These no-soak Instant Pot black beans are so flavorful and easy to make! Serve them as a side dish, or add them to your favorite black bean recipes.
These Instant Pot black beans did something that I didn’t think was possible – they changed my mind about the Instant Pot. After I made them…and then rice…and then soup (recipes coming soon!), I went from being an Instant Pot skeptic to a total convert. It is so handy to be able to start cooking your beans/rice/whatever you’re making and then walk away, not having to worry about adjusting the heat on the stove or having a pot boil over. Plus, it does speed things along, at least in the case of these Instant Pot black beans. They cook up in about 45 minutes, as opposed to almost 90 on the stove. I’ll take it!
These Instant Pot black beans are well-seasoned, so you could serve them as a side dish on their own. However, they’re also perfect for using in recipes that call for black beans, such as tacos, enchiladas, soups, etc. You’ll find more specific suggestions in the post below!
Instant Pot Black Beans Recipe Ingredients
To make this recipe, you’ll just need a few basic ingredients:
- Dry black beans – The fresher, the better. If you can, buy them from a local grower or a grocery store with high turnover. (Older beans can be tough and not soften fully when they cook.)
- Onion and garlic – For sharp, savory depth of flavor.
- Chili powder, cumin, and oregano – They add aromatic flavor and a little heat to the beans and cooking liquid.
- And sea salt – To make all the flavors pop!
If I’m planning to eat the beans on their own, I also like to dress them up with a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
How to Make Instant Pot Black Beans
This Instant Pot black beans recipe is super simple to make! Here’s how it goes:
First, rinse and sort the beans. Any time you’re cooking dry beans, it’s important to rinse them well and pick through them to discard any stones or debris.
Then, add the ingredients to the Instant Pot. Pour in the rinsed beans, followed by the onion, garlic, spices, salt, and water.
Next, cook. Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and select the Pressure Cook function. Cook on high for 25 minutes, or 20 minutes if you prefer firmer beans. (The entire cooking process will actually take longer, as the Instant Pot will need to preheat before cooking and depressurize afterwards.)
Finally, allow the pressure to release naturally. This will take 20 minutes or so. When the float valve drops, remove the lid and season the beans to taste. That’s it!
How to Use Instant Pot Black Beans
The simplest way to serve these Instant Pot black beans is as a side dish. Drain them and season them to taste with salt, pepper, and fresh lime juice. They pair well with any Mexican-inspired recipe, but I especially like them with cilantro lime rice and veggie tacos like these cauliflower ones or these jackfruit ones.
Instead of serving these beans on their own, you could also add them to larger recipes. Drain and rinse them and use them as you would canned beans or regular cooked dried beans. They’d be perfect in any of these recipes:
- Stuffed Peppers
- Black Bean and Corn Salad
- Stuffed Poblano Peppers
- Vegetarian Black Bean Enchiladas
- Black Bean Soup
- Easy Black Bean Burger
- Cowboy Caviar
- Vegan Burrito Bowl
How do you like to use Instant Pot black beans? Let me know in the comments!
More Favorite Cooking Basics
If you love this recipe, try making one of these cooking basics next:
- Pinto Beans
- Cannellini Beans and Greens
- Refried Beans
- How to Cook Lentils
- Perfect Stovetop Rice
- How to Cook Fluffy Quinoa
- Homemade Vegetable Stock
Instant Pot Black Beans
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried black beans
- 6 cups water
- Heaping ½ cup diced white onion
- 2 large garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Fresh lime juice, optional
Instructions
- Place the beans in a large colander and sort through them to remove and discard any stones or debris.
- Rinse the beans and transfer them to the Instant Pot. Add the water, onion, garlic, salt, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and several grinds of pepper. Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and Pressure Cook on High for 25 minutes, or 20 minutes if you prefer firmer beans.
- Allow the Instant Pot to release pressure naturally. This will take 20 to 30 minutes. When the float valve drops, remove the lid.
- Use the beans in your favorite black bean recipes or season to taste with more salt, pepper, and squeezes of lime juice, if desired, and serve as a side dish.
Made today. I threw in a ham bone I had in the freezer. Everything else was as written. It was awesome. The house smelled great.
Thank you@ i love your site.
Just right! Nice flavor, perfect beans-to-liqu8d ratio (I sometimes use chicken broth.) Other sites give longer times (one suggests an HOUR!), yielding mush. 20 minutes works perfectly for me, yielding beans excellent for relish (with mango, onions, jalapeno chili) or to add to chili. Thank you!
Thank you for this recipe! I have been making it almost weekly for my husband and I as a way to consume more fiber. The flavor is excellent, and the beans soften a bit as they sit. They remind me of Chipotle’s black beans!
Hi Meredith, I’m so glad you love the recipe!