Instant Pot Refried Beans
These Instant Pot Refried Beans have me rethinking an age-old question that confronts me every time I go out for Mexican food: “Would you like black or refried beans with that?”
Up until making this pressure cooker pinto bean recipe, I always answered black beans. In fact, I’ve probably ordered enough waves of black beans and rice to fuel all of our Taco Tuesdays (and Taco Thursdays) from now until next January.
We grew up eating Mexican food every Sunday after church (and Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas on Christmas), and back in those days, I was a refried bean girl. At some point, I transitioned over to black beans and sort of forgot about poor pinto.
Friends, I have been MISSING OUT!
Refried beans are delicious. <—Do I really need to tell you that? Am I the only one who has been in a black bean bubble? You also don’t need to go out to dinner to enjoy them. This Instant Pot Refried Beans recipe is a snap to make at home, AND they are much much healthier for you than any refried beans you’ll find in a restaurant.
After sharing these Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos, I thought it would be fun to revisit this staple recipe, in case you are in need of a stellar side to go with them. To show just how quick and easy these are, I’m adding a video below for you as well.
This Instant Pot recipe covers both how to make Instant Pot pinto beans and Instant Pot refried beans. We love both.
Whether you keep the beans whole or mash them for refried beans, they are freezer friendly. You can dress them up or down as much as you like.
As written, these refried beans are vegan, but if you prefer to make Instant Pot Refried Beans with bacon as many restaurants do, I have a suggestion for you there too.
This Instant Pot Refried Beans recipe was inspired by my Instant Pot Black Beans, which are so simple and tasty, they’ve convinced a number of you to ditch canned beans altogether. I won’t be surprised if these Instant Pot Refried Beans have similar results. They are just as easy and tasty!
(For Instant Pot inspiration, check out this 15 Healthy Instant Pot Recipes post. Now, let’s get to making those refried beans!)
How to Make the Best Instant Pot Refried Beans
Here are the critical pieces of information you need to know to make an (Instant) pot full of refried beans that taste like they came from a restaurant!
ONE: Choose the Right Beans
- First things first: If you’ve been wondering what kinds of beans are used to make refried beans, the answer is pinto.
- You can follow a similar mashing process outlined here with black or other beans, but pinto are traditional, so that’s what I used in the recipe.
TWO: Skip the Presoak
- Don’t presoak the beans! The beauty of making refried beans in the Instant Pot is that you don’t need to soak the beans in advance to speed up the cooking time. The pressure cooker takes care of it.
THREE: No Canned Beans, Please
- Don’t be tempted to make Instant Pot Refried Beans with canned beans. The superior flavor and texture of this recipe comes from starting with dry pinto beans.
FOUR: FLAVOR
- This Instant Pot Refried Beans recipe has stellar smacks thanks to the addition of onion, jalapeño, bay leaves, and classic Southwest spices like cumin and cayenne. Feel free to adjust to your desired level of spice.
Recipe Variations
- If you’d like Instant Pot Refried Beans bacon-style, you could sauté the veggies in rendered bacon fat instead. Then call me. I’m coming over with Skinny Margaritas.
- To keep the Instant Pot Refried Beans vegan, just follow the recipe as written. It’s still delicious without meat or dairy (and I’ll still come over with margs!).
Which Instant Pot to Buy (and What to Do if You Don’t Have One)
- For those of you who have not yet taken the plunge to purchase an Instant Pot, this is the model I own.
- You can also check out my recipe for Crock Pot Pinto Beans, which can either be enjoyed whole or turned into refried beans. They take much longer but are still absolutely scrumptious.
How to Store Instant Pot Refried Beans
This Instant Pot Refried Beans recipe yields a generous batch. I recommend portioning them into individual containers, then thawing them as needed.
- To refrigerate or freeze in containers: Let the beans cool completely. Place the beans in airtight containers of desired size. Refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- To freeze flat (great for saving space!): Let the beans cool completely, then portion them into ziptop freezer bags labeled with the date. Seal the bags, removing as much air as possible, and squish the beans so that the bag lays flat. Freeze flat for up to 3 months.
- To reheat: If the beans are frozen, let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Warm the beans gently on the stove or in the microwave. The beans thicken as they cool, so if you’d like to thin them out, add a bit of water or vegetable broth.
