These Instant Pot Refried Beans are made with just a few simple ingredients and cook in less than an hour. They're the perfect addition to burritos, tacos, or any Mexican dish. Learn how to make the best flavor Pressure Cooker Refried Beans in your pressure cooker with this fantastic recipe.
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Why This Recipe Works
The great thing about Instant Pot refried beans is that you can use them for so many different things, and it doesn’t feel like you’re just eating pinto beans.
- Adds Variety to Your Meals: You can make tacos, tostadas, chip dip, Nachos, Enchiladas, burritos, hot dog toppings, and more with this best-refried beans recipe.
- Delicious and Tasty: Making your own refried bean recipe means they aren’t bland like the canned stuff. With delicious seasonings like onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, and more, these beans can taste delicious.
- Budget Friendly: Homemade Refried Beans are Budget Friendly and you get much more for your money than buying canned beans.
📋 Ingredients
You won’t need much for this recipe! In fact, you probably already have everything you need in your pantry.
- Dried Pinto Beans: The foundation of the dish, they provide a creamy and flavorful base for the refried beans.
- Butter or Olive Oil: Adds richness and depth of flavor to the beans, enhancing their overall taste.
- Salt and Pepper: Help to bring out the flavors of the beans and balance their taste.
- Onion Powder and Garlic Powder: Provide a savory and aromatic element to the refried beans, enhancing their flavor profile.
- Paprika: Adds a subtle smokiness and a hint of sweetness to the beans, contributing to their complexity of taste.
- Chili Powder: Brings a mild spiciness and earthy flavor to the refried beans, giving them a kick.
- Ground Cumin: Adds a warm and nutty taste to the dish, enhancing its overall depth of flavor.
- Vegetable Broth or Water: Provides the cooking liquid for the beans, infusing them with savory flavors and ensuring a tender texture when cooked.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- Add Bacon Fat: Use bacon fat instead of butter or olive oil. It will add a smoky flavor to your Instant Pot refried beans. Simply cook bacon in a pan and use the bacon fat in the place of butter after pressure cooking.
- Vegetable Broth: Substitute chicken stock for the vegetable broth in this Instant Pot refried beans recipe for added flavor. However, keep in mind that it will no longer be vegetarian.
- Add Onions: You can definitely add chopped onions or green onions to your Instant Pot refried beans for added flavor. Simply sauté the onions in a pan before adding them to the Instant Pot with the rest of the ingredients.
🔪How To Make Instant Pot Refried Beans
- Step 1: Rinse your dry pinto beans. Then, place the dry rinsed beans into your Instant Pot with 5 cups of water. Seal the lid and pressure valve. Press the manual or pressure cook button and set the time for 30 minutes. Be sure to cook on high pressure.
- Step 2: Flip the pressure valve to the venting position, and manually release the electric pressure cooker when the time is up. Drain the pinto beans while keeping 2 cups of cooking liquid. Set the drained beans aside.
Now you know how to make refried beans in a pressure cooker you can make them for any meal in no time!
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Flavorful Seasoning: Enhance the flavor of your refried beans by sautéing aromatics like onions, garlic, and spices before adding the beans. This step adds depth and complexity to the dish, creating a rich and savory profile. Experiment with cumin, paprika, or chili powder for added warmth and depth.
- Blending The Beans: If you don't have a food processor you can use an immersion blender or potato masher. An immersion blender is great for mashing beans because it's easy to clean and you can blend the pinto beans right in the Instant Pot.
💭 FAQs
Cooking refried beans in the Instant Pot makes it easy to whip up huge batches of ready for whenever you need them. I love to batch-cook homemade refried beans and freeze them in the freezer for future use.
Pinto beans are the number one beans to use for refried beans. This is because they are so buttery.
If you don’t have pinto beans, navy beans or great northern beans are a good substitute. Keep in mind that using different beans can result in changing the time on your Instant Pot.
If you want creamier Instant Pot refried beans, add a bit of cream or sour cream to the Instant Pot when blending the beans. You can also add more reserved cooking liquid as needed to achieve your desired consistency.
Yes, you can make this favorite refried beans recipe in a slow cooker. Simply follow the steps above, but instead of using the pressure cook button, use the slow cook button and set it for 4-6 hours on high or 8-10 hours on low.
Allow the refried beans to cool to room temperature before storing. Transfer them to an airtight container or a covered dish. Refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking. Consume within 3-4 days for optimal freshness. For longer storage, freeze refried beans in freezer-safe containers or resealable bags. Leave some space for expansion. Label with the freezing date and store for up to 2-3 months.
Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Refried Beans:
You can serve refried beans as a side dish to any Mexican-themed meal or with rice and quesadillas.
Some other options include enchiladas, tacos, burritos, or even as a topping for nachos. They are also delicious on their own as a dip with chips. Yum!
Some of my favorite toppings for refried beans include:
- Diced Avocado.
- Diced Tomatoes.
- Fresh Cilantro.
- Shredded Cheese.
- Sour Cream.
- Black Beans.
- Kosher Salt.
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper.
🍜 Related Recipes
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Instant Pot Refried Beans
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Pinto Beans
- ½ Stick Butter
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 tablespoon Paprika
- 1 tablespoon Chili Powder
- 2 tablespoons Ground Cumin
Instructions
- Place dry rinsed beans into the Instant Pot and add 5 cups of water
- Seal the lid and pressure valve and cook on high for 30 minutes.
- Manually release pressure when finished.
- Drain beans while keeping 2 cups of liquid and set aside.
- Place the beans in a food processor with butter and spices. Blend until beans are smooth and creamy.
- Add leftover liquid 1 tablespoon at a time to achieve desired consistency.
Notes
- Flavorful Seasoning: Enhance the flavor of your refried beans by sautéing aromatics like onions, garlic, and spices before adding the beans. This step adds depth and complexity to the dish, creating a rich and savory profile. Experiment with cumin, paprika, or chili powder for added warmth and depth.
- Blending The Beans: If you don't have a food processor you can use an immersion blender or potato masher. An immersion blender is great for mashing beans because it's easy to clean and you can blend the pinto beans right in the Instant Pot.
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