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Home » Instant Pot Recipes » Side Dishes

Instant Pot Refried Beans

Published: Jul 10, 2023 · Modified: Jan 4, 2024 by Irena Macri · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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This Instant Pot Refried Beans recipe will teach you how to cook dry black beans and turn them into flavor-packed, creamy refried goodness using the Pressure Cooking and Saute functions. Serve as a dip or a side with your favorite toppings and corn tortilla chips.


This Instant Pot Refried Beans recipe will teach you how to cook dry black beans and turn them into flavor-packed, creamy refried goodness using the Pressure Cooking and Saute functions. Serve as a dip or a side with your favorite toppings and corn tortilla chips.
JUMP TO
  1. ℹ️ What Are Refried Beans?
  2. Instant Pot Refried Beans
  3. 🛒 Ingredients
  4. 👩‍🍳 How To Make Refried Beans In The Instant Pot
  5. 💭 Storage Tips
  6. Instant Pot Refried Beans - Full Recipe

ℹ️ What Are Refried Beans?

Refried beans are a traditional Mexican dish made from cooked and mashed beans. Despite their name, refried beans are not typically fried twice, as the name suggests. The term "refried" actually comes from the Spanish word "refritos," which means "well-fried" or "well-cooked."

The most common type of bean used for making refried beans is the pinto bean, although other varieties such as black beans, which is what we are using, or kidney beans can also be used. The beans are usually soaked overnight and then cooked until tender. They are then drained and mashed or pureed to create a smooth consistency.

To prepare refried beans, the mashed beans are typically sautéed in a pan with a small amount of oil or lard, along with various seasonings and ingredients. These can include onions, garlic, chili powder, cumin, and salt. The mixture is cooked over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the beans are heated through and the flavors are well combined.

Instant Pot Refried Beans

This Instant Pot refried black beans recipe includes ingredients and instructions for cooking black beans from dry (you could use Pinto beans if you wish) and then turning them into creamy, delicious semi-pureed beans using the Saute function of the IP.

These Instant Pot refried black beans can be served as a side dish or used as a filling for various Mexican dishes such as burritos, tacos, or enchiladas. They have a creamy texture, rich flavor, and versatility in complementing other ingredients. You can top them up with cheese, sour cream, or fresh herbs to enhance their taste.

Instant Pot Refried Black Beans

🛒 Ingredients

For cooking the beans: Dry black beans (we are using 1.5  cups of uncooked dry black beans, unsoaked, which should yield about 4.5 cups of cooked beans), ½ onion, bay leaves, garlic, stock cube (vegetable or chicken), salt and water.

For refried beans: cooked black beans and liquid, olive oil, onion, ground cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, lime juice, and toppings like raw onion and cilantro.

Ingredients for making black beans

👩‍🍳 How To Make Refried Beans In The Instant Pot

You will find the full recipe with ingredients and nutritional breakdown in the recipe card below. Let’s break it down with step-by-step photos and video. You can use a 6-quart or 8-quart Instant Pot. You can see our more details post on how to cook black beans in the Instant Pot here, however we have included the steps below as well

Cook The Beans

Step 1. Add beans, water, stock cube, salt, bay leaf, garlic clove, and ½ onion (uncut is fine as it’s easier to remove). These additions will flavor the cooking stock and the beans. 

Step 2. Secure the lid. Set to Pressure cook on HIGH  for 35 minutes (it will take about 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to pressurize before cooking begins). Once done, allow the pressure to release naturally for 15-20 minutes. 

Add black beans to pot
Season black beans and add onion, garlic
Pressure cook black beans for 35 minutes

Step 3. Remove the lid. Remove onion, garlic, and bay leaf. Strain and rinse if you like. If making refried beans or using black beans in a stew or soup, you can reserve excess cooking liquid to add to those dishes.

Remove onions, garlic, bay leaf
Strain black beans after cooking
Serve black beans or store for later

Make Refried Beans

Step 1. Using a clean Instant Pot, press the saute setting. Add the olive oil and onion and cook for 2 minutes to soften. Then add the cumin, chili powder, garlic powder and salt and stir for a few seconds. 

