Making Homemade Refried Beans just got easier with this super simple Instant Pot Recipe.
I was skeptical, but let me tell you that eating Homemade Refried Beans is sooo good!
Honestly, why buy canned when you can make refried beans this quick?
Not only is making your own refried beans super simple (and frugal) but it’s also healthier too!
Have you ever noticed all of the sodium, fats, and other bad for you stuff that gets placed in the cans of refried beans at the store? No thank you!
While this recipe might cost a little more than a can of prepared beans, it makes so much that you’ll be able to have some now and later!
What makes this the best refried beans recipe is that it is literally a set it and forget it type of recipe.
Unlike others where you have to soak beans and do a lot of prep work, all you have to do here is toss ingredients into your Instant Pot and push a few buttons.
Servings 8 | Ready in 90 mins | Perfect Side Dish | 6Qt Instant Pot
The ingredient list is small for making refried beans, a bag of dry pinto beans, onion, diced green chilies, garlic, and a few spices. Then set it and forget it!
Let your Instant Pot do all the work and you will have amazing Homemade Refried Beans.
How to make Refried Beans?
This recipe makes Homemade Refried beans in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker.
Step 1: Rinse and drain your beans and place in the Instant Pot with Chicken Broth.
Steps 2: Add Onion, Garlic and Diced Green Chilies and sprinkle spices on top.
Step 3: Set Instant Pot to 45 minutes and allow a 30 minute Natural Release.
Step 4: Use an Immersion Blender to smooth out your Refried Beans.
Fun Fact:
Review from Melanie: "I never comment on a Pinterest recipe but I needed to. Living in Texas I have had ALOT of refried beans. These are the best, most flavorful beans I’ve ever had. The only thing I added was 4 slices of cooked bacon. And the fact I could make them in THE pot so quickly is just an extra bonus!!! Thank you."
How Long do Homemade Refried Beans Keep?
Refried Beans will keep 3-5 days if stored in the Refrigerator in a sealed container.
How to Freeze Homemade Refried Beans
Freezing Refried Beans can be done by placing cooled beans into a container or a plastic bag. Freeze for up to 6 months.
To thaw: Thaw in fridge or on the counter until room temperature. You may need to add a little liquid (water or chicken broth) when heating up
How to Thicken Instant Pot Refried Beans?
If your Refried Beans are too thin for your liking, then make a cornstarch slurry (2 Tbs Cornstarch and 2 Tbs cold water) and stir it into your Refried Beans.
But honestly, the beans thicken as they cool.
How to make a Homemade Refried Bean Dip
These Homemade Refried Beans are delicious all on their own, however adding sour cream, or cheese on top makes the perfect Refried Bean dip.
How to Store Homemade Refried Beans
Store your Instant Pot Refried Beans in an airtight container and keep refrigerated.
Instant Pot Refried Beans
Making Refried Beans in the Instant Pot is my kind of recipe.
In 90 minutes or less you have ah-ma-ZING delicious Refried Beans to use as a side dish or with Tacos and Fajitas. This recipe is kid approved.
In fact, my picky eater devours this up!
Why are refried Beans called Refried Beans?
Despite the confusing name making it sound like the beans were fried twice, the name actually comes from the Spanish name for the dish “frijoles refritos.”
The word “refritos” translated to “well fried” so it’s well fried beans.
Are Refried Beans Healthy?
Canned refried beans are often not healthy and some homemade beans are also loaded with fats and other ingredients.
It’s best to look at an individual recipe to determine if it is healthy or not. If it is, then enjoy some great tasting protein!
Do you soak Beans for Instant Pot?
You do not have to soak these beans before placing them in the instant pot. You can however choose to do so if you wish.
There is a theory that the soaking helps to reduce gas from the beans, but this is up to you. Just make sure you rinse the beans and check for any rocks before cooking (that’s the most important thing).
PIN and Save for Later
Serve Instant Pot Refried Beans with these Amazing Recipes!
- Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas
- Sweet Salsa Chicken Salad
- Navajo Tacos
- Spanish Rice
- Honey Lime Enchiladas
- Pork Street Tacos
- Ground Turkey Tacos
- Cilantro Lime Shrimp Tacos
- Ground Turkey Taco Lettuce Wrap
- Chicken Taquitos
- BBQ Chicken Tostada
- Fiesta Chicken Casserole
Homemade Refried Beans
Ingredients
- 1 1 lb Bag of dried Pinto Beans
- 5 Cups Water or Chicken Broth
- 1 4 oz Can Diced Green Chilies
- 1 Onion
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 Tbs Crushed Garlic
Instructions
- Rinse and drain Pinto Beans and place in Instant Pot
- Add Water or Broth
- Add Salt, Cumin, Garlic and Diced Green Chilies (do not stir)
- Place quartered Onion on top
- Close Lid and Close Pressure Valve and set to Manual (Pressure Cook) High for 45 mins. Allow a 25 minute Natural Release
- Open Lid
- (optional) Remove ½-3/4 Cup liquid and set aside
- Use an Immersion Blender to blend up beans, onion, and green chilies until desired consistency. If too thick, add back some liquid and blend.
