Instant Pot Black Beans are savory, satisfying, and comforting. When properly cooked in an electric pressure cooker, black beans can be a perfect accompaniment to a variety of dishes or even enjoyed on their own as a satisfying vegetarian protein source. Perfect for a wholesome clean vegetarian meal !
Succulent and flavorful black beans are easy to make at home. This Mexican / Cuban style black beans recipe is full of rich and meaty flavors. You will love this hearty comforting and healthy recipe. This vegan, gluten free, nut and soy free recipe is full of plant protein and fiber!
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Black beans made in an Instant Pot have a deliciously tender texture that is slightly creamy and smooth. The beans are fully cooked and infused with the flavors of the spices and aromatics used in the recipe, such as cumin, chili powder, garlic, and onion. The beans have a subtle earthy flavor that is slightly nutty, with a mild sweetness and a hint of smokiness.
Recipe Highlights
- Easy
- Vegan
- Gluten Free
- Easy to change to your taste
- Unlike canned beans, free of chemicals and preservatives
- Inexpensive and budget friendly
- Perfect for meal prep and freezing.
- High Plant Protine and fiber rich wholesome meal
Wondering how to make well seasoned and melt in your mouth tender black beans from scratch ? This detailed recipe shows you several different ways to get consistent results every .single .time !
Popularly called as “Frijoles Negros “, seasoned black beans are staple in Cuban and Mexican cuisine. Typically served with rice, it makes a wholesome and inexpensive meal.
It is easy to make restaurant-style black beans at home. We are making them from scratch. You will love their freshness and texture way better compared to canned beans.
Beans and legumes offer excellent plant protein for vegan and vegetarians. They are also affordable, inexpensive and easily available.
Black Beans are also nutrient dense, high in fiber and rich in plant protein. They are particularly rich in folate, manganese, magnesium, and iron.
You can make this recipe on the stovetop, in electric pressure cooker like Instant Pot, or in a slow cooker. You can also do them soaked or non soaked. We got it all covered.
Homemade beans are cooked along few basic yet key seasoning ingredients. That adds much deeper rich fatty flavor. They taste succulent and luxurious.
What is Sofrito Seasoning ?
I am using Sofrito style seasoning to make these beans. Sofrito is an aromatic combination of sautéed garlic, peppers, onions, and tomatoes. I am not including tomatoes but you certainly can add it in.
In Spanish and Latin American cooking, Sofrito is often used as a base for stews, rice and beans. It brings delightful flavors.
Ingredients
- Black Beans : This recipe uses 1 cup dry black beans You can make bigger batch and use it for later. Use fresher beans because stale and old beans don’t cook tender.
- Water or Broth : To cook blacks in Instant Pot, use 3 cups water or vegetable broth (add more if you like soup like consistency)
- Seasoning and Herbs : I prefer to use garlic, jalapeño pepper, and onion sautéed in olive oil. For seasoning, use ground cumin, oregano, smoked paprika along with salt and pepper and lime juice. Freshly chopped cilantro makes excellent garnish and adds the herby earthy flavor.
- For Sofrito : 1 whole onion, 1 stalk of celery , 1 medium green bell pepper , 2-3 bay leaves.
Should I use Soaked or Un-soaked Black Beans?
You can use either soaked or un soaked dry beans to make this recipe. If you want to soak the beans for at least 4 + hours , preferably overnight. For 1 cup soaked beans, use 2 cups of water or broth.
For Un-soaked 1 cup dry beans use 3 cups water or broth. Soaked beans will cook in half the time compared to un-soaked dry beans. Always rinse the beans under cold water and drain the water before cooking them.
How to Make Instant Pot Black Beans
Turn on the Instant Pot. Heat oil on Sauté mode (high). Add bay leaves, crushed garlic and chopped onions. Sauté for 1 minute, or until the onions turn translucent. Add Sofrito mix (whole onion, garlic, green bell pepper and celery stalk) Mix well.
Add rinsed and drained beans and all the seasoning and water. Cancel Sauté. Put the lid on and set the valve to sealing.
Choose pressure cook or manual and select 20 minutes on high pressure. Let Instant Pot do the cooking. Let the use natural pressure release for 10 mins (NPR 10). After that, release pressure manually.
Open the lid after the pin drops. Remove the bay leaves, whole onion, peppers and celery. Using a potato masher, mash a few beans for a creamy texture. Mix in lime juice. Garnish with cilantro and serve warm!
Water Ratio for Cooking Beans with No-Soak and Soak Method
- 1 pound dried beans = 2 cups dried beans
- 1 cup dried beans = 3 cups cooked beans
- 1 can of beans = Approximately 2 cups of cooked beans
- 1 pound dried beans = Approximately 3 cans of cooked beans
- 1 cup dried beans serves 4, and, 1 pound dried beans serves 8
- For Cooking 1 cup Soaked Beans : Use 2 cups of water and use half the time suggested above.
- If you use canned beans – cooking time will reduce to 10 minutes
Serving Suggestions
- As a side dish: Serve the black beans as a side dish with Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Brown Rice, grilled meats, or roasted vegetables. Garnish with chopped cilantro, diced avocado, or crumbled feta cheese for extra flavor. Indian Cumin Rice and Mexican Rice are also great pairing.