Add onions and olive oil to Instant Pot
Add spices
Saute onion

Step 2. Add the cooked beans and ⅔ cups of the cooking liquid (if not enough available, add extra water). Bring to a simmer and use a potato masher to mash the beans to a chunk but creamy consistency. Keep cooking until some of the liquid evaporates and you reach that thick almost dip-like consistency. You can add a little more cooking liquid as you go. 

Saute spices
Add black beans and cooking liquid and lime juice
Mash and cook black beans

Step 3. Finish with a little lime juice and stir through. Taste for salt. Serve with a little chopped onion, cilantro and extra lime wedges on top (maybe with corn chips on the side).

By the way, you can do this step in a skillet on a stovetop.

Refry black beans on Saute setting
How To Make Refried Beans In Instant Pot
Serve and garnish

💭 Storage Tips

To store refried beans, here are some tips:

Refrigerate: Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 to 5 days. Cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container

Freeze: First, let the beans cool completely. Transfer them to freezer-safe containers or freezer bags, leaving some space for expansion during freezing. Label and store in the freezer for up to 3 to 4 months. 

Thaw out: Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight or use the defrost setting on your microwave. Once thawed, reheat the beans in a saucepan on the stovetop, stirring occasionally, until heated through.

Reheat: It’s best to reheat refried beans on the stovetop. Warm them over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. You may need to add a small amount of water or broth to adjust the consistency if the beans have thickened during storage.

Instant Pot Refried Black Beans Recipe

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Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe

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Instant Pot Refried Beans - Full Recipe

This Instant Pot Refried Beans recipe will teach you how to cook dry black beans and turn them into flavor-packed, creamy refried goodness using the Pressure Cooking and Saute functions. Serve as a dip or a side with your favorite toppings and corn tortilla chips.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Servings: 6 ½ cup servings
Calories: 169kcal
Author: Irena Macri

Ingredients

To Cook The Beans

  • 1 cup black beans dry
  • 2.5 cups water
  • 1 stock cube veggie one
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1-2 bay leaves if available
  • 1 garlic clove, for added flavor
  • ½ onion white, for added flavor

For Refried Beans

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ onion white, very finely diced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt or more to taste
  • 2 cups black beans cooked
  • 1 cup cooking liquid from the beans
  • ½ lime juice

Instructions

  • Add ingredients. Add beans, water, stock cube, salt, bay leaf, garlic clove, and ½ onion (uncut is fine as it’s easier to remove).
  • Cook: Pressure cook on high for 35 minutes (it will take about 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to pressurize before cooking begins). Allow the pressure to release naturally for 15-20 minutes.
  • Strain: Remove the lid. Remove onion, garlic, and bay leaf. Strain the beans into a bowl as we will need to use ⅔ cups of the cooking liquid in the next steps.
  • Saute:  Clean the pot. Press the saute setting. Add the olive oil and onion and cook for 2 minutes to soften. Then add the cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and salt and stir for a few seconds.
  • Refry beans: Add the cooked beans and ⅔ cups of the cooking liquid (if not enough available, add extra water). Bring to a simmer and use a potato masher to mash the beans to a chunk but creamy consistency. Keep cooking until some of the liquid evaporates and you reach that thick almost dip-like consistency. You can add a little more cooking liquid as you go.
  • Finish with a little lime juice and stir through. Taste for salt. Serve with a little chopped onion, cilantro, and extra lime wedges on top (maybe with corn chips on the side).

Notes

Soaking black beans: You can soak dry black beans in slightly salted water for 8-12 hours (e.g. overnight). The beans will rehydrate and expand and can be cooked much quicker. Soaked black beans Instant Pot cooking time is around 15- 20 minutes with natural pressure release.

Nutrition

Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 0.03mg | Sodium: 558mg | Potassium: 358mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 63IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 2mg
CourseSide Dish
Cuisinehealthy
KeywordBlack Beans, Gluten-Free, Instant Pot Beans, Legumes, Refried Beans, Refried Black Beans, Sides, Vegan, Vegetarian
Made this recipe?Mention @instantpoteats or tag #instantpoteats!
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