Instant Pot Refried Beans (no soak) are healthy, simple, and way better than the can. Pressure cooking dry beans in all kinds of wonderful flavors like cilantro, onions, and jalapeno, and then blending them up results in ultra flavorful, creamy smooth beans.

bowl of finished refried beans in front of Instant Pot.

Making refried beans may seem ambitious, but it is actually quite straightforward to do. All you need is dried beans, seasonings, and bit of time and they will come out wonderfully!

The electric pressure cooker also cuts the time it takes to cook dry beans significantly and there is no need to soak the beans ahead of time.

Are these refried beans healthy?

overhead of bowl of refried pinto beans.

Yes, they are! There is a bit of oil in them, but overall the fat content is going to be much lower than store bought or restaurant refried beans. This refried beans recipe starts with dry pinto beans and everything else is whole ingredients and good for you herbs and seasonings.

Making this homemade refried bean recipe also means that you are in charge of the sodium content, if that is a concern.

Ingredients

dried pinto beans (about 2 cups)
olive oil (or any neutral oil)
onion
garlic
jalapeno
cilantro
chili powder
ground cumin
chicken stock
lime
salt and pepper
water
Better than Bouillon (optional)

How to make refried beans (Instant Pot)

Begin by looking through dry beans and discard any bad pieces or rocks. Set to the side.

To the pot of your Instant Pot, add oil and turn on device to saute function. Once hot, add diced onions, minced garlic, and jalapeno. Saute for 3-4 minutes.

fresh seasonings for beans added to instant pot.

Add chopped cilantro along with spices. Stir for one minute, allowing the spices to become fragrant.

Add a splash of chicken stock to the Instant Pot and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any cooked on pieces that have browned at the bottom of the pot (there is a lot of flavor there).

Pour dry beans into the pot. Give them a stir to coat in oil and seasonings.

dry beans being stirred in with a wooden spoon.

Add remaining chicken stock and water and stir.

Attach Instant Pot lid and make sure it is in the sealing designation.

Set to HIGH pressure for 50 minutes. It will take several minutes to come up to pressure.

Once the cooking time is up, allow to natural release for 20 minutes. Quick release any remaining pressure and remove lid.

cooked pinto beans in pressure cooker before being drained.

Scoop out 2 cups of liquid and reserve to the side. Using an immersion blender or a potato masher, puree the beans to you desired thickness, adding back the reserved liquid as needed.

Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. Serve with lime juice and fresh cilantro.

pinto beans that have been cooked and blended.

Recipe Tip for Instant Pot Refried Beans

If you find that the beans need a little extra "oomph," try to add a bit of chicken bouillon paste to deepen the flavor and add a bit of saltiness.

Variations and Substitutions

Instead of oil, saute the aromatics in bacon fat for a bit of a smoky flavor.
While pinto beans are classic, you can use other varieties of dry beans such as black beans, navy beans, or northern beans. Most white beans will cook in the same time as pinto beans, but black beans take a little longer to get truly soft. If making refried black beans, add 5-10 minutes to the pressure cooking time. Learn more about pinto beans vs. black beans here.

Help, my beans are too thick! (or too thin)

If the beans are too thick, simply add a bit of reserved bean cooking liquid or chicken stock to thin them out to your desired consistency.

If your refried beans are too thin, know that they will continue to thicken as they sit and cool for 15-20 minutes. If you still find that they are too thin at that point, you can simmer them in the instant pot on the saute function to cook off some of the liquid and help them thicken up more. Make sure to watch them closely and to stir often, so that the beans don't stick to the bottom of the pot or burn.

How to use homemade refried beans

Refried beans are a tasty side to pair with all of your favorite mexican foods. They are great with classics like tacos, burritos, and enchiladas and you can also add them to soups to add thickness and protein. Enjoy refried beans on their own or topped with mexican pickled onions or chimichurri.

Can you freeze refried beans?

You sure can! This recipe results in a lot of refried beans and unless you are serving a large quantity of people or using for several meals, you will likely have extras.

I like to freeze half of this recipe in air tight containers for later use. They will last for several months this way and can be reheated on the stovetop.

Instant Pot Refried Beans