These Instant Pot Black Beans are SO easy and there’s no soaking required! Read on for my bonus Tex Mex Black Bean Burrito Bowls recipe.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Black beans – this no-soak recipe will work for other legumes like pinto beans or kidney beans.
Black bean burrito bowls
- Quinoa – couscous, farro, barley or other grains can be used in place of quinoa.
- Water – cook the quinoa in water or vegetable broth for more flavour.
- Corn – frozen corn will be the easiest in terms of preparation for this recipe.
- Avocado – fresh avocado sliced or diced will work as well as fresh guacamole.
- Pico de gallo – use fresh, store-bought or homemade pico de gallo or jarred salsa.
- Cilantro – leave this garnish off if you’re not a fan of cilantro.
Chipotle dressing
- Sour cream – Greek yogurt can be used in place of sour cream.
- Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce – chipotle paste would also be good.
- Lime juice – fresh lime juice is best but bottled lime juice will work in a pinch.
- Salt & pepper – to taste.
How to cook black beans in the Instant Pot
- Add water and beans to the Instant Pot.
- Cook on high pressure for 50 minutes.
- Assemble your bowl ingredients.
- Serve and enjoy!
What to make with black beans
Black beans are a total staple! Though you may not want to eat them alone, you can meal prep these beans for a whole week’s worth of recipes that you’ll love. If you’re in need of some inspiration for your beans, check out these ideas:
- Taco filling: If you’re looking for a more satiating taco night or a meat alternative, use black beans as a part of your taco filling. It will fill the taco with tons of protein!
- Bowls: Whether it’s a burrito bowl or a Buddha bowl, add beans to your bowl! It’s the perfect addition for bowls with a Tex Mex flair (or really any bowl, for that matter).
- Quesadilla: Add the beans to the filling of your quesadillas!
- Salads: Combine beans, chickpeas and corn with your favourite vegetables and vinaigrette for a protein-packed salad.
- Burgers: Make the best vegetarian patties with black beans!
Frequently Asked Questions
Black beans are a super healthy legume. They’re rich in antioxidants and high in vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, vitamin C, fibre, manganese and iron. They’re also a great source of plant-based protein, so they’ll leave you feeling full for longer.
The black beans will need to cook on high pressure for 50 minutes in the Instant Pot. It will take about 5 to 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to get up to high pressure so the total cooking time is around an hour.
For every pound of dry black beans, you’ll need to add 6 cups of water. For even more flavour, use vegetable broth instead of water.
Storing and reheating
Cooked black beans will last in the fridge for around 3 to 5 days. To store the beans, transfer them from the Instant Pot to a meal prep container and let them cool down completely before storing them in the fridge. When you’re ready to enjoy your beans, pop them in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes or eat them cold.
If you’re storing the black bean bowls, combine your ingredients into individual glass containers and store them in the fridge for up to 5 days. Enjoy them for lunch or dinner straight from the fridge for an easy last-minute meal!
Can you freeze black beans?
If you’d like to have black beans on hand for future recipes, you’re in luck! Black beans are definitely freezer-friendly. You can store them in the freezer for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container or Ziploc bag.
When you’re ready to eat your black beans, defrost them in the microwave or thaw them in the fridge overnight. If you’re using them in a dish that needs cooking like soup or chili, then you can add them to the dish directly from the freezer and they’ll cook alongside the rest of the ingredients.
More Instant Pot black bean recipes
Meal prep tools for this recipe
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you want to store these delicious beans or meal prep the black bean bowls.
- Freeze this recipe in glass microwave-safe bowls up to 3 months.
Instant Pot Black Beans {No Soak + Bowl Idea}
Ingredients
- 6 cups water
- 1 lb dry black beans
Black bean burrito bowls
- 1 cup dry quinoa
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup frozen corn, defrosted
- 1 avocado
- 1 container Pico de gallo
- 1/2 cup Cilantro, chopped
Chipotle dressing
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 1 tsp lime juice
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Add water to the Instant Pot, then dried black beans.
- Place lid on Instant Pot and make sure valve is set to seal. Press the pressure cook button and set to high, then cook for 50 minutes. Instant Pot will take about 5-10 minutes to come to pressure then pressure cook for 50 minutes.
- Let the Instant Pot do a natural pressure release. Open the lid when pressure gauge has dropped and the lid opens easily. Drain the remaining liquid from the black beans, then serve and enjoy!
To make bowls
- Stir ingredients under the chipotle dressing heading together in a bowl.
- Meanwhile, add quinoa and water to a pot on the stove or a rice cooker and cook until liquid has fully absorbed.
- Add cooked quinoa, cooked black beans, corn, avocado, pico de gallo and cilantro to large bowls, then pour dressing overtop. Serve and enjoy!
