These creamy and indulgent Instant Pot Refried Beans are the best! Easy to make entirely in a pressure cooker, they’re a vegan and protein-packed side dish or filling to pair with all of your favorite Mexican-inspired recipes.
Learning how to make vegan Instant Pot Refried Beans is a quick and easy alternative to the stovetop method. They come together in one pot in just 1 hour!
Once they’re ready, the silky smooth refried pinto beans add protein and substance to vegan burritos and tacos, or can be served on the side of enchiladas and quesadillas. It’s one of the best and easiest Mexican-inspired vegan side dishes to keep in your fridge or freezer at all times.
Are these the best pressure cooker refried beans?
Yes, and I’ll give you 3 reasons why:
- Classic flavors that are fun to play with: While these refried beans are far from authentic, they have smoky flavors and a creamy texture that will still remind you of your favorite Mexican restaurant. You can add chili peppers, liquid smoke, dried herbs and spices, vegan cheese, and other additions to play with the flavors!
- A true one-pot recipe: The entire cooking process takes place in the Instant Pot, from sauteeing the vegetables to cooking the beans to blending the finished batch. It’s a tried and true one-pot recipe.
- 20+ five-star reviews: The reviews speak for themselves… Shannon says, “I have tried other Instant Pot refried beans recipes. I then tried yours!!! Definitely no comparison!! The best refried beans ever!!” And Kelly says, “WOW…these beans were delicious! My family and I will be enjoying this recipe for many years to come.”
Ingredients needed (with substitutions)
- Dry pinto beans – Pinto beans are the traditional choice in refried beans recipes, but both dried black beans and white navy beans can be used as a substitute. Always use dried beans and not canned.
- Olive oil – Oil is important because it adds fat and flavor to the beans.
- Onion – Sauteed onions give the refried beans a savory baseline of flavor. You could saute a diced jalapeno along with the onion and garlic for extra spice.
- Garlic
- Water – Or use vegetable broth for extra flavor!
- Chili powder – Feel free to use an extra teaspoon if you love the heat. If you aren’t a fan of spicy food, use paprika or smoked paprika instead.
- Cumin
- Salt
How to make Instant Pot refried beans
Find the complete printable recipe with measurements below in the recipe card.
- Add the olive oil to the Instant Pot and turn on Saute mode to heat it up. Once hot, add the onion and garlic and saute until soft. Turn off Saute mode to deglaze the pot with water (or broth).
- Stir the dry pinto beans, the rest of the water, spices, and salt into the pot.
- Place the lid on top and cook on High Pressure for 40 minutes. Once the time is up, let the pressure release naturally for 20 minutes and vent the rest manually. Reserve 2 cups of the cooking liquid after removing the lid and drain the rest.
- Use an immersion blender to puree the beans until they’re smooth and creamy, adding splashes of the reserved liquid as needed. Adjust the seasonings to your taste, then serve!
If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can mash the beans by hand using a potato masher or process them in small batches in a food processor or blender.
Serving suggestions
Vegan refried beans are often served on the side of Mexican dishes with toppings to liven up the flavor, such as cilantro, vegan cheese, jalapenos, or lime juice. They would pair really well next to my vegan enchiladas and carne asada.
The beans also make for a protein-packed filling in chik’n burritos, quesadillas, taquitos, and tacos. You could even add a scoop on top of a vegan burrito bowl to make it extra filling!
Frequently asked questions
- What size Instant Pot should I use? Making refried beans in a 6-Quart Instant Pot will make enough for a family of 5. For 1 or 2 people, a 3-Quart will do just fine. And if you’re focusing on meal prep, make a large batch in an 8-Quart. The cooking times will be the same using each one, but you may need to cut the recipe in half when using the smaller Instant Pot (3-quart).
- I got a BURN message on my Instant Pot! What should I do? If your Instant Pot easily gives you the burn message, don’t saute the onion and garlic. Simply add everything to the pot and cook.
- Do you have to soak the beans? It isn’t a necessary step but they can be soaked ahead of time. Just decrease the cooking time to 15 or 20 minutes.
