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Pressure Cooker Pinto Beans are a quick, budget-friendly, and delicious recipe you’ll want to keep on rotation. Serve them on their own with brown rice, use them in tacos or burritos, or enjoy as a hearty side dish. The best part? No soaking required!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
Quick and Easy: Perfectly cooked beans in about 40 minutes using a pressure cooker or Instant Pot. No soaking, no fuss. Looking for another cozy pressure cooker recipe? Try my Pressure Cooker Chicken Soup with a Whole Chicken, a comforting homemade soup that’s perfect for chilly nights or sick days.
Versatile: Serve with brown rice for a simple vegetarian meal, toss into Mexican dishes like Air Fryer Tortilla Pillows, or pair as a side with Salmon Burgers or Herb Brined Pork Chops.
Budget-Friendly: Dry beans are inexpensive, filling, and make enough to feed a crowd (or give you leftovers for the week). Looking for more budget-friendly recipes? Check out 60 Budget-Friendly Family Dinners!
The Ingredients
- Dry pinto beans: The star of the show! Be sure to rinse and pick out an debris such as small rocks before adding to the pressure cooker.
- Onion, Garlic & Cilantro: Add tons of flavor to the beans. Use any aromatics you love!
- Water: Or swap in your favorite stock for extra richness!
- Seasonings: Cumin and salt are classic, but feel free to use any of your favorite spices.
Step by Step Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a pressure cooker and, following the manufacturer’s directions, cover and lock the lid and cook on high pressure for 40 minutes. Allow the steam to release completely (again, following manufacturer’s directions) before opening the pressure cooker lid.
Recipe Video
Tips and Tricks
- No Soaking Needed: Pressure cooking cooks dry beans perfectly in about 40 minutes. You can skip the overnight soak.
- Customize Seasonings: Add smoked paprika, chili powder, or any seasonings/flavors you love!
- Leftovers: Store cooked beans in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. They taste even better the next day!
FAQs
Yes! You can cook them the same way as in a regular pressure cooker. On high pressure for about 40 minutes.
Pinto beans are super versatile! Use them in tacos, burritos, soups, salads, or as a hearty side with rice.
No soaking needed! Pressure cooking makes dry pinto beans tender and flavorful in about 40 minutes.
More Bean Recipes
These Pressure Cooker Pinto Beans are simple, flavorful, and versatile. Perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep, they’ll quickly become a staple in your kitchen! Let me know what you think of this recipe — leave a comment and rating below.
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Pressure Cooker Pinto Beans
Equipment
- Pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 1 pound dry pinto beans
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 bunch cilantro stems, tied together with butcher’s twine
- 7 cups water or broth of choice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a pressure cooker. Following the manufacturer’s directions, cover and lock the lid and cook on high pressure for 40 minutes.
- Allow the steam to release completely (again, following manufacturer’s directions) before opening the pressure cooker lid.
Notes
- No Soaking Needed: Pressure cooking cooks dry beans perfectly in about 40 minutes. You can skip the overnight soak.
- Customize Seasonings: Add smoked paprika, chili powder, or any seasonings/flavors you love!
- Leftovers: Store cooked beans in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. They taste even better the next day!
Do you know if this recipe would, with quantities appropriately scaled down to fit, work in a microwave pressure cooker?
To quote another recipe:
“Cooking time begins when the pressure regulator begins to rock. Reduce the heat to medium low or low, maintaining a slow, steady rocking motion and cook 50 minutes. If the pressure regulator is allowed to rock vigorously, excess steam will escape. Therefore, too much liquid will evaporate and food may scorch. Never leave a pressure cooker unattended at high heat settings. It could boil dry, overheat, and cause damage to the pressure cooker and stove top.”
Ended up with a burnt mess on bottom, some perfect beans, and some that were still under-cooked. Trying to salvage what wasn’t burned to my pressure cooker. I think I just may not be meant to use a pressure cooker. I’ve had no luck with the one I own.
I made these (though I forgot to add the onions!) and they were delicious. Pressure cooker beans are so creamy and yummy. I doubled the recipe and froze leftovers in 2-cup portions so that I can pull them out to use as I would a can of beans. Just last night I made them into refried beans for quesadillas!
I used my great grandmother’s Presto pressure cooker to make these beans. They were fantastic. Thank you for the recipe. Maybe I’ll find more ways to use this old pot.
I have always been terrified of the pressure cooker, but I just might give this a try. 40 minute beans can’t really be topped.
I haven’t tried black eyed peas yet! I do this with black beans all the time, though, and it is fabulous! Pressure Cooker Black Beans http://b12.ba4.myftpupload.com/2012/10/03/know-pressure-the-easiest-beans-youll-ever-make/
Would this work with black eyed peas?
They work great for quick artichokes too. Try that in the spring!
I love my pressure cooker! I use it all the time. Don’t know why everyone doesn’t use one, with everyone short on time, but wanting to eat health. Thanks for the bean recipe!
Love your book & site!
I’ve done it both ways, prefer pre-soaking which makes the beans more easily digestible.
I’m wondering the same thing Aprille.
No pre soaking required with a pressure cooker? Are the beans gassy?
I use an electric pressure cooker..LOVE IT
I have a Wolfgang Puck from shopping network…
ALWAYS looking for more ways to use it..IT IS A LIFESAVER when you forgot to defrost your meat and need dinner on the table quick!
I am looking for a pressure cooker to buy. I feel a little overwhelmed. What do recommend?
This is great! I just got a pressure cooker and I am so excited to try this recipe. Keep bringing on the pressure cooker recipes please!!!