Learning to cook Instant Pot Black Beans is not only a time saver, but it can also help you to put healthy high protein meals on the table. Cooking beans in the Instant Pot is super simple using this easy and fast method.
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Cooking Mexican Black Beans has never been easier! You'll love this Black beans recipe. The seasoned black beans taste fantastic and are great for immediate use. You can also store these flavorful beans and add to recipes in the future.
Why This Recipe Works
- Time-Saver: The Instant Pot reduces soaking and cooking time significantly.
- Versatile Ingredient: These beans can be used in numerous dishes, from salads to burritos.
📋 Ingredients
When cooking Instant Pot black beans you will need the following ingredients:
- Small Yellow Onion: Adds a sweet, savory base to the dish and enhances the flavor of the beans.
- Green Bell Pepper: Provides a slight bitterness and crunch, complementing the softness of the beans.
- Kosher Salt: Essential for seasoning, it brings out the flavors of the other ingredients.
- Ground Cumin: Lends a warm, earthy flavor that's integral to the overall taste profile of the dish.
- Dried Oregano: Infuses the dish with a slightly bittersweet, pungent flavor that pairs well with the beans.
- Minced Garlic: Adds a spicy, aromatic note that elevates the overall taste.
- Olive Oil: Used for sautéing the vegetables, it adds a hint of richness to the dish.
- Dried Black Beans: The star ingredient, they provide a hearty, satisfying texture and a deep, earthy flavor.
- Water or Chicken Broth or Vegetable Broth: Acts as the cooking liquid for the beans. The broth options add more flavor than water.
- Fresh Lime Juice: An optional addition, it imparts a tangy freshness that can lighten the dish.
- Cilantro: Adds a burst of fresh, herbal flavor at the end, enhancing the overall taste of the dish.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- Bean Preparation & Soaking Options: Experiment with different soaking methods—an overnight soak for a softer bean or a quick soak to save time. Alternatively, try using canned black beans (rinsed well) for an even faster version.
- Liquid & Broth Variations: Enhance flavor by using vegetable or chicken broth instead of water. Consider adding aromatics like onion, garlic, or bay leaves during cooking for a richer taste.
- Spice & Add-In Enhancements: Customize your black beans by stirring in spices such as cumin, chili powder, or smoked paprika. For extra depth, mix in diced tomatoes or a splash of lime juice after cooking, and garnish with fresh cilantro or a drizzle of olive oil.
🔪How To Cook Instant Pot Black Beans?
This method is for cooking dried black beans in the Instant Pot. Cooking dried beans takes 5 minutes longer than cooking soaked black beans.
Step One: Wash your black beans and add water to the Instant Pot. The ratio is 1 ½ cups of liquid to 1 cup of beans.
Step Two: Chop and dice your onion and bell pepper and add to your Instant Pot. Next add your black beans.
Step Three: Add your olive oil, salt, pepper, cumin, garlic and oregano to the Instant Pot.
Step Four: Secure the Instant Pot lid. Turn the pressure cooker on and set the button to pressure cook on high pressure for 30 minutes. It will take around 8 to 10 minutes to pressurize and then the cooking will begin.
Step Five: When the Instant Pot timer goes off, set a separate timer for 20 minutes and allow the steam to release naturally (that means don’t push any buttons!). This will ensure no cooking liquid spews out of the top of the Instant Pot valve. After 20 minutes there should not be any remaining pressure.
Step Six: Carefully remove your Instant Pot lid to enjoy your perfectly cooked beans! If you fancy a garnish add fresh lemon juice or lime juice and cilantro to your cooked beans.
Hint: Batch Cooking Black Beans: If cooking regularly for your family I would suggest prepping a few batches of black beans at once. Simply double your recipe and stick to the same cooking times as indicated above.
If you love this recipe then you'll also want to try our Instant Pot Arroz Con Polo recipe and these Instant Pot Steak Fajitas.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- No Soak Necessary: One of the advantages of using an Instant Pot is that you don't need to soak the black beans beforehand. You can cook them directly, which saves time and keeps the preparation simple. If you choose to soak them, however, reduce the cooking time accordingly.
- Add Flavorful Ingredients: Cook the beans with aromatics and spices to enhance their flavor. Include ingredients like onion, garlic, bay leaves, and a bit of cumin or a chili pepper for a touch of heat. These add depth to the beans and infuse them with rich flavors as they cook.
- Use the Correct Water Ratio: For unsoaked beans, a good rule of thumb is to use about 3 cups of water or broth for every 1 cup of dried beans. This ensures there's enough liquid for the beans to cook properly without becoming too dry or mushy.
