Want to make easy Pressure Cooker Refried Beans? This recipe is delicious and so simple, you’ll never want to buy canned refried beans again.

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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.

  1. Soak Beans. Soak pinto beans in enough hot water to cover them for 1 hour.
  2. Cook the Pinto beans. Drain, add beans into your Instant Pot , add 3 cups of water, and cook at High Pressure for 20 minutes. Allow it to release pressure naturally to avoid spluttering.
  3. Mash the beans. Once they’re cooked, you can either mash them with the back of a spoon for a more rustic finish, or if you prefer a smoother finish, use an immersion blender on your beans to get a smooth paste. You may have to remove some of the cooking water so it’s not too runny.
  4. Fry Bacon. While the beans are cooking, Heat a frying pan and fry the bacon on a medium low heat to render all the bacon fat. Cook until the bacon is crisp and then remove bacon and reserve for another use (which means, eat it before anyone else sees it).
  5. Add Aromatics. To the fat, add chopped onion and cook until onion starts to brown at the edges. Add chopped garlic and sauté for a minute.
  6. Add mashed beans. Pour in the mashed or puréed beans along with a little water, as well as the cumin and salt. Mix everything well, and let it cook. You may have to add water. Your goal is to get the beans heated through, and you will want to add enough water to ensure it is a slightly loose mixture. This will take about 4-5 minutes.
  7. Serve . Add a sprinkle of cilantro, and a pass of shredded cheese as you serve.

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.

Taco Meatballs - 2

Taco Meatballs

Here are some Fan Favorites:

  • Air Fryer Taco Meatballs
  • Instant Pot Tamale Pie
  • Instant Pot Tortilla Soup
  • Keto Tacos De Alambre
  • Air Fryer Queso fundido
  • Air Fryer Chile Rellenos
  • Ropa De Vieja
  • Arroz Con Pollo
  • Caldo De Res
  • Caldo De Pollo Con Arroz
  • Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
Instant Pot Refried Beans - 3

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.

Instant Pot Refried Beans - 4

Instant Pot Refried Beans

Equipment

  • Instant Pot
  • KITCHENAID IMMERSION BLENDER

Ingredients

Soak Beans

  • ▢ 1/2 cup ( 85.5 g ) dry pinto beans
  • ▢ 2 cups ( 2 cups ) hot water to soak beans
  • ▢ 2 cups ( 3 cups ) water to cook beans

For Refrying

  • ▢ 6-8 slices ( 6 slices ) Bacon
  • ▢ 1/2 cup ( 80 g ) Onion , chopped
  • ▢ 3 cloves ( 3 cloves ) Garlic
  • ▢ 1/4-1/2 cup ( 62.5 g ) Water
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon ( 1 teaspoon ) Kosher Salt
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon ( 1 teaspoon ) Ground Cumin

Instructions

  • Soak pinto beans in enough hot water to cover them for 1 hour.
  • Drain, add beans into your Instant Pot, add 2 cups of water, and cook at High Pressure for 30 minutes. Allow it to release pressure naturally to avoid spluttering.
  • Once they’re cooked, you can either mash them with the back of a spoon for a more rustic finish, or if you prefer a smoother finish, use an immersion blender on your beans to get a smooth paste. You may have to remove some of the cooking water so it’s not too runny.
  • While the beans are cooking, Heat a frying pan and fry the bacon on a medium low heat to render all the bacon fat. Cook until the bacon is crisp and then remove bacon and reserve for another use (which means, eat it before anyone else sees it).
  • To the fat, add chopped onion and cook until until onion starts to brown at the edges.
  • Add chopped garlic and sauté for a minute.
  • Add mashed or puréed beans along with a little water, as well as the cumin and salt. Mix everything well, and let it cook. You may have to add water. Your goal is to get the beans heated through, and you will want to add enough water to ensure it is a slightly loose mixture. This will take about 4-5 minutes.
  • Serve with a spring of cilantro, and pass shredded cheese as you serve.

