Flavorful Instant Pot Refried Beans: Perfect Base

I’ve found it much cheaper and yummier to make refried beans at home instead of buying it in cans. I love using the instant pot to make this refried beans recipe because I can just throw all the ingredients in it and not have to baby-sit it! Getting married to a Mexican opened up a new cuisine of cooking! We incorporate these beans in this delicious seven-layered dip, tacos, burritos, and even taco soup! I make this recipe and then freeze half of it for later use!

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Instant Pot or Stovetop?

I love using the instant pot around the kitchen! It makes for much quicker recipes and all you do is throw in all the ingredients and it does the magic for you! I have an instant pot like this one (Amazon). But if you don’t have an instant pot, you could totally make this recipe on the stovetop! All you will have to do is bring the beans to a boil for about 45 minutes (until mashable) and then fry them with broth.

Is it Necessary to Soak Beans Overnight?

Soaking beans overnight has many benefits: it removes the oligosaccharides that make it easier for your stomach to digest the beans, it removes dirt and pesticide residue, and helps the beans to cook quickly and evenly. So to answer the question “Is it necessary?”, no, but the benefits are worth it in my opinion. Or you could buy this bean spoon to avoid problems later (not an affiliate link ;)).

Tools for Refried Beans

• 6 Qt. Instant Pot (Amazon)
• Immersion Blender (Amazon)

Though both of these tools aren’t mandatory to make delicious refried beans, they definitely make it easier!

Water or Broth?

Water and broth work great in this recipe! I didn’t have any broth on hand on this particular day, but I usually use 6 cups of broth in 1 pound of dried beans. Using filtered water works too. Just season to taste at the end if you find it not seasoned enough. Use 6 cups of drinking water to 1 pound of dry beans as well.

Ingredients

• Black Beans or Pinto Beans
• Broth
• chopped onion
• minced or pressed garlic cloves
• cut jalapeños or chili peppers from the can
• paprika
• dried oregano
• garlic powder
• cumin
• salt
• lemon juice

Instructions for Refried Beans

• Add all of the ingredients into the instant pot.
• Turn the instant pot on “Manual” and set the time to 50 minutes. When it is finished, let it stand for another 10-15 minutes and release the pressure.
• Blend the bean mixture with an immersion blender until it is nice and creamy.
• Use this delicious refried beans recipe for dips, tacos, burritos, or just as a side!

Can I Freeze Refried Beans?

Yes! One pound worth of beans is too much for my family to eat at a time, so I divide it in half and freeze half of it for later! Just wait for the refried beans to cool and fill it up into freezer-proof Ziploc bags. Defrost the beans by taking it out and placing the bag into a bowl of cool water.

Conclusion

Thank you so much for stopping by Two Peas in Two Pods! This recipe is brought to you by Inna. Check out more recipes here. Let us know how you like this refried beans recipe in the comments below! Share the recipe to family and friends if you enjoyed the recipe!