- You can store the beans mashed (refried) or unmashed.
How to Use Instant Pot Refried Beans
- Mashed, these beans are great for adding to burritos or piling on avocado toast.
- Left whole, I love using them anytime I need canned pinto beans or in place of black beans in other Mexican recipes like these Vegetarian Enchiladas.
Instant Pot Refried Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound dry pinto beans — 2 cups
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion — chopped into 1/4-inch dice
- 1 jalapeno — cored, seeded, and finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic — minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken stock or vegetable stock — divided
- 3 cups water
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper — optional
- For serving: queso fresco or shredded Monterey jack cheese — diced tomatoes, diced red onion, chopped fresh cilantro, avocado (optional)
Instructions
- Place the pinto beans in a large colander. Thoroughly rinse them. Pick the beans over, removing any damaged or clearly misshapen beans and discarding them. Set the rinsed beans aside.
- Turn a 6-quart (or larger) Instant Pot to SAUTE. Add the oil. Once the oil is hot, add the onion and jalapeno. Sauté for 2 minutes, then add the garlic and let cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add a few splashes of chicken stock and scrape along the bottom of the pot to remove any stuck-on bits of food (this will prevent a BURN warning). Add the remaining stock, water, bay leaves, salt, cumin, oregano, cayenne, and the rinsed and drained beans. Lightly stir to combine.
- Seal the Instant Pot. Cook on HIGH (manual) for 45 minutes. When the 45 minutes of pressure cooking has finished, let the pressure release naturally for 25 minutes. Vent to release any remaining pressure. Carefully open the lid. The beans will be very liquidy.
- Discard the bay leaves. Reserve 2 cups of the bean cooking liquid in a bowl or measuring cup, then drain the remainder. Return to the beans to the pot. With an immersion blender (or by hand with a potato masher), puree the beans until they reach your desired consistency, adding some of the reserved liquid as needed. (You can also scoop the beans into a blender in batches and puree them that way—be sure to let the beans cool somewhat first so that they do not splatter). Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Sprinkle with any desired toppings, serve, and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- Refrigerate leftover beans or freeze for up to 3 months.
- For easy portions: Let the beans cool COMPLETELY, then portion them into ziptop freezer bags labeled with the date. Seal the bags, removing as much air as possible, and squish the beans so that the bag lays flat. Freeze flat for simple storage. Let the beans thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat gently on the stove with a splash of water or stock as needed to thin them back out.
Nutrition Information
Amount per serving (1 /2 cup) — Calories: 76, Fat: 1g, Carbohydrates: 24g, Fiber: 15g, Sugar: 1g, Protein: 8gDid you try this recipe? I want to see! Follow Well Plated on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag it #wellplated. I love to know what you are making!
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I can’t wait to try these!
I hope you love the recipe, Rachel!
Oh my YUM!
Thanks, Gaby!
I want to make this in a smaller portion so i can try it in a burrito! This looks so good!
This recipe is definitely awesome for burritos! (And it’s freezer-friendly so you could save individual portions for later!)
I have an 8qt instant pot, do you think I could double this recipe? If so, would you recommend increasing the cook time? I have been instructed to make a big ol’ pot of beans for a large party. ?
Hi Allana, I haven’t tried it with a larger pot, so I can’t say for certain! I’d start with 1.5x the recipe as a first experiment before doing double. I’d love to hear how it goes if you give it a try!
I doubled the recipe in my 8qt with no other changes to the instructions and they turned out great!
When you doubled the recipe did you also double the cooking time, or keep it the same? Thanks!
Hi Barbara! Based on some of Georgia’s previous comments, I believe she left the cooking time the same. I hope this helps!
So yummy! Made these several times. Took them to a party and everyone loved them!! Such a good recpie for people with dietary restrictions.
I’m so happy to hear that this recipe was a hit, Amber! Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review!
These were SO good. My husband was amazed we had refried beans that actually had flavor (he thinks the canned type are flavorless). I agree – they are full of flavor and easy to make. Definitely adding this to our rotation – perfect for Taco Tuesday!
Hooray! I’m so glad they were a hit. Thanks so much for taking the time to report back!
Amazing ❤️ I make a pot every few days… I make mine extra spicy so yummy
Debbie, I’m so glad you enjoyed them! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave this wonderful review!
