What Makes Instant Pot Refried Beans Better Than Canned?
Cost. Dried beans cost pennies on the dollar, which makes it significantly cheaper to make your own than to buy them in a can.Flavor. Canned beans are mediocre at best, and these are what dreams are made of. I’m serious when I say they will ruin canned beans for you forever.Control. Making your own means you can control the ingredients and flavor profile. Make them gluten-free, make them spicy (or not spicy), or whatever you want.
Don’t Refried Beans Need Lard?
Mexican refried beans need lard. I don’t have any. I don’t want to buy any. What if I end up loving it and eating too much of it? What if I never use any of it? Then again, lard is nothing but pork fat–and coincidentally, so is bacon. I always have bacon. I do love it and eat too much of it. So, here’s what I thought I’d do: Make pinto beans or red kidney beans in the Instant Pot, and then cook them up with bacon fat afterward. That’s what I ended up doing, and it tasted quite good. Besides, since you use just the bacon fat and not the bacon, you get to eat it, which to me is only fair if you’re cooking, as your reward. If you’d rather keep these Instant Pot Refried Beans vegetarian, use coconut oil or ghee instead of the bacon, and enjoy them that way. Oh and yes, refried beans in your Instant pot can be made with red kidney beans instead of pinto beans. For more info on how to cook beans and lentils in your pressure cooker, check out my guide on How to Cook Beans in the Instant Pot!
How to make Instant Pot Refried Beans
This Instant Pot Refried Beans recipe is so very simple, you’ll wonder why you ever bought that sticky looking stuff in a can. The best part of making Instant Pot Refried Beans? How EASY it is.
Do You Need to Soak the Beans?
I’ve come up with a quick method for soaking beans to keep from having to soak them overnight. Soak them in hot water for an hour, and they’ll be perfect for cooking in the Instant Pot. For more info on how to cook beans and lentils in your pressure cooker, check out my guide on How to Cook Beans in the Instant Pot!
Tips and Tricks for Making Instant Pot Refried Beans
Heat. Make your beans with a little kick by adding half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the seasoning list.Texture. Make your beans smooth by using an immersion blender on the cooked beans. Leave them with some more “whole bean” texture, by using a spoon instead of a blender.Serving. I like to serve these easy homemade refried beans with any of my Mexican-inspired dishes, but I especially love them with my Chile Rellenos or my Carne Asada recipes!
Other Authentic Mexican Recipes
After years in Texas, I have a ton of easy, authentic Mexican recipes you should check out. They may not be made in traditional ways, but they taste authentic because of #RuthlessEfficiency. Here are some Fan Favorites:
Air Fryer Taco MeatballsInstant Pot Tamale PieInstant Pot Tortilla SoupKeto Tacos De AlambreAir Fryer Queso fundidoAir Fryer Chile RellenosRopa De ViejaArroz Con PolloCaldo De ResCaldo De Pollo Con ArrozInstant Pot Chicken Tacos
So the next time you’re throwing together a Mexican meal for your family, I beg of you, put the canned refried beans DOWN and make these authentic Instant Pot Refried Beans instead. Originally published on April 25, 2017, at 7:29 PM.
Don’t forget to check out my other Best-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!
Indian Instant Pot, Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy, Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot.