- How do you store refried beans? Store the beans in airtight containers in the fridge for 5 days.
- Can you freeze them? Yes. To freeze flat, place the beans in a large, freezer-safe bag, seal, then flatten and freeze. When ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat on the stove.
Want more Mexican-inspired vegan recipes?
- Spanish Rice and Beans
- Fully Loaded Vegan Nachos
- Vegan Black Bean Soup
- Vegan Queso Blanco
- Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Instant Pot Refried Beans
These creamy and indulgent Instant Pot Refried Beans are the best! Easy to make entirely in a pressure cooker, they’re a vegan and protein-packed side dish or filling to pair with all of your favorite Mexican-inspired recipes.
Ingredients
- 1 pound dry pinto beans (about 2 1/4 cups)
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 cups water
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1-2 teaspoons salt, to taste
Instructions
- Rinse the pinto beans in a large colander, picking out any misshapen beans. Set aside.
- In the Instant Pot, turn on the Saute feature and warm the olive oil. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. Turn off the Instant Pot for a moment. Pour a small amount of water into the Instant Pot, and scrape along the bottom to remove any bits of food (this will help prevent the BURN message).
- Add the dry pinto beans, the rest of the water, spices and 1 teaspoon of salt to the pot. Give it a little stir.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure the valve is set to "sealing". Set to manual, high pressure for 40 minutes.
- Once the timer goes off, allow the pressure to release naturally for 20 minutes, then vent any remaining pressure manually.
- Keep 2 cups of the liquid from the cooked beans in a bowl, then drain the rest of the liquid. Return the beans back to the pot.
- Use an immersion blender to blend the beans to the desired consistency, adding some of the reserved liquid as needed. The beans will continue to thicken as they cool. Add more salt to taste. Serve with any desired toppings and enjoy!
Notes
- How to store refried beans: Keep in covered containers in the refrigerator for 5 days. They also freeze well. To save space, freeze flat in large freezer ziplock bags. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before warming on the stovetop and serving.
- If your Instant Pot gets the burn message easily: Instead of sauteing the onion and garlic in oil, simply skip the sauteing and add everything together in the pot.
- If you wish to pre-soak the beans, you can decrease the pressure cooking time t0 15-20 minutes.
- Don’t have an immersion blender? You can leave the beans whole, use a potato masher, or transfer in small batches to a food processor/blender and process until smooth.
- For a change, use black beans instead!
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 312mg | Potassium: 825mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 74IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 3mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @nora_cooks_vegan_ or tag #noracooks!
This recipe was originally posted in December 2017 and has been updated with newer photos and writing.
One of our favorite refried beans ever!! This totally beats the canned version and tastes like you’re eating at any Mexican restaurant!! Been making this for several years since I discovered your recipe and it’s a keeper!!! Thank you for sharing this recipe!! ❤️🫶🏻
Can I make these in a crock pot?
I’m sure you could but I haven’t tried it myself.
Never buying can refried beans ever again!!! This recipe is so easy and delicious! Thank you for such a great recipe, as always!
Hi Kate! You are welcome! Thank YOU for your awesome review and feedback!
After cooking can I freeze them
Yes. I usually freeze half of what I cook!
I started cooking beans in my instapot last year and I love how they come out, so buttery.
I was told a good rule of thumb was to not add salt till after they are done cooking as the salt can make them tough. Works for me. Love this recipe.
I also found this table for how long to cook plain beans in the instapot.
Cook on High Pressure for Following Times:
Black Beans–30 Minutes on High Pressure
Chickpeas–40 Minutes on High Pressure
Kidney Beans–35 Minutes on High Pressure
Pinto Beans–25 Minutes on High Pressure
Navy Beans**–25 Minutes on High Pressure
Butter Beans–40 Minutes on High Pressure
Great Northern Beans– on 35 Minutes High Pressure
Allow to naturally release until pressure subsides, or at least 20 minutes before doing a quick release.
Once beans have finished cooking, stir in salt and vinegar if using.
My daughter is very allergic to dairy and she loves your site. She has become quite the baker.
