This recipe for Instant Pot Restaurant Style Refried Beans is perfect for when you are craving Mexican food from home. These Pinto Beans in Instant Pot are super easy to make and is a superb side dish to pair with so many dishes.
If you make this insta pot pinto beans recipe, it will enhance any dish you pair it with to the next level. This recipe for seasoned refried beans is full of flavor, just as good, if not better than your favorite Mexican restaurant. To learn more about refried beans and to see the process of a more traditional process of making refried beans visit The Busy Abuelita.
If you want even more Insta Pot recipes check this link.
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What We Love About This Recipe
- 35 Minute Meal: These Refried Beans in pressure cooker is ready in 35 minutes start to finish. No need for soaking. You will have creamy refried beans.
- Easy Ingredients: All you need is some dried pinto beans, butter, and spices!
- Meal Prep: Pressure cooker pinto beans are ideal for meal prep. Make at the beginning of the week and make meals such as burrito bowl or fajitas!
- Makes Great Leftovers: You can do so many things with leftover Mexican refried beans such as make a bean & cheese chip dip, add to a burrito, make nachos, enchiladas, and so much more!
- Vegetarian: Unlike traditional refried beans, these do not contain bacon grease, making this recipe suitable for vegetarians!
Ingredient Notes
- Pinto Beans: For this refried bean recipe you want to use dried pinto beans rather than the canned ones.
- Seasonings: Use what is listed to taste or use a prepackaged seasoning packet or this Homemade Taco Seasoning.
Equipment Needed
- Instant Pot
- Food Processor or Blender
- Non-stick spatula
- Measuring Spoons
How to Make Refried Instant Pot Pinto Beans
These are the basic steps for making Insta Pot Pinto Beans. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
STEP 1: PREPPING AND COOKING BEANS
First, rinse dried pinto beans and then add to the pinto beans in Instant Pot with 5 cups of water. Then cook on high for 30 minutes. You will need to manually release the pressure when done.
STEP 2: DRAIN BEANS
Before draining, be sure to reserve 2 cups. Then drain beans.
STEP 3: BLEND THE BEANS
Finally, add drained beans to a food processor, along with your butter and spices. Blend and add a tablespoon of the reserved water as needed until you need your desired consistency.
Prep and Storage Tips
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME
To make this Mexican refried bean recipe ahead, make the night before you plan to you it, follow the steps as usual and store in an airtight container in the fridge. This is also great for meal prep throughout the week.
HOW TO STORE THIS RECIPE
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
CAN YOU FREEZE REFRIED BEANS
You can easily freeze refried beans and store in a heavy duty air tight container for 3-6 months.
HOW TO REHEAT THIS RECIPE
The best way to reheat refried beans is to put in a pot with a splash of water to prevent the beans from getting dried out, reheat over medium heat until warm. You can also reheat in the microwave for quicker results.
Frequently Asked Questions
The word “Refried” is the Spanish word “Refritos” which means well fried/cooked.
Refried beans are great with chips and on many dishes such as Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas, burritos, tacos, salads,7 Layer Taco Dip and so much more!
This recipe can absolutely be doubled or halved, just increase or decrease ingredients proportionally.
Beans can be served hot, room temperature, or cold, but are best served warm.
Expert Tips for Making This Recipe
- This Recipe Can be Halved: If you are making this recipe for a small quantity of people and do not want to make 8 servings, juts decreased the ingredients proportionally in half.
- Food Processor: If you do not have a food processor, a blender or immersion blender will work as well. Evena potato masher will work.
- Black Beans: You also use dried black beans in place of the pinto beans.
- Nachos: Make some nachos with this refried beans pressure cooker recipe by starting with tortilla chips, add the beans, queso, sour cream, corn, jalapenos, cilantro, cheddar cheese, hot sauce, and a meat of your choice. You can totally customize yours!
What to Serve with Restaurant Style Refried Beans
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Instant Pot Restaurant Style Refried Beans
Ingredients
- 1 lb. pinto beans, dried
- 4 tbsp butter, 1/2 stick
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 tablespoons ground cumin
Instructions
- Place dry rinsed beans into instant pot and add 5 cups of water
- Seal the lid and pressure valve and cook on high for 30 minutes. Manually release pressure when finished.
- Drain beans while keeping 2 cups of liquid and set aside.
- Place the beans in a food processor with butter and spices. Blend until beans are smooth and creamy. Add left over liquid 1 tablespoon at a time to achieve desired consistency.
Expert Tips
- This Recipe Can be Halved: If you are making this recipe for a small quantity of people and do not want to make 8 servings, juts decreased the ingredients proportionally in half.
- Food Processor: If you do not have a food processor, a blender or immersion blender will work as well.
- Black Beans: You also use dried black beans in place of the pinto beans.
- Nachos: Make some nachos with this refried beans pressure cooker recipe by starting with tortilla chips, add the beans, queso, sour cream, corn, jalapenos, cilantro, cheddar cheese, hot sauce, and a meat of your choice. You can totally customize yours!
Estimated Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
This recipe is my personal adaption of an ethnic inspired recipe. It is not intended to be an authentic recipe. I’ve recreated this recipe because I enjoy the flavors and I want to encourage my readers to expand their tastes and try new flavor combinations. The recipe, ingredients and processes may have been adapted to make the recipe accessible for the average American. I have provided links to authentic versions of the recipe in the post above. I encourage you to visit these pages and learn more about the traditional version(s) of this recipe.
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These refried beans were delicious! So much better than store bought and easy to make in the instant pot.
It’s so easy to make and so delicious. My family loved it.
Love refried beans. These are so much better than what you get in a can.
Loved the spices in these beans (and the butter of course). So tasty! Thank you for the recipe.