I made these homemade refried beans for vegetarian tacos, served on corn tortilla taco shells and topped with a few toppings. Delicious!
I’m glad you mentioned not using canned beans as I might have used them. Also, your recipe makes it fairly simple to make it more or less spicy.
I’m glad to hear that Maureen!
I’ve been looking everywhere for the perfect “non-greasy” re-fried beans and this is it! Amazing flavor without a lot of animal fat (vegetarian option).
I’m glad you found it here, Ancy! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!
Hi Erin! I’m new to instant pot, I just got mine and your beans were the first thing I made! I think I ate half the batch hahaha I couldn’t stop, they are too delicious! I saved the cooking liquid to use as a soup base this week, but I was wondering what the reasoning is for using so much liquid to cook the beans? Would it be possible/safe to use half as much liquid? I am also wondering if you think a 6qt instant pot could hold 1.5 x the recipe- I’ll need to make more now that I’ve already eaten half the beans!! Thank you for the simple and delish recipe!!
Hi Elizabeth, this is the way I tested the recipe, but if you’re finding yourself with tons of leftover liquid, you’re welcome to experiment with reducing the amount. You do have to make sure to at least stick with the minimum amount needed to get the IP up to pressure. I don’t have any specific measurements to suggest, but if you decide to play around I’d love to hear how it goes. I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the beans!
I tried this recipe using 4 cups of liquid and didn’t need to drain the beans. I let it cool and then blended them in my food processor. It was perfect for a thick consistency. Next time I may cook on high for a few more minutes to make the beans a bit softer, otherwise I love this recipe.
Dorothy, thank you for reporting back! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Hi Erin, I’m using really old beans. Should I soak them first?
Hi Claire! I have not tried this recipe with old beans, but you could certainly soak them first. I hope you love the recipe!
I was looking for an instant pot refried beans recipe that we could make with dried pintos and hit the jackpot! So flavorful, especially when using the bacon fat instead of oil. They were fantastic! My husband and I enjoyed them so much; these will be in heavy rotation!
Hooray! I’m glad the recipe is a winner, Jill. Thanks for taking the time to leave this review too!
I halved everything, still very good.
Chris, thank you for taking the time to leave this review! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe.
These have really good flavor! I was in a hurry & I didn’t take out enough water when I mashed then and ended up with more of a bean soup! Ugh!! I should’ve known better being Mexican and was raised on beans!! ? Thanks for the recipe.
Sandra, I’m glad you loved the flavors! If you’d like them thicker, you could try reducing them on the stove to see if that helps. Thanks for letting me know how they came out!
Made this today and it’s delicious! So glad to have a great recipe to use to make our own beans! Saving my left over liquid for next week’s batch of beans!
YAY Laura! I am so happy to hear it. Thank for letting me know how it came out!
I doubled the recipe in my 8qt with no other changes to the instructions and they turned out great! Thanks for posting!
Thank YOU for sharing this review and your tip about doubling Georgina!
Hello, I have an Instapot Mini (3QT) can I still make this recipe?
Rachel, just heard from you on IG—so glad it worked out in your mini!
Made these tonight, turned out great! Didn’t have Jalapenos but will add next time:)
I’m glad you enjoyed them, Echo! Thanks for taking the time to review the recipe!
Made this for a Mexican themed Christmas Party and they were a big hit. We took some, froze some and keep some home for breakfast burritos. Best refrieds ever.
I’m happy to hear they were a hit, Mike! Thanks for taking the time to leave this review.
Not good. After 45 minutes pressure cooking and 25 minutes release, the beans were still hard and UNCOOKED!
Hi Mitch, I’m sorry to hear you didn’t have success with the technique. One possibility could be the age of the beans you used—the older they are, the longer they take to soften. (And sometimes beans are so old they don’t soften at all!) I know it’s disappointing to try something new and not have it come out, so I wish it would have turned out differently for you!
My beans were hard too so I just put them back on for another 30 minutes. I did have old beans, but the extra time did the trick!
Thanks for sharing, Jill! I’m happy that they turned out!
Just tried these and they were amazing! They cooked up perfectly and the flavor was terrific! It’s a must keep recipe for me! Thanks for sharing!
Hooray! I’m glad you enjoyed them, Tracy. Thanks for leaving this wonderful review too!
