beans could taste this way! Seriously, the texture of black beans from using an Instant Pot is pure perfection.
Aside from the texture and flavor, you avoid unwanted additives and can lining toxins AND you save money as well because dried beans are super cheap. Big winner.
Sound good? Awesome…I’ll teach you how to cook black beans in Instant Pot and I’m sure you’ll never want to go back to cooking black beans in the traditional way ever again. And I have 4 recipes with black beans that I’m pretty sure you’ll love as much as I do!
HOW TO MAKE BLACK BEANS IN THE INSTANT POT
Before talking about my 4 amazeballs recipes with black beans and about the health benefits of black beans, let’s discuss the most important thing – how to cook black beans in an Instant Pot.
So… cooking black beans in Instant Pot requires about 3 cups of water for every cup of beans. For basic black beans, follow these easy steps:
- combine the beans with water in the bowl of the Instant Pot;
- cover with the lid and turn the vent at the top to the “sealed” position;
- set the Instant Pot to cook on Manual for 25 minutes at high pressure;
- allow 20 minutes for the steam pressure to release naturally before removing the lid;
- drain the beans;
- season and serve them or store them in air-tight containers.
See how easy it is to make black beans in instant pot? So easy. You have to give it a try!
HEALTH BENEFITS OF BLACK BEANS
About those black beans health benefits now… Oh, they are plenty! And that makes me happy. Because anything that’s healthy and delicious makes me happy.
Black beans are…
- a form of complex carbs that give you energy without spiking up your blood sugar levels;
- high in protein;
- high in fiber;
- rich in vitamins – vitamin K and B vitamins;
- rich in minerals including magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, and calcium;
- great for heart health – they contain quercetin and saponin that promote heart health;
- only 114 calories per cup.
Gotta love them beans! Am I right?
DO YOU HAVE TO SOAK BLACK BEANS?
Another important question you might have about Instant Pot black beans – do you have to soak black beans?
You’re in for more great news! These is no need to soak black beans if you’re going to be using an Instant Pot to cook them. Woot! I repeat, these are no-soak black beans in the Instant Pot! That means you don’t have to prep the beans then wait hours to be able to cook them.
The reason you would normally soak black beans is to reduce the time of cooking. But you already do that if you make Instant Pot black beans so there really isn’t a reason for soaking them anymore.
HOW LONG TO COOK BLACK BEANS
Ok, I mentioned that the time won’t be a problem if you make Instant Pot black beans, which is true. Just by skipping soaking, you erase a few hours of prepping time. You can cook black beans for dinner whenever you want to. And hey, that’s a plus for me.
If found that for my recipes with black beans, cooking black beans for 20-40 minutes (depending on the recipe) plus 20 minutes to release the pressure naturally in the Instant Pot is perfect.
I know it’s still approximately 1 hour but… it’s also hands-free cooking. So you can simply forget about the beans and do something else while the Instant Pot takes care of the cooking for you.
WHAT TO MAKE WITH BLACK BEANS
We covered how to cook black beans, how long to cook black beans… what else there is to talk about? What to make with black beans, of course! The best part! And my favorite part! I’m betting you agree!
I have 4 options for you – plain black beans you can use in pretty much any recipe that requires cooked black beans, Cuban black beans, “refried” black beans, and black beans and rice in our Instant Pot. Yum!
BTW, these recipes with black beans are perfect to make in bulk for meal prep. You can store them in airtight containers in the fridge or in the freezer and reach out for them any time you crave a yummy side, a delicious main dish or your favorite recipe that requires cooked black beans.
Here we go!
INSTANT POT NO-SOAK PLAIN BLACK BEANS
Use these delicious, plum, and tender Instant Pot No-Soak Plain Black Beans just like you would regular low sodium canned black beans and they can be added to any recipe.
- 1 lb dried black beans (about 2 cups), no need to soak
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 3 cups water
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Rinse and drain the beans and pick out any stones or bad, cracked-looking beans. Set aside.
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Add the water, sea salt, and beans and stir.
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Cover and seal the Instant Pot. Cook on HIGH pressure for 35 minutes. When the timer goes off, allow the steam to release naturally for 20 additional minutes.
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Remove the lid. Enjoy warm or let cool completely and store in individual containers.
These beans are intentionally NOT seasoned so that you can use them in any recipe, from Black Bean Brownies to Black Bean Soup. If you want to eat them right away, be sure to season them AFTER they are tender, as salt can interfere with cooking.
INSTANT POT CUBAN BLACK BEANS
Instant Pot Cuban Black Beans are easy to make and full of flavor. Pair them with rice and enjoy them as a healthy vegan dinner or with eggs and indulge in a delicious vegetarian breakfast.