These refried beans are absolutely delicious! We’ve eaten them as a side dish to cheese enchiladas, in bean and cheese tacos, in bean and cheese nachos and as a bean dip. Love, love them. Made exactly as written. Thank you!
You are welcome! I’m so excited you and your family love the recipe, and I love hearing all the ways you are serving the beans! Thanks for sharing your great ideas and awesome review! Happy cooking!
Turned out great! Saw someone added double spices, and can never have enough cumin, so used that tip. The other thing I did to try and get the most flavor back from the remaining liquid is I threw it in a pan on the stove and reduced it by half after I had the beans almost where I wanted them.
This is my new go-to bean recipe! I don’t even mash them into refried beans most of the time. They’re so good as just beans in their water. It’s one of those magical combinations that’s way more complex than the ingredient list would betray. Thank you!
Has anyone tried doubling this recipe in a 6 quart Instant Pot?
Other commenters have had good results doubling the recipe in a 6 qt Instant Pot! As long as the beans and liquid don’t go above the line inside the pot where it says to stop, the recipe should work well.
I used dry beans and soaked them first for some reason even adding less water the recipe came out very liquid. There wasn’t any body to it. I’ll try again another time with some adjustments again
Did you follow step 6 and drain most of the liquid? If not, then that is why the beans had too much liquid. You can also drain them all the way and save 2 cups of liquid. Only add back what you desire as you blend the beans. That way, they can be as thick as you like. Hope that helps!
This is the best recipe! So easy and comes out great every time. I do add a little chicken bullion for a little more flavor.
I”m glad you are enjoying the recipe! Thanks for sharing your fantastic review!
No other recipe is needed – absolutely the best. I tweaked for my family’s needs – no oil and added miso when blending beans in place of salt.
Delish!
Thanks for your wonderful ideas and feedback! I’m glad you and your family loved the beans!
Great recipe! Have you tried doubling the recipe? I know you have to be careful with beans in an instant pot. I really want to double it.😁
I have never doubled the recipe. I think there would be room to double this, depending on the size of your Instant Pot. Make sure the beans and liquid don’t go above the line inside the pot where it says to stop. Note that this recipe does make a lot of refried beans! With a family of 5, we usually have leftovers for days, or I freeze half.
I have doubled it and taste great.
This is a fabulous recipe. Definitely a keeper
Thank you for your fabulous feedback and review!
I love this bean recipe. I have tried others but come back to this one every time. Easy, great flavor and they freeze so well. Never buying canned beans again. Thank you.
You are welcome! I’m thrilled you love these beans, and they will be your go-to! Thank you for taking time to share your wonderful feedback!
This was a fabulous and easy recipe. Delicious. I did add a little hot paprika because I like a bit more spice but not much because my children were eating it too.
I’m so happy you loved the refried beans, Shauna! Thank you for your wonderful feedback!
I have made large batches a few times now and freezing smaller portions. It’s way easier than cooking on the stove and healthier without the lard/Crisci (obviously lol). I used chicken stock in place of water for some added flavor.
I think next time I will try soaking my beans. The beans are good for burritos or mixed with other foods but I don’t care for them as a stand alone side. I still get an occasional weird texture of the skin of a bean no matter how much I blend the beans. I think that soaking them will solve that issue since soaking usually loosens the skin off some beans.
All in all though, I am a definite fan of this recipe and will continue to use it.
Hi Tera. Thank you for sharing your feedback and review! I am glad that you are finding lots of ways to enjoy the refried beans!
Being from San Diego when we moved from there we really missed homemade refried beans and tried several recipes but this one is the perfect taste for us. Enjoy making it in a large batch in the pressure cooker and then freezing smaller servings.
Hi Sue. I’m so happy to read you love the refried beans! Thank you for sharing your wonderful feedback and review!
Nora, our family is taking the journey into being vegans. I have a 13-year-old daughter whose name is Nora. She loves making your recipes. We love eating them! Thank you
Hi Rebecca! Thank you you for sharing! I am so glad your Nora loves my recipes! May you and your family enjoy your journey! Wishing you lots of happy cooking!