How much sodium in a serving?
Hi Jennifer! If you’d like to calculate sodium information, you can do it for free using an online calculator like MyFitnessPal! You can plug in the URL of this recipe and customize it based on the brands of ingredients you use.
Last week, I made the refried beans from the recipe that came in the book with my Instant Pot. I stumbled across your recipe and decided to make it tonight. I didn’t have bay leaves, but followed the recipe as written otherwise. My hubby, daughter, and I all decided to keep your recipe and ditch the other. Great flavor and texture (beans were perfectly cooked). Thanks for the great IP recipes!
Kitsel, I’m so glad to hear the recipe was a winner! Thanks for taking the time to leave this review!
Hi Erin! Thanks for this recipe. I am going to try it.
I save bacon fat and would like to use it in this recipe. I’m unclear on what you mean by sauteing the veggies in bacon fat instead. Could you expound on this or point me to your instructions.
Hi! Instead of using the 2 teaspoons of olive oil in the recipe, you could use bacon fat instead. I hope that helps!
That was my guess, but I’m not a very experienced cook despite being a senior citizen. I made the beans yesterday in my Instant Pot and did the bacon fat substitution. They came out very, very good but I didn’t have 2 cups of liquid to reserve. In fact, I had to add a bit of water (should have used chicken broth – DOH) in order to blend them with my immersion blender.
I’m going to experiment a bit with future batches to learn how to manipulate the flavors and spiciness levels. Thank you again for sharing the recipe.
Thank you for taking the time to report back! I really appreciate it!
Delicious and easy! Doesn’t get any better than that! The first time I made them I failed to read the part about draining out the liquid at the end before mashing so I ended up with mashed bean soup – which was delicious by the way. I just finished making my second batch including draining the liquid before mashing. The texture is great and the flavor is incredible. So easy and inexpensive to make with the instant pot. The one question I had was about saving the liquid and using it the next time I made them. Or maybe using it to make soup somehow. I tasted the broth and it was pretty good and hated to dump it down the drain. Anyway – thanks for the great recipe!
Hi Steve! Another reader saved the cooking liquid to make a soup base. I’m glad to hear you enjoy the recipe!
Was looking for an instant pot version off my crockpot one. I made these as shown except for more olive oil. I liked them but next time I’ll add a couple Tbsp of tomato paste and a grated carrot like my crockpot recipe has. I liked how fast it came together and that I didn’t have to plan too much ahead like I do with the crockpot and soaking method I had used. Thanks
Leeann, I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for taking the time to share this review too!
Perfect recipe as posted. If my kids aren’t eating them, I might add more spice. :)
Thank you for leaving a review, Melissa! I’m glad the recipe was a success!
I’m loving your instant pot recipes! I got one recently and was super intimidated by it at first, but I found your blog and it’s been really helpful. I have found that for me, adding a 3-5 minutes helps the beans cook through better, but overall great recipes!
Cece, I am so pleased to hear this. Thank you for letting me know and sharing what cooktime works best for you as well!
Just made my first batch of “refried beans” Very tasty, will make yummy tostadas for dinner tonight.
I used a slotted spoon to separate all the bean goodness from all the juices. Mashed up the beans and kept all the “juices” to make bean soup! Too much good flavor in those juices to disguard.
Julie, I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe, and I’m sure the soup will be good too! Thanks for taking the time to leave this awesome review!
I’m new to Instapot cooking. This was my first bean recipe and it turned out amazing! I portioned out the leftovers and froze them. These were so much better then canned beans. They were as good as the ones at restaurants. I didn’t have a lot of leftover liquid though. Just enough to add back. SO good! Thank agaIn
YAY! So glad to hear it Beth, thank you!
These were great (and man, how amazing is it that you can cook dried beans in 45 minutes?!). I added 2 tsp of liquid smoke and some chipotle peppers in adobo sauce for a smokier flavor- turned out really well! Thanks!
Laura, thank you for taking the time to share this review! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed the beans!
Great recipe! I added 1tsp of smoked paprika instead of cayenne. First time I used InstantPot. Using the leftover liquid to make another batch today. Very hard water here in AZ so will try 55 min for a softer bean. Thanks Erin!
Thanks for sharing these notes, Risa! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe!