- Natural Pressure Release is Key: After the cooking cycle completes, allow the pressure to release naturally. This helps the beans finish cooking and become tender without becoming overcooked or bursting. Rushing this step by using a quick release can result in harder beans.
- Season at the End: Salt can toughen beans if added too early in the cooking process. To avoid this, add salt and any acidic ingredients (like lime juice or vinegar) after the beans are fully cooked. This will enhance the flavor without affecting the texture.
💭 FAQs
The black beans cooking time can vary depending on whether or not the beans are soaked.
Soaked Black Beans Instant Pot Cooking Time: 20-25 Minutes
Hard Black Beans (No Soak) Instant Pot Cooking Time: 30 Minutes
Some recipes suggest using soaked beans rather than dry beans. This Instant Pot black beans Mexican recipe does not require you to soak beans. The main benefit of soaking beans before cooking in the Instant Pot is to reduce the cooking time.
If you decide to soak your beans, here is an easy method: Rinse and sort through your black beans, discarding any bad ones. Rinse well under cold water until there are no traces of starch.
Fill a large bowl with water and add the black beans. Allow them to soak for 3-8 hours (or soak beans overnight). Drain well before cooking on high pressure.
When cooking black beans ensure you have at least 1 ½ cups of water or broth for every cup of beans.
This black beans Instant Pot water ration works every time and is the perfect ratio in any electric pressure cooker.
Yes, you can add chili powder to this recipe. Try adding 1 teaspoon of chili powder when cooking your beans or sprinkle some on top after they are finished cooking for a bit of extra heat.
Black beans will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days. Keep in an airtight container to maintain freshness. You can freeze black beans for up to 3 months but you have to drain the liquid first.
Use Instant Pot black beans as a base for soup or chili. We have a fantastic recipe here for Instant Pot Black Bean Chili.
Black Bean Burrito Bowl: Add Instant Pot black beans to a burrito bowl along with rice, cheese, lettuce and salsa. Check out this Instant Pot Chicken Burrito Recipe with Black Beans.
Refried Black Beans: Make refried black beans by mashing cooked black beans with a fork and adding spices. Add cayenne pepper if you like them spicy! You can also add tomatoes for more authentic refried beans taste. Try it on top of Instant Pot Stuffed Poblanos.
Black Bean Burgers: Make Black Bean Burgers by mixing mashed black beans with beetroot and spices, onion, bell pepper and fresh cilantro.
Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite side dishes to serve with Black Beans:
Love Mexican black beans but are unsure how to serve them? Here are some serving suggestions:
- Black beans are of course traditionally served with rice and corn tortillas, but they make for great side dishes too.
- You can serve black beans as a side dish with Mexican-style quinoa, Instant Pot White Rice, brown rice, Spanish Rice or even pasta.
- You can also serve black beans with fried plantains, cooked Sweet Potato or even in a taco salad.
- You could also add diced tomatoes to your seasoned black turtle beans to make a delicious beans recipe to enjoy.
🍜 Related Recipes
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Instant Pot Black Beans
Ingredients
- 1 Onion
- 1 Green Bell Pepper
- 1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
- 1 Teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 1 Teaspoon Minced Garlic
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 2 Cups Dried Black Beans Will make 8 servings
- 3 Cups Water or Chicken Broth or Vegetable Broth
- Fresh Lime Juice Optional 2 Tbs
- 1 Teaspoon Cilantro
Instructions
- This method is for cooking dried black beans in the Instant Pot. Cooking dried beans takes 5 minutes longer than cooking soaked black beans.
- Add your black beans and water to the Instant Pot.
- Chop and dice your onion and bell pepper and add to your Instant Pot.
- Add your olive oil, salt, pepper, cumin, garlic and oregano to the Instant Pot.
- Secure the Instant Pot lid. Turn the pressure cooker on and set the button to pressure cook on high pressure for minutes. (30 minutes if using non-soaked)
- It will take around 8 to 10 minutes to pressurize, and then the cooking will begin.
- When the Instant Pot timer goes off, set a separate timer for 20 minutes and allow the steam to release naturally (that means don’t push any buttons!).
- This will ensure no cooking liquid spews out of the top of the Instant Pot valve.
- After 20 minutes, there should not be any remaining pressure.
- Carefully remove your Instant Pot lid to enjoy your perfectly cooked beans!
- If you fancy a garnish, add fresh lemon juice or lime juice and cilantro to your cooked beans.
Notes
Nutrition
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