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 refried beans with any of my Mexican-inspired dishes, but I especially love them with my Chile Rellenos or my Carne Asada recipes!

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Nutrition

Originally published on April 25, 2017, at 7:29 PM.

Don’t forget to check out my otherBest-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!

Indian Instant Pot , Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy , Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot .

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Instant Pot Refried Beans - 8

Instant Pot Refried Beans

Ingredients

Soak Beans

  • 1/2 cup dry pinto beans
  • 2 cups hot water to soak beans
  • 2 cups water to cook beans

For Refrying

  • 6-8 slices Bacon
  • 1/2 cup Onion chopped
  • 3 cloves Garlic
  • 1/4-1/2 cup Water
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin

Instructions

  • Soak pinto beans in enough hot water to cover them for 1 hour.
  • Drain, add beans into your Instant Pot, add 2 cups of water, and cook at High Pressure for 30 minutes. Allow it to release pressure naturally to avoid spluttering.
  • Once they’re cooked, you can either mash them with the back of a spoon for a more rustic finish, or if you prefer a smoother finish, use an immersion blender on your beans to get a smooth paste. You may have to remove some of the cooking water so it’s not too runny.
  • While the beans are cooking, Heat a frying pan and fry the bacon on a medium low heat to render all the bacon fat. Cook until the bacon is crisp and then remove bacon and reserve for another use (which means, eat it before anyone else sees it).
  • To the fat, add chopped onion and cook until until onion starts to brown at the edges.
  • Add chopped garlic and sauté for a minute.
  • Add mashed or puréed beans along with a little water, as well as the cumin and salt. Mix everything well, and let it cook. You may have to add water. Your goal is to get the beans heated through, and you will want to add enough water to ensure it is a slightly loose mixture. This will take about 4-5 minutes.
  • Serve with a spring of cilantro, and pass shredded cheese as you serve.

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 refried beans with any of my Mexican-inspired dishes, but I especially love them with my Chile Rellenos or my Carne Asada recipes!

Instant Pot Refried Beans https://twosleevers.com/pressure-cooker-refried-beans/

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How to roast beets is a simple roasted vegetable side dish made with whole beets, a little oil, salt, pepper, and foil for roasting. It’s weeknight-friendly and works well for meal prep, gluten-free eating, and easy veggie sides. Unlike boiled or steamed beets, this version uses a foil-wrapped oven (or air fryer) method that caramelizes the beets for a sweeter, more concentrated flavor. Plus an optional quick broil for extra roasty edges.

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Beets are nutrition and flavor bombs, especially when cooked correctly. One of the nicest things about beets, is that they are like me, #ruthlesslyefficient.

Every part of the beet is edible–from the beet root, to the beet stems and to the beet greens. All you need is to know how to cook the beets. I always look for beets with the greens since those leaves can be very tasty.

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • 4 Large Beets - Yep, that’s it. Just one simple ingredient is all you need to make the most delicious beets in both the Instant Pot and air fryer.

How To Roast Beets

Check out these instructions if you want to learn how to cook beets in the Instant Pot or on the stovetop .

But if you’re looking for an easy baked beets recipe, you are in the right place.

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How To Make Roasted Beets in The Oven

Oven-roasted air fryer beets are delicious and relatively tidy. Roasting Beets make them taste more caramelized and sweet than boiled or steamed beets can, but it does take longer to cook them than making Instant Pot Beets.

  • Preheat the oven to 400F.
  • Scrub the beets and cut them in half for faster cooking. Toss beets with a little oil, salt, and pepper.
  • Place the beets on a large sheet of foil . Wrap the foil around the beets.
  • Bake the beets for 40-50 minutes until the baked beets are tender.
  • For a grilled taste to your beets, open up the foil, and broil the beets for about 5 minutes.
  • If you plan to do this, you may want to peel the beets before cooking, and perhaps also cut into wedges for maximizing the caramelly surface.