These were really yummy! I mashed them with the amount of cooking water I THOUGHT I needed, and then almost threw away the rest. I put the beans aside for a while, until I finished cooking the rest of the meal. When I went back, they seemed to have absorbed all the previous water and needed more!! SO glad I still had some cooking water left. Just a thought, in case anyone else experiences this? I will definitely be making these again int the future! Thanks for a great recipe!
Thanks for sharing your experience! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed the beans.
So bland, maybe because I’m from Arizona? But I didn’t use bacon. I would double everything with flavor, from the garlic to the spices. I’m probably going to throw all this out.
Hi Kimberly, I’m sorry to hear the flavor wasn’t to your taste. You can add additional spices after it’s cooked, and it sounds like you know just what you’d change next time.
I do t agree with you at all. There was nothing bland about these. I gree up on Indian food, so I’m no stranger to spice…
Delicious!! I’ve never tried making my own refried beans, but so glad I found your recipe first! Thank you, I look forward to trying more of your recipes.
Brenda, I am so pleased to hear you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for taking time to let me know. It means a lot!
This recipe was the first thing I made in my new Instant Pot. It is excellent. I will be making some bean burritos for my Weight Watchers diet.
After they were done and mashed (not blended) I did add a bit more salt, smoked paprika (I’ll use this next time) and god forbid a couple of dashes of Accent (MSG). I’ve read enough about MSG lately to not have any concern.
Now if next time I could avoid dropping one side of the pot when pouring into the colander and soaking the mail on the counter, that would be great.
Thank you so much!
I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe, Brian! Thanks for taking the time to share this review.
I made this tonight. It was absolutely perfect! I will be making this again and again!
Hooray! Thanks for reporting back, Mona. I’m glad you enjoy them!
This was, like other commenters, my first attempt at making beans in my instant pot, and WOW what a great start! I ended up using mushroom stock (it’s what I had) and it turned out wonderfully. I might be braver next time and add more cayenne or leave the seeds in the jalapeños for more heat, but overall just lovely! Thanks!
Nataleigh, I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for taking the time to share this review!
I deeply love refried beans, I am an expert on refried beans. My beans are so delicious my meat loving better half says he can eat this (vegan-style) everyday. You are such a wonde4ful cook, I love you to pieces.
There is an organic chicken-apple sausage that, on occasion, I will dice up, cook it in butter, remove, it doesn’t take but a few mins, then add more butter, cook the onions, garlic & sliced hot peppers. I do not eat pork & no one would miss it. I’m so delighted to see your instant pot recipe & I must make it tomorrow. I am new at using the instant pot. Thank you so much for all your hard work. Take care!…
Laura, I hope you love the recipe if you decide to give it a try!
Hi Erin! I’d love to try these but I don’t have an Instapot. Can I make these in my crockpot?
Hi Kristen, check out my crock pot version of the recipe here! https://www.wellplated.com/crock-pot-pinto-beans/
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I made these tonight with the bang bang shrimp tacos which I have reviewed these separately. (They were fabulous BTW). The beans were spot on as far a time to cook and naturally release the pressure. I’m not so sure about the bay leaves. I thought it needed some extra salt. Maybe my taster was off by those heat packing shrimps that I was eating at the same time. I will definitely try them again and jazz up the seasonings a pinch. Very easy to make and these beans can cook while preparing something else to make with it. Nice job. I will be making them again. Thanks a million for continuing to share some yummy delights.
Thanks for sharing your feedback, Diane! I’m glad to hear you enjoyed them!
Excellent and easy! Thank u?
Thanks for sharing this review, Wendy! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Hi! Could I half this recipe? Would the cooking time still be the same? Thank you!
Hi Jenny, I haven’t experimented with half of the recipe, so I can’t say for certain, but I believe the cook time should be the same. If you give it a try, I’d love to hear how it goes.
Thank you for this recipe! I’ve had my IP for the better part of a year and use it often, but never for refried beans until yesterday. These are the most flavorful, best-tasting refried beans I have ever tasted! As to the water: here’s what I did, and would work if you have some time to spare. After going through the cycle, mine were watery, but I didn’t need them then, so I just kept it on the automatic warm cycle after they were finished and took the lid off. The water eventually evaporated and the beans had even more time to soak up the flavor. I used sautéed onion, garlic, bay leaves, cumin, chili powder, a diced jalapeño. S & P, some cayenne pepper, some homemade chicken stock and the required water. Let it hang out for several hours then hit it with my immersion blender. It was absolutely fantastic. I was amazed to get so much flavor from dried beans that I didn’t soak before hand, but I think the IP pushes in the flavor rather than have them soak up water. I’m not sure I’ll buy canned refried beans again. Thank you!!!