- 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 3 cloves garlic (about 1 tablespoon), minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 lb dried back beans
- 3 cups water
- 1 bay leaf
- Optional for serving: jalapeno, red onion, cilantro
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Rinse and drain the beans and pick out any stones or bad, cracked-looking beans. Set aside.
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Set the Instant Pot to SAUTE and add the olive oil. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add the onion, bell pepper, and salt. Cook until the vegetables soften, about 4 to 6 minutes.
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Stir in the cumin, oregano, and garlic and cook until the spices are very fragrant, about 30 seconds.
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Add the tomato paste and stir to combine.
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Add the beans and water, and stir.
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Cover and seal the Instant Pot. Cook on HIGH pressure for 35 minutes.
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When the timer goes off, allow the steam to release naturally for 20 additional minutes. Remove the lid.
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Remove the bay leaf and discard it. Enjoy warm or let cool completely and store in individual containers.
INSTANT POT SPICY “REFRIED” BLACK BEANS
Spicy, flavorful, and totes delicious, these spicy Instant Pot Refried Black Beans can be enjoyed as a main dish or a side dish. You can also use them as a filling or a healthy dip.
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb dried black beans (about 2 cups), rinsed and drained
- 3 1/2 cups water
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 jalapeño, seeds removed (optional)
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
- optional topping: cotija cheese and diced avocado
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Heat the Instant Pot on Saute and add oil. Once hot, add minced jalapeño, and cook for 2-3 minutes or until tender. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add ground cumin, chipotle chili powder, salt, and stir.
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Add freshly squeezed lime juice, dried black beans that have been rinsed, and water, to the Instant Pot, and then stir to combine. Secure the lid, and then heat on Manual at high pressure for 25 minutes. Then allow to release naturally for 20 minutes.
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To mash our beans, we can use either an immersion blender for a super smooth texture or a potato masher for chunkier beans (which is what I prefer). Don’t worry that it seems a little too liquid at first — they will thicken as they cool and set.
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Then top with a little chopped crumbled cotija cheese and avocado to serve!
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Top with chopped cilantro, jalapeños and cotija cheese before serving!
INSTANT POT BLACK BEANS AND RICE
Instant Pot Black Beans And Rice are a healthy, nutritious, and delicious vegan meal you can easily prep ahead of time for stress-free weeknight dinners.
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups brown rice, rinsed (uncooked)
- 1 1/2 cups dried black beans
- 2 cups fresh tomatoes (approx 4 tomatoes), diced
- 2 cups low sodium vegetable broth
- 3 cups water
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- optional topping: lime wedge
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Rinse the black beans and remove any debris. Set aside.
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Press the Saute button on the Instant Pot and allow it to get hot, then add the olive oil. Add the diced yellow onions and saute until translucent. Then, add minced garlic and cook for a minute more, until fragrant.
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Add the cumin, chili powder, oregano, sea salt, cayenne, and stir.
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Add diced fresh tomatoes with juice, our rinsed black beans, and uncooked brown rice. Then, pour in low sodium vegetable broth and water, and stir to combine.
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Lock the Instant Pot lid in place and set the pressure release valve to "sealing". Cook on high pressure for 30 minutes. Then, allow the pressure to release naturally for 20 minutes before opening the lid.
3 MORE HEALTHY RECIPES WITH BLACK BEANS
I’m thinking these recipes with black beans created an appetite for black beans. Am I right? Hopefully, because the health benefits of black beans are undeniably amazing and the taste of black bean dishes is so so so good. So I have 3 more recipes with black beans for ya!
HEALTHY BLACK BEAN HUMMUS RECIPE
My favorite spread got a delicious remake and turned into this Healthy Black Bean Hummus Recipe. It’s so good!
You can use the plain black beans recipe I provided in this post to make this yummy and delicious Black Bean Hummus. And, let me tell you something, black beans + hummus = YUMMY. Get the recipe.
SPICY QUINOA BLACK BEAN VEGAN ENCHILADA
This Spicy Quinoa and Black Bean Vegan Enchiladas is another delicious and easy idea for black beans. And it’s vegan!
Whether you’re vegan or not, you’ll love the Spicy Quinoa and Black Bean Vegan Enchiladas. It’s flavorful, delicious, and super healthy. Get the recipe.
SLOW COOKER CHICKEN BURRITO BOWLS
I love healthy lunch and dinner bowls. They are easy to put together and full of goodness like these Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowls.
In these Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowls, you have cauliflower rice, cooked beans, chicken, avocado, and tomatoes. Delicious! Get the recipe.
How To Make Instant Pot Black Beans + 4 Amazing Instant Pot Black Beans Recipe
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I know it’s in your recipe as a “garnish”, but traditionally jalapeños do not go on or near Cuban black beans; Cuban cuisine is NOT spicy!
in the preview you say 3 cups water per cup of beans, recipe says 3 cup of water and 2 cup of beans. I’m confused