How To Cook Beets in TheAir Fryer

There are a couple of reasons why I love air frying the beets. The biggest reason is no water to get rid of, no pan to wash with beet liquid.

But the other reason is taste. Roasted beets have a sweeter taste, and air frying is like roasting to some extent.

I wrote a long article on how to determine which air fryer is best for you that you may be interested in.

Below, I’m showing you how to season and air fry beets all in one go.

  • Scrub the beets .
  • Peel and cut the beets into quarters . Place the beets in a large bowl.
  • Drizzle the beets with olive oil, salt, and pepper, or use chermoula or zhoug to coat and season the beets.
  • Set the Air fryer to 380°F for 25-30 minutes or until tender.
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What To Do With Beet Greens

Really, every part of a beetroot is edible (apart from the little tail). The beet greens are a tasty and nutritious part of the plant.

Use them just as you would any other greens. Wash them well, and then turn them into a beets recipe that calls for spinach , swiss chard, or kale .

Can You Eat BeetsRaw?

Yes, you can. But the way to make them taste good is like in this beet salad recipes .

  • Wash and peel them well.
  • Grate them so you have smaller pieces of beets.
  • Tenderize them with a little acid such as lemon or lime juice.

They are very crunchy when eaten this way–crunchy in a good way–and are also less likely to have the more earthy taste that cooked beets can have.

Are Beets Keto?

Unfortunately, beets aren’t the most keto-friendly food choice. If you eat them in moderation, you can still manage to fit them into your macros.

However, they contain 10 carbs per cup. They’re also very high in natural sugars, so they may cause your body to fall out of ketosis if eaten in high amounts.

  • Air Fryer Roasted Beets
  • Raw Beet Salad
  • Instant Pot Beet Salad
  • Instant Pot Borscht
  • Beet Salad Recipe With Lentils

What To Eat With Roasted Beets

Roasted beets are naturally sweet, earthy, and tender, making them a versatile side dish that pairs beautifully with a variety of mains and complementary flavors. Whether served warm or chilled, they can elevate both simple and elegant meals. Here are some delicious ideas for what to eat with roasted beets:

  • Goat Cheese or Feta - The tangy creaminess of these cheeses balances the sweetness of the beets perfectly.
  • Arugula or Spinach Salad - Toss roasted beets into a leafy green salad with walnuts, citrus, or a balsamic vinaigrette for a fresh, vibrant pairing.
  • Grilled Chicken or Steak - The hearty, savory flavors of grilled meats contrast beautifully with the beets’ sweetness.
  • Salmon or White Fish - The mild, buttery flavor of fish complements the earthy beets, especially when paired with lemon or dill.

So if you’ve been wondering how to cook beets , how to prepare beets , or how to roast beets now you know! Go roast some beets right away. Pin this post and share it on Facebook with your friends!

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How To Roast Beets | How To Cook Beets In The Oven & Air Fryer

Equipment

  • PHILLIPS AIR FRYER

Ingredients

  • ▢ 4 large Beets

Instructions

Air Fryer Beets

  • Scrub the beets . Peel and cut the beets into quarters . Place the beets in a large bowl.
  • Drizzle the beets with olive oil, salt, and pepper, or use chermoula or zhoug to coat and season the beets. Set the Air fryer to 380°F for 25-30 minutes or until tender.

Oven Roasted Beets

  • Preheat the oven to 400F.

  • Scrub the beets and cut them in half for faster cooking. Toss beets with a little oil, salt, and pepper. Place the beets on a large sheet of foil .

  • Wrap the foil around the beets. Place another sheet of foil on a baking pan to catch any juices. Place the foil-wrapped beets on top of the lined baking sheet.

  • Bake the beets for 40-50 minutes until the beets are tender.

  • For a roasted taste to your beets, open up the foil, and broil the beets for about 5 minutes. If you plan to do this, you may want to peel the beets before cooking, and cut into wedges.

  • Nutritional info is for one beet.

  • Please read the detailed post above for tips and tricks.

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Nutrition