Thanks for sharing your notes, Jennifer! I’m so glad to hear the recipe is a hit.
I made this tonight for taco night. The result was fabulous. I prepared as directed and used a potato masher instead of blender. I didn’t want them to be too smooth.
Thanks for sharing this review, Ginger! I’m glad the recipe was a hit.
Thank you for this recipe! These were fantastic. Everyone in the family enjoyed them.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Lisa! Thanks for taking the time to report back!
I halved the recipe with no issue. Loved it, yummy good!
Thanks for reporting back, May! I’m glad it was a hit!
made this with tomato bouillon cube instead of broth and used about 3 habaneros in place of jalapeños. didn’t mash beans. best beans I’ve made
I am so so soooo happy to hear this. Thank you for sharing your feedback and taking time to leave this wonderful review!
These were delicious!! I followed the recipe exactly and everyone loves them. I’m not normally a beans-girl too!
Hooray! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe, Heather!
Erin,
Thank you for sharing, totally the best refried beans ever! tops the restaurants!!
Carol, thank you for sharing this review! I’m so glad you enjoyed the beans.
Hi!! I made this and I thought the flavors were awesome. However, I wonder if some presoak would help, because I didn’t feel that the consistency was what I wanted, and some of the beans felt undercooked.
Hi Niru, I’m glad you enjoyed the flavor! The texture of the beans sometimes can depend on the age of the beans (older ones take longer), but you can definitely try the presoak if you wish!
These are literally the BEST pinto refried beans I have ever had. Better than any Mexican restaurant. I always double the recipe and use about 10-11 cups of veggie broth. I use chipotle chili powder for a smokier taste. They freeze beautifully and are also delicious just as is without blenderizing. Thank you for this wonderful recipe!!!!
This comment made my day, Heidi! Thank you so much for sharing your feedback!
Very tasty! Perfect, creamy & delicious. Thank you for the recipe. My only issue is using my instant pot. Sadly, it seems mine takes longer and I haven’t mastered anything on it yet. I had to add an extra hour to my cooking, but they were still cooked fast and I was very happy.
Thank you, Michele! I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe!
These were the best ‘refried’ beans I’ve ever had. Thank you so much for the recipe! We are having our roof replaced and we have a crew of 7 working in this summer heat so I’m making them again today to add a side to their lunch. The beans have so much flavor and so little fat. Great stuff!
I’m SO happy to hear this, Jennifer! Thank you for taking the time to leave this kind review!
My family loves this recipe. Thank you! We live in CO at 7, 220 ft. I followed the instructions, but some of my beans didn’t soften as much as they should have. Since I’m new to Instapot cooking, I don’t know if I need to cook them longer, add more liquid, let them vent longer or some combination.
Thank you so much for sharing, Monica! I’m happy your family enjoyed the recipe! I’m sorry you had trouble with the beans, you could try cooking them a little longer to soften them further.
I’ll try cooking longer each time in 5 minute increments and see what happens.
Let me know how they turn out, Monica!
This is quite honestly the best refried beans recipe I’ve made. Absolutely delicious. I’ve made them may times. I find that you only need to put a bit of liquid back into the beans during the blending process, and the leftover liquid is too delicious to waste so I freeze it! I’ve reused it to make soup, and I’ve also used it again to make a smaller batch of beans. Wonderful recipe!
This comment MADE my day, Heather! Thank you much for taking the time to share this kind review! I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe!
I have made these multiple times and love them! Have always gotten positive feedback from friends who have tried them. What I have started to do is pull about half of the beans out of the instant pot after they’ve cooked to eat them as is – in salads, tacos, etc, and then blend the rest to make the refried beans. Excellent flavor and super easy to make.
My favorites got lost so I was really worried I wouldn’t be able to find this recipe online again – so glad I did. Off to make another batch!
What a great idea, Steve! Thank you for sharing! I’m so happy this recipe has been a hit!
