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Home Method Instant Pot
5
/5
1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Perfect Instant Pot Pinto Beans (no soak)

Dairy Free Dairy-Free Gluten Free Gluten Free Nut Free Nut Free Vegan Vegan Vegetarian Vegetarian
Jump to Recipe
By: Denise Bustard1 Comment
Posted: 5/24/21 Updated: 5/25/21

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

These Instant Pot pinto beans are tender and perfectly seasoned! Cook them dried or soaked, and enjoy them as is, or use them up in other recipes.

The Instant Pot is my go-to appliance for cooking black beans and chickpeas, so it should come as no surprise that it cooks delicious pinto beans as well!

close up shot of pinto beans on large spoon
Jump to... show
1 Reasons you'll ♡ this recipe
2 Recipe video
3 Ingredients
4 Step by step directions
5 FAQ
6 Meal prep & storage
7 Change up the recipe
8 More easy Instant Pot recipes
9 Perfect Instant Pot Pinto Beans (Soak & No Soak)

Cook Instant Pot pinto beans using either dried or soaked beans, and prepare to be blown away by the flavor- perfectly seasoned, and ready to enjoy as is, or to be used up in other recipes.

Don't forget to pin this post to save it for later!

Reasons you'll ♡ this recipe

  • you can soak your beans, or skip the soaking, either way they come out great!
  • the beans are perfectly seasoned and taste way better than canned
  • you can freeze them for later

Recipe video

See exactly how to cook pinto beans in the Instant Pot by watching the video below! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel.

Ingredients

ingredients required to cook pinto beans
  • pinto beans- use dried pinto beans for this recipe; you can cook a full or half batch using the same cook time
  • cumin- adds subtle flavor that compliments the natural flavors of the pinto beans; feel free to skip it
  • bay leaf- flavors the cooking liquid and makes the beans taste less heavy. Be sure to remove before serving.

Step by step directions

1. Prepare your beans- Start by measuring out 1 lb of pinto beans (roughly 2 ¼ cups). Pick through them to remove any stones. Rinse under tap water to remove any debris or dust.

pinto beans, water, bay leaves and spices in instant pot before cooking

2. Combine ingredients- In the stainless steel insert of your Instant Pot, combine the rinsed beans, water, salt, bay leaf and cumin. Stir, and make sure all beans are covered with water.

instant pot with 45 minutes on the timer

3. Cook- Place the lid your Instant Pot, set the steam release handle to the 'sealing' position, and pressure cook on high according to the chart below:

  • soaked pinto beans- 15 minutes
  • unsoaked pinto beans- 45 minutes

Allow for a 10 minute natural pressure release (when the cooking cycle finishes, allow the pot to sit for 10 minutes before releasing the pressure).

overhead shot of cooked pinto beans in an instant pot

4. Serve- Remove the bay leaf, and enjoy.


FAQ

Can I cut this recipe in half?

Yes, you can use a single cup of dried pinto beans, and cut the water, salt, and cumin measurements in half. Cook for the same amount of time.

What is the ratio of beans to water for the Instant Pot?

It differs by type of bean. For pinto beans, I found 1 cup of unsoaked beans to 3 cups of water worked well. 1 cup of dried beans that were soaked overnight required 2 cups of additional liquid to cook through.

How long does it take to cook pinto beans in the pressure cooker?

For unsoaked beans, it takes 45 minutes at high pressure, plus 10 minutes to come to pressure and 10 minutes to naturally release. So that's 65 minutes. For soaked beans, it takes 15 minutes at high pressure (for a total of 35 minutes).

three jars filled with pinto beans

Meal prep & storage

  1. Allow beans to cool before portioning them out into jars. Cover the beans with cooking liquid to store.
  2. Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
  3. Freeze for up to 3 months- leave lids off until beans are fully frozen. Do not place hot jars into the freezer.
  4. Thaw- overnight in the fridge, or for a few hours on the counter.

TIP- I like the ½ liter Weck jars pictured above because they fit a 15 oz portion of beans, plus they don't taper in (can risk your jars shattering when freezing).

close up shot of cooked pinto beans in jar, covered with cooking liquid

Change up the recipe

  • bacon- sauté some chopped bacon before cooking the pinto beans (be sure to deglaze the pan if needed)
  • onion- sauté fresh diced onion and some garlic before adding the beans & cooking liquid
  • spice it up- add some chili powder and diced jalapeño peppers
  • refried beans- here's a great looking recipe!
  • burritos- here's a great looking recipe!

More easy Instant Pot recipes

  • row of potatoes in increasing time with cook times labelled on each
    PERFECT Instant Pot Baked Potatoes- all sizes!
  • close up shot of shredded chicken in the instant pot
    Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Breast
  • close up of cooked brown rice on rice paddle over instant pot
    Instant Pot Brown Rice
  • close up shot of instant pot chicken thigh with gravy
    Instant Pot Chicken Thighs (Fresh Frozen)

Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!

close up shot of pinto beans on large spoon

Perfect Instant Pot Pinto Beans (Soak & No Soak)

5 from 3 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 45 minutes mins
Time to pressurize + natural pressure release: 20 minutes mins
Total Time: 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Print Rate
These Instant Pot pinto beans are tender and perfectly seasoned! Cook them dried or soaked, and enjoy them as is, or use them up in other recipes.
12

Ingredients

  • 1 lb dry pinto beans
  • 6 cups water see note 1
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 bay leaf

Instructions 

  • Prepare your beans- Start by measuring out 1 lb of pinto beans (roughly 2 ¼ cups). Pick through them to remove any stones. Rinse under tap water to remove any debris or dust.
  • Combine ingredients- In the stainless steel insert of your Instant Pot, combine the rinsed beans, water, salt, bay leaf and cumin. Stir, and make sure all beans are covered with water.
    pinto beans, water, bay leaves and spices in instant pot before cooking
  • Cook- Place the lid your Instant Pot, set the steam release handle to the 'sealing' position, and pressure cook on high according to the chart below:
    soaked pinto beans- 15 minutes
    unsoaked pinto beans- 45 minutes
    Allow for a 10 minute natural pressure release (when the cooking cycle finishes, allow the pot to sit for 10 minutes before releasing the pressure).
    instant pot with 45 minutes on the timer
  • Serve- Remove the bay leaf, and enjoy.

Tips:

1- if you soak your pinto beans, decrease the cooking liquid to 4 cups, and adjust the cook time to 15 minutes natural pressure release.
To soak your pinto beans
  1. Rinse beans in colander, then transfer to a large bowl.
  2. Cover beans with 4 cups of water; cover and allow to sit for at least 12 hours.
  3. Drain and rinse beans; transfer to the stainless steel insert of the Instant Pot.
  4. Add 4 cups water on top; pressure cook for 15 minutes with a 10 minute natural pressure release.
Storage
Store beans in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To freeze- portion out into jars, cover with cooking liquid. Allow jars to cool completely, then transfer to the freezer. Leave lids ajar for several hours, until beans are fully frozen.
Freeze for up to 3 months.

Video

Nutrition Information

Serving: 0.5cup, Calories: 132kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 399mg, Potassium: 533mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 5IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 50mg, Iron: 2mg
Author: Annie Holmes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American

© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

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Meet Denise Bustard

Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.

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5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




  1. Julie O. says

    Posted on 2/4/25 at Posted on 2/4/25

    5 stars
    Turns out excellent every time. The pinto beans have the right consistency.

    Reply

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