- In a soup or stew: Add the black beans to a soup or stew to give it a hearty and nutritious boost. Black beans pair well with other ingredients such as tomatoes, corn, and bell peppers. Panera copycat Black bean Soup is our favorite comfort food.
- In a burrito or taco: Stuff the black beans into a burrito or taco along with your favorite fillings. Top with salsa, guacamole, or sour cream for a delicious and filling meal. You can use them in filling for enchiladas as well.
- In a salad: Add the black beans to a salad for a boost of protein and fiber. Toss with greens, diced tomatoes, and a vinaigrette dressing for a healthy and satisfying meal. We love Black Beans and Corn Salad with Creamy Avocado Cilantro Lime Dressing.
- As a dip: Mash the black beans and use them as a dip for tortilla chips or vegetable sticks. Similar to Instant Pot Refried Beans, mix in some chopped fresh herbs or hot sauce for extra flavor.
Recipe FAQs
Sauté onion and garlic with warm oil until softened. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a rapid boil. About 10 minutes. Cover, reduce to a simmer and cook for about an hour. Check for water and desired done texture preference along the way. After it is done cooking, stir in lime juice, adjust the seasoning, garnish with cilantro and serve warm.
Sauté the onions and garlic on the stove. Add them to the crock pot along with the rest of the ingredients. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8. Check at 3 or 6 hours for doneness and add more water if needed. You want the liquid to cover the beans so they don’t burn. After it is done cooking, stir in lime juice, adjust the seasoning, garnish with cilantro and serve warm.
Our Favorite Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
- Instant Pot Eggs
- Instant Pot Steamed Beets
- Instant Pot No drain Mashed Potatoes
- Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
★ If you make this CUBAN BLACK BEANS RECIPE do let us know how you like it by ★ star rating it and leaving a comment below.
Instant Pot Black Beans – No Soak
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry black beans
- 3 cups water or broth add more if you like soup like consistency
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2-3 cloves garlic
- 1 jalapeno pepper
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 tsp. ground cumin
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- ¼ tsp. smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp. lime juice
- ½ tsp. ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt – adjust per taste
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro for garnish
For Optional Sofrito
- 1 whole onion
- 1 stalk of celery
- 1 medium green bell pepper
- 2-3 bay leaves
Instructions
How to Make Instant Pot Black Beans
- Turn on the Instant Pot. Heat oil on Saute mode (high). Add bay leaves, crushed garlic and chopped onions. Saute for 1 minute, or until the onions turn translucent.
- Add rinsed and drained beans. Add Sofrito mix (whole onion, garlic, green bell pepper and celery stalk) Mix well. Add the seasoning and water. Cancel Saute.
- Choose Bean/Chili Mode or use MANUAL and select 20 minutes. Let Instant Pot do the cooking. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 mins (NPR 15). After that, release pressure manually.
- Open the lid after the pin drops. Remove the bay keaves, whole onion, peppers and celery. Using a potato masher, mash a few beans for a creamy texture. Mix in lime juice. Garnish with cilantro and serve warm!
How to cook Black Beans on Stove Top
- Sauté onion and garlic with warm oil until softened. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a rapid boil. About 10 minutes. Cover, reduce to a simmer and cook for about an hour.
- Check for water and desired done texture preference along the way. After it is done cooking, stir in lime juice, adjust the seasoning, garnish with cilantro and serve warm.
How to Make Crockpot black beans
- Sauté the onions and garlic on the stove. Add them to the crock pot along with the rest of the ingredients. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8. Check at 3 or 6 hours for doneness and add more water if needed. You want the liquid to cover the beans so they don’t burn.
- After it is done cooking, stir in lime juice, adjust the seasoning, garnish with cilantro and serve warm. ENJOY !
Notes
EASY CHART FOR SERVINGS AND WATER RATIO
- 1 pound dried beans = 2 cups dried beans
- 1 cup dried beans = 3 cups cooked beans
- 1 can of beans = Approximately 2 cups of cooked beans
- 1 pound dried beans = Approximately 3 cans of cooked beans
- 1 cup dried beans serves 4, and, 1 pound dried beans serves 8
- For Cooking 1 cup Soaked Beans : Use 2 cups of water and use half the time suggested above.
- If you use canned beans – cooking time will reduce to 10 minutes
Nutrition
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David
Hi. I made this recipe this evening. The flavors were great. The thing is that in the finished product I had way too much liquid for the one cup of beans. I could easily I have cooked 2 cups of beans. I would recommend increasing the number of cups of beans in the recipe or reducing the amount of water or stock. I’m keeping the leftover liquid. I plan to add some chili powder and tomato paste and cook it into a nice sauce for tacos.
admin
David,
Thank you for the feedback. The problem with less water is beans often do not cook soft and properly. So I prefer to cook them in ample water and then mash some of the cooked beans so it thickens.
TERRI OPGENORTH
@David, I had the exact same problem! We just used a slotted spoon to serve. The remaining beans and liquid shall be made into “black beans and rice” for tomorrow’s dinner.
Elsa Velez
This recipe is lovely. However, we Cubans don’t add jalapeno, paprika, celery or cilantro in the traditional recipes. Thanks for sharing the Mexican recipe.
Scarlet
These cuban black beans sound delish and I love that I can make them in my instant pot. Thanks!