I made this today and it was AMAZING!
YAY! Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review, Ellie!
Made these tonight, and subbed roasted Hatch chilis for the jalapeno. Didn’t have any broth, so used just water, and it still turned out so good! This recipe is a keeper.
I’m not sure why 2 cups of liquid is reserved, though. What am I supposed to do with it?
Hi Barbara! I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe! In Step 4, you use the reserved liquid during blending as needed. I hope this helps!
I love this recipe! I’m getting ready to make these for the 4th time! They have such great flavor and are so easy to make! I usually freeze at least 1/2 and the reheat really well!
I’m SO happy to hear this, Arienne! Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review!
Making this a second time using hot peppers from my garden. Tastes so much better than the glop you usually get at a restaurant. Thanks for the recipe!
I’m so happy to hear that this was a hit, Greg! Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review!
These are SOOOOOO good! I used cranberry beans and black beans combined, just because I ran out of pinto beans. The flavors are phenomenal. This is my go-to recipe now for sure!
Thank you for this kind comment, Cara! I’m so happy you loved the recipe!
These are by far the best I have ever made! I doubled the recipe and cooked for 60 minutes. Then I let the steam settle down for 45 minutes. I think with doubling the recipe, it needs to cook for 70 minutes and let the steam come out naturally.
But I will definitely make these again. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for this kind review, Brenda! I’m SO happy to hear that this recipe was a success for you!
These were FANTASTIC. I doubled the recipe in my 8 qt Instant Pot and added 15 mins extra cook time. I removed abt 3 cups liquid per instructions and used my immersion blender in the pot and then poured beans into a 9×13 pyrex to hold them until a party a day later. They looked pretty soupy after I blended them, so I thought I would just put them in the oven uncovered to thicken if needed when I warmed them for the party. However, they set up PERFECTLY, so I just reheated them covered.
YUM! I’m so happy to hear that this recipe was a hit, Kristen! Thank you for taking the time to leave this kind review!
Do I need to change any of the steps if I am using an Instant pot mini?
Hi Jenny! I’m not as familiar with the mini version and have not tested it. I suggest making sure that you don’t fill it past the max line on the inside. For more suggestions on how to adapt this recipe for your mini version, I suggest checking out this article that has some helpful tips: https://www.hippressurecooking.com/mini-mania-shrink-pressure-cooker-recipes-for-the-instant-pots-mini/. I hope this helps and that you love the recipe!
Just got my instant pot and wanted to try making refried beans, don’t think I will ever use canned again! Yum, so delicious and super easy. Thanks for the great recipe!
YAY! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, Ann! Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review!
I thought I’d share my husband’s experience with this recipe in case anyone accidentally does what he did :)
He followed the directions…except for the part to drain out some liquid after the beans finished cooking. So we had some really soupy beans. I baked them in the oven for about 30 minutes at 350…they were still pretty soupy but SO good. I topped with a little cheese for a bean soup. They were perfect consistency for nachos…and even better, the leftovers thickened up and the consistency was PERFECT!
I think I’ll keep blending all the liquid. It was an oops that turned out pretty tasty lol!
Going to try this for sure. My grandson, autistic by the way, used to not like a whole bunch of foods, but he’s always loved Del Taco Bean Cups. While not overly expensive, everything is less expensive when making them from scratch. Going to try this and will come back to give you my comments. Fingers crossed.
Thank you for taking the time to leave this kind message, Kris! I hope you love the recipe!
This is a great recipe to start; however, I added an additional step at the end. After straining the beans, turn your instant pot on saute and cook the beans down more while adding the reserved liquid and mashing. I did this for about 20 minutes while preparing the rest of the dinner. They taste amazing!!
Thank you for taking the time to try this recipe, Katherine! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
I’m making these again today. What an easy and awesome recipe. So much better than the tinned refried beans you occasionally find in UK supermarkets. I don’t change the recipe much, I add a little freshly ground black pepper and a little more chilli powder, and about twice the garlic, but that’s it. The beans turn out perfectly cooked every time. They are great after being frozen too.
Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review, Simon! I’m so happy to hear that this recipe was a hit!
Best ever refried beans! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review, Laurie! I’m so happy you loved the recipe!
Not my first vegetarian, I used veg broth, refried beans recipe. OH MY GOSH, this is sooo delicious. thank you.
