Refried Beans Instant Pot Recipe - Foody Schmoody Blog (2024)

Refried Beans - The perfect side dish for Taco Night, made in a fraction of the time of the classic method.

TIP: If you prefer a smoother texture, process a little bit more with an immersion blender. I just happen to like them thick and chunky.

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You guys know how I have all kinds of pretty recipes posted on this blog of mine?

Well, this ain't one of them!

Don't get me wrong, these Instant Pot Refried Beans are tasty as all get out, they just aren't pretty. If you can make refried beans look pretty, then I am in awe of you. I can't. I didn't even try.

If you are new here, I swear, I do have some pretty recipes. Look at Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cheesecake, Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs and/or Instant Pot Cheesecake for proof.

When it comes to refried beans, I find there are two camps. Those who like the beans thick with some "bite" to them and those who like them super smooth and thin. I fall into the thick category. There has got to be a better way to word that. Oh well, moving on.

If you fall into the category of wanting a thinner, more smooth refried bean recipe, just add more liquid to the pot and process the beans well at the end.

To process the refried beans, I find the easiest method is to use an immersion blender. No need to transfer beans to another device (like a blender or food processor), which means less clean up.

I will admit, I've never even attempted homemade refried beans before. I've heard they take all day. Who the heck has time for that? Not this chick.

It was only after getting my new love, the light of my life, my best friend, my Instant Pot, Instant Pot, that I even entertained the idea. By the way, that is seriously how I feel about my Instant Pot. Don't judge. It's not weird. If you have one, you know. If you don't, well, then, I'm sorry for you.

Oh, one last thing. I generally like to top my refried beans with some shredded cheese. A weird thing happened though, I, um, I ran out of cheese. I NEVER run out of cheese. I've got blocks upon blocks and even bags upon bags. You guys know, I have a major cheese obsession. There is ALWAYS tons of cheese in my fridge. I had my beans ready, tacos heading to the table and I go to grab the cheese and whaaaaaaa ? All I had was 3 blocks of various mozzarella cheeses, a fontina, some goat crumbles and a pecorino. I ended up finding a jar of queso, so we used that for the tacos but I wasn't feeling it for the beans.

See, you probably don't believe me when I say I cook for my family and then blog it, unlike most bloggers who blog it and then feed to family. Listen kids, I'm just chugging away over here trying to feed these humans that live in my house. So stuff happens. It's real life.

To make these Instant Pot Refried Beans simply place cleaned beans in the Instant Pot with all the other ingredients and set it to high pressure for about 45 minutes. Once the timer goes off, allow the pressure cooker to naturally release. Season beans with salt and process with an immersion blender. Done.

So, I'll leave you with this one last thought - don't forget to buy cheese for taco night!

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Instant Pot Refried Beans

foodyschmoody

Refried Beans made in a fraction of the time of the classic method. This recipe calls for using an electric pressure cooker. Great side dish for Taco Night!

4.67 from 3 votes

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Ingredients

1 pound dry pinto beans rinsed well
1 medium sweet onion diced
4 cloves garlic roughly chopped
1 jalapeno seeded and chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dry oregano
½ teaspoon black pepper freshly cracked
3 T coconut oil, vegetable oil, lard or fat of your choice
3 ½ C beef broth/stock or water
salt to taste

Instructions

Place rinsed beans, onion, garlic, jalapeno, cumin, oregano, black pepper, oil and broth in Instant Pot.
Cover the Instant Pot and make sure the valve is on sealing. Set instant pot by pressing the beans/chili setting and adjusting the time to 45 minutes.
When timer is complete, allow pot to come to a natural release. This will take about a half hour (could be a bit more).
Once the pressure has been released, season with salt and use immersion blender to process to desired consistency.
If desired, garnish with more jalapenos, cheese and/or cilantro before serving.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Toppings or Stir-In Ideas for Refried Beans:

cilantro
monterey jack cheese
sliced jalapenos

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Refried Beans Instant Pot Recipe - Foody Schmoody Blog (2024)

FAQs

How do you make refried beans thicker? ›

If you prefer thicker beans, there's a simple solution to boost flavor, add moisture, and thicken refried beans. Cream cheese is the not-so-secret weapon for making refried beans a yummy side dish to accompany rice, or a versatile taco or nacho topping.

Why are my refried beans watery? ›

Using more liquid than is necessary to cook the beans make any bean dish thin, watery and unappetizing. Simmering away the liquid on a medium-low setting dries up the dish while adding flavor. Since you don't want to lose any of the seasonings and spices, add them after the excess liquid simmers off.

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How do restaurants make refried beans taste so good? ›

If you're wondering what is the secret ingredient for restaurant-quality refried beans, the answer is fat. Restaurant-made refried beans honor traditional Mexican culinary practices by adding a hearty helping of lard or bacon fat drippings to their recipe.

Discover More ›

What can I use to thicken beans? ›

Add a thickening agent.

In a separate bowl, dissolve a teaspoon or two of cornstarch or all-purpose flour in a small amount of cold water. Add the slurry to the bubbling soup. The soup should thicken up. Add more cornstarch or flour as needed until the soup reaches your desired consistency.

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How to add liquid to refried beans? ›

Stir in the beans and reduce the heat to low. Add ½ cup of the bean cooking liquid and use a potato masher to mash the beans until they reach your desired consistency, adding more cooking liquid, ½ cup at a time, as needed (I typically use 1 to 1½ cups).

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How do you make refried beans less runny? ›

About Canned Refried Beans Restaurant Style:

She'd toss a bit of butter in a pan, then just dump in the canned beans, and once hot and bubbly, stir in a bit of milk, a little if she wanted them thicker, a bit more for smoother and creamy.

Tell Me More ›

How do you make refried beans less liquidy? ›

If your beans are still too watery after prolonged cooking and mashing, consider adding a thickener like cornstarch, all-purpose flour, or arrowroot. To do this, first, make a slurry of equal parts thickener and water, then slowly add it to your refried beans. They should thicken considerably.

How do you thicken beans without cornstarch? ›

All-purpose flour: You can thicken sauces with all-purpose wheat flour. For every tablespoon of cornstarch, use three tablespoons of flour. Combine raw flour with cold water in a small bowl to form a paste, then add it into the sauce as it's simmering. Cooking the flour in the sauce will remove the flour taste.

Keep Reading ›

What to do if refried beans are too dry? ›

Add more bean water or plain water to desired level of creaminess and to keep the fried beans from getting too dried out. Add more salt to taste. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of chipotle chili powder, if using.

Find Out More ›

How do you make beans a little thicker? ›

One way is to boil the beans until they are soft, then remove them from heat and cover with at least an inch of cold water. The beans will soak up some of the remaining hot water while they cool and release starches which thicken them. Once cooled, you can drain off any excess liquid or eat as-is if desired.

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