Nutrition Disclaimer
All nutrition values are approximate and calculated by a plugin and are provided as a courtesy. Adding or subtracting ingredients will change the nutritional value.
David
This is a really good and easy recipe. I've made them a few times now. We eat half of it and freeze the rest for next time.
Jen
I can't not review this recipe. It has become a family favorite. The first time I made them I had a slight cold and I thought "they are ok". The second time I did not and I made a few slight changes/additions and the kids and I are crazy over them. I used beef stock instead of chicken and I threw in a fresh jalapeno pepper and 3 whole cloves of garlic. That is how I always make them now. They are outstanding and so healthy! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Also I don't have an immersion blender so i just take out a cup of the stock at the end and put it into my food processor on puree in two batches.
Marianne
This was a huge hit in our family. Used chicken broth cut the cumin to 3/4 tsp.
Devour Dinner
I love hearing this! We love this recipe too
Cheryl Puente
Delicious! I always process mine in my food processor makes them so nice and smooth!
Devour Dinner
That is a great way to make the refried beans smooth! So glad you loved them
Diane
This recipe is AWESOME! Thank you! If I double the recipe, do you think the cooking time needs to be adjusted?
Vicki Lawrence
Just made for the first time. YUMMMY!
Tammy
Excellent recipe! This will be a staple from now on in my household. I tweaked it just a bit and used jalapenos from my garden instead of the green chilis. Terrific!
Devour Dinner
Oh your substitutions sound wonderful. Thank you for a great review!
Sue
I just made these beans earlier today! After reading the comments about adding bacon, would it be possible to add some bacon and some of the bacon grease after the fact?
Devour Dinner
Hi Sue! So glad you enjoyed the Homemade Refried Beans. We sure love them and adding bacon would be delicious too!
Nance Garcia
I made your recipe for refried pinto beans, I will never buy a can again, oh so good!!! Halved the recipe for my 3 qt. Thanks! I also didn't know i could freeze the leftovers!
Devour Dinner
Hi Nance! Thanks for the glowing review. I'm so happy you halved the recipe for your 3qt. Great idea. These are wonderful Refried Beans, we sure love them too.
Sheri
Has anyone tried halving the recipe for the 3 qt Instant Pot? Same cook time?
Devour Dinner
Hi Sheri, cut the recipe in half and it would work nicely in the 3qt.
Melanie
I make the recipe as is in the 3 qt. I also wanted to add. I didn't have Bacon so I used a smoked ham hock that I had on hand and it was so so delicious!!!
Lisa
They are called refried beans because they’re actually fried after they cook. Most Mexicans, like myself, will fry up some onion and bacon fat and add the beans to that after the beans are completely cooked, then smash them and serve.
Larry W Gaines
I have been making my own refried beans for years and I have always put a couple of ham Hocks in the pot with the beans
Devour Dinner
Hi Larry, using a ham hock ads great flavor and a fun add in for this recipe. So glad you enjoyed making it!
Carrie
I have made this recipe several times. We love these beans. I recently made them for my oldest daughter and her family and they also loved. The only thing I did different is I added a couple tablespoons of bacon grease!
Devour Dinner
Hi Carrie!
I'm so glad you love this recipe. We sure do too. Adding bacon grease would also add flavor that I bet is great! Thanks for sharing!
Melanie
I never comment on a pinterest recipe but I needed to. Living in Texas I have had ALOT of refried beans. These are the best, most flavorful beans I've ever had. The only thing I added was 4 slices of cooked bacon. And the fact I could make them in THE pot so quickly is just an extra bonus!!! Thank you.
Devour Dinner
Melanie! You just made my day! Thank you for such a great review and comment. We love these beans and I agree, they are so easy. Bacon would be a great addition. I'll have to give it a try.
Connie
I made these refried beans tonight. At first I thought they were going to be really thin but as they cooled off they were perfect. This recipe is perfect. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe.
Devour Dinner
Hi Connie! I have to agree with you that at first this recipe does seem like it will be thin, but as you learned as it cools it thickens and is the PERFECT thickness for dipping a chip without the chip breaking. Mmmm.. it's a favorite recipe for so many reasons. So glad you enjoyed it!
Bev Arias
What if you don't have an Emerson tool?
Devour Dinner
Hi Bev! If you don't have an immersion tool, you can put the beans in the blender and blend. You can also hand mash them too. Either work great!
Anna
Use a potato masher.
Jo Lynne Nugent
Super easy, tastes just like restaurant retried beans, of which I never an get enough! Problem solved!
Devour Dinner
Agreed! They are simply wonderful...we can't get enough either!