YAY Jane! So happy to hear it!!
Serial offender of making this recipe. Last time I think I omitted the saute part & they were still magnificent. 😁 thanks again
YAY! I’m so happy this recipe has been successful for you, Jane!
If I pre-soak the beans should I cook them for less time?
Hi Michelle! You can cook the beans for the same amount of time. I hope you love the recipe!
Readers should disregard comments about seasoning. That’s not the authors fault. The instructions clearly state, “Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.” And I did. I added more salt at the end, and I diced more jalapeños and blended some more. It came out great. One note: I had far too much liquid, and I didn’t strain it enough. It was so hot and my colander is small ! Still bubbling after 25 minutes of “cool down”. I lost a lot of the onion bits that were floating in the extra liquid. So I put it on “Sauté” to boil it down. Eventually, I put it all in a pan to boil down further.
Next time, I’ll salvage all the floating bits before draining.
Four stars; easy, but it did take longer than I thought – warming the pot, cooling it, boiling down. Minutes I really hadn’t considered. It beats the heck out of presoaking the beans, though!
Thank you for taking the time to share this helpful review, Graham! I’m so happy you enjoyed these!
One of the first recipes I’ve made in our instant pot and I couldn’t be happier. I halved the bean and broth amounts since we’re only two people and we have the 3qt instant pot. However, I kept all the other ingredient amounts the same and boy did it ever turn out flavourful. I’m already looking forward to making these refried beans again :)
Thank you for sharing this kind review, Desiree! I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe!
I made these as a side for fajita night – man, oh man, were they good. I will never buy another can of refried beans ever. Make sure to print this off. I am 100% positive you will love it.
Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review, Lisa! I’m so happy to hear that this recipe was a hit!
Recipe looks great! As a vegetarian I will leave out the chicken stock and replace with vegetable broth. After this substitution then the recipe truly will be vegetarian and vegan.
Yes Kristin, that’s perfect. I hope you love the beans!
I love this recipe and share the beans with my grown children. Instead of throwing away the extra liquid, could you use it in soups? It seems too good to waste. Thanks for the great recipe! B
Hi Bet, I haven’t tried to do this with the liquid, but if you experiment, I’d love to hear how it goes! I’m so happy this recipe has been a hit!
This was amazing! I used vegetable broth, sautéed with vegetable broth instead of oil, and omitted the salt and optional cayenne pepper. For me that was perfect!
I read another reviewer had skipped the sautéing altogether and just combined everything and cooked. They reported having good results so the next time I make this (and I will, it’s a keeper) I will try it that way.
Thank you so much for sharing your recipe. It is delicious!! 😋
Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review, Tina! I’m so happy to hear that this was a hit!
I just got an 8 quart Instant Pot for Christmas and this was my first attempt. I got overly excited to start and only ended up adding the four cups of chicken stock. When I opened it there was still some liquid in the bottom and it tasted terrific! It was quite thick after I blended it and I added a bit of water to thin it a bit but it would have been good without that step. This is a fantastic recipe!
Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review, Brenda! I’m so happy to hear that this was a hit!
I made these refried beans last night, they did not disappoint. The subtle flavors of these beans were incredible. By far the best recipe I’ve come across!
Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review, Ryan! I’m so happy to hear that this was a hit!
Made this for our Christmas taco bar, and everyone gobbled it up. The flavors and texture are just perfect. I’m making a second batch tomorrow!
I’m so happy to hear this, Brandi! Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review!
I have made this recipe many times, and am about to do it again this morning. We can no longer eat canned refried beans, this has spoiled us forever. The flavor is wonderful, they freeze beautifully, just follow the directions and you can have the best refried beans to add to your Mexican or South Western meals at a moments notice. I usually put the cooked beans into a shallow bowl and mash them with a good old fashioned potato masher adding more of the bean broth if needed. I found my immersion blender scratched up my Instant Pot a bit, and since it was new at the time just decided to mash them in a bowl. Whatever you do, these beans are the best we’ve ever tasted and we like them mostly mashed with a few still whole. Absolutely delicious, you will love the taste.
Thank you for sharing this kind review, Carol! I’m so happy you’ve enjoyed the flavor of this dish!
These are absolutely delicious! Thank you for this recipe!
I’m so happy to hear that this was a hit, Jo! Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review!