Instant Pot Black Beans

This easy black beans recipe is an inexpensive, quick meal prep option! These Instant Pot Black Beans only require a few simple steps and can be made ahead of time.

 

If you want something sustainable, affordable, nutritious, and easy, this Instant Pot black bean recipe is perfect for you! Black beans are loaded with fiber, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and antioxidants, perfect for keeping yourself healthy and happy. Dried black beans are easy to store and cheap to buy in bulk, so this meal prep idea won’t hurt the bank account.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Easy with minimal cleanup. This recipe is incredibly simple and requires minimal prep. Even better, the recipe is prepared almost entirely in the instant pot so there is very little clean up required.
• Healthy and Economical. Two things that don’t often go together, these black beans have good nutritional value due to their fiber, protein, carb, and antioxidant levels all while still being an inexpensive food. They are also naturally vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and egg-free so it’s an allergen-friendly recipe!
• Customizable. This recipe is great to make ahead of time and add to several meals throughout the week. There are endless variations you can try such as serving as a stand alone side dish or combining them with other veggies and protein for a well-rounded meal.
• Kid-friendly. These black beans are a great way to add nutrition to meals for even the pickiest eaters.

Ingredients

Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need for this recipe. For exact measurements, keep scrolling down to the printable recipe card below.

• Dry Black Beans: Canned black beans will not work with this recipe as they are already cooked. If you want to spruce up a can of black beans, try this recipe instead.
• Vegetable Broth and Water: Some recipes call for only adding water to the beans but broth really adds to the depth and flavor. Chicken or beef broth can also be used, but vegetable broth keeps this recipe vegetarian and very versatile.
• Produce: You will need a fresh red onion and a fresh lime for this recipe. You will be using the lime zest and juice in this recipe.
• Spices: chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and cumin. You could easily adjust or replace these to your taste.

How to Make Instant Pot Black Beans

You only need a strainer and your Instant Pot for this easy recipe! Here is a quick and easy step-by-step guide to making perfectly tender black beans.

Rinse beans, then add to the pressure cooker

As with all dried beans, it is important to rinse and check the beans. Often dried beans can include some debris that you definitely do not want in your food. To do this, add the beans to a fine mesh strainer, and rinse the dried black beans. Use your hands to sort through the beans and remove any stones or debris.

Transfer the rinsed black beans to the Instant Pot along with the vegetable broth, water, spices, red onion, lime zest, and lime juice. Stir the mixture well and make sure the beans are covered in liquid.

Pressure Cook

Pressure cook the black beans on high for 25 minutes, allowing for a 15-minute natural pressure release. Once the 15-minute natural release is complete, carefully release the remaining pressure using the venting knob and remove the lid. You can serve the beans immediately as they are warm, or allow them to cool and add to salads and other dishes.

What to Serve With Black Beans

Black beans can be an amazing side dish on their own, just add a bit of salt and pepper to taste, some chopped cilantro, maybe some crumbled cotija cheese, and you are good to go! They are perfect with Flank Steak Tacos, Mexican Rice, and some chips and salsa.

How do I use meal prepped black beans?

You can use these cooked black beans in any recipe that calls for canned black beans! Season them for a side dish, use them to make a slow cooker dip, toss them into a salad, or stir them into a soup.

Our favorite recipes with black beans:

• Easy Taco Lasagna
• Sausage and Black Bean Soup
• One Pan Beef Enchiladas
• Spicy Sausage Black Bean Pasta
• Chicken Burrito Bowls

Storage and Reheating Instructions

You can store these black beans in the refrigerator in an airtight container up to 4 days. They can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. It is best to allow to completely thaw before rewarming.

You can reheat them in the microwave in 30-second increments until heated to your desired level or reheat in a pot on the stovetop. If rewarming on the stovetop, rewarm on low and make sure you stir them occasionally.

What is the best ratio of beans to water?

For our recipe, we use 1 lb of dried beans for every 6 cups of liquid (vegetable broth + water). We used 2 cups of water and 4 cups of vegetable broth. We added this vegetable broth instead of only water as it really adds to the flavor of the beans. This equated to about the same amount of cooked beans as would be provided by 4 – 15 oz cans of black beans.

Instant Pot Black Beans FAQ

More Instant Pot Meal Prep Recipes

• Easy Mexican Shredded Beef
• Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal
• Instant Pot Chicken Breasts
• Fluffy Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
• Instant Pot Egg Bites