Instant Pot Refried Beans - Easy & Healthy! (2024)

These Instant Pot Refried Beans are a simple, healthy, and fat-free version of the classic Mexican side dish. No oil or lard required! Enjoy as a dip, side dish, or topping on your favorite Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes.

Easy Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe

Mexican night happens at least once a week in my house, whether it’s tacos, enchiladas, tostadas and more! These healthy refried beans are the perfect side dish for any of these dishes.

Instead of cooking the beans twice, as you would with traditional refried beans, you simply cook pinto beans until tender and then mash them until creamy. The other major difference? There’s no oil or lard needed in this recipe.

These make a flavorful and filling side dish and if you enjoy leftovers, double the recipe so you can use them in burritos or tacos later in the week.

This recipe is adapted from The Fresh & Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook by Megan Gilmore. I followed her recipe exactly with the exception of the added toppings, and a squeeze of lime juice. They were delicious!

These refried beans make a great side along with my Instant Pot cilantro lime rice, so I often make them together. Prefer black beans? Check out my Instant Pot black bean recipe.

Why You’ll Love These Homemade Refried Beans

Here are a few reasons you’ll love this refried beans recipe.

• Quick and easy. It takes less than an hour to prepare refried beans in the Instant Pot.
• Healthy. There’s no oil or lard in this recipe. Just beans, water, spices, and aromatics.
• Versatile. Instant Pot refried beans can be served as a dip, a side dish, or a topping to your favorite Tex-Mex dishes.

What You’ll Need

All you need to make homemade refried beans is some pinto beans, water, a few aromatics, and some spices. See the recipe card below for measurements.

• Dried pinto beans – You’ll need to soak them for 8 hours in advance, then drain before proceeding with the recipe.
• Water
• Aromatics – Yellow onion and garlic add additional flavor to the refried beans.
• Spices – Ground cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper season the beans. You can add a pinch of cayenne pepper as well, for some optional heat.

What Beans Are Used To Make Refried Beans?

Pinto beans are most often used to make refried beans, which are tender, creamy and have a slightly sweet, earthy flavor. They mash easily which makes them the perfect bean for refried beans. Black beans, however can be used in place of pinto beans if you desire.

How To Make Instant Pot Refried Beans

The Instant Pot significantly reduces the time needed to make homemade refried beans, while keeping the process super easy.

• Add the ingredients. Combine the soaked and drained beans, water, onion, and garlic in the Instant Pot. Stir to submerge the beans, then add the lid and turn the steam release valve to “Sealing”. Pressure cook on high pressure for 20 minutes.
• Release. Naturally pressure release for 10 minutes, then move the steam release valve to Venting for any remaining pressure.
• Drain the beans. Drain the beans, reserving the liquid.
• Mash and season the beans. Return the beans to the Instant Pot with 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking liquid and the seasonings. Use a potato mashed to mash the beans to your desired texture. Taste test and adjust the seasoning if needed.
• Enjoy. Serve warm with a garnish of cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

Recipe Tips & Variations

Here are a few tips for making these Instant Pot refried beans.

• Soak the beans ahead of time. This recipe begins with dried beans but they do need to soak for 8 hours in advance. Drain before adding to the Instant Pot.
• Mash to your preferred texture. You can mash the beans until completely smooth or opt to leave some texture – up to you!
• Use an immersion blender. If you want smooth pureed beans, you can use an immersion blender instead of a potato masher.
• Taste test before serving. I find it best to start with a small amount of salt and then adjust if needed. Always give the beans a taste test after combining all the ingredients and add more seasoning if desired.

Ways To Serve Refried Beans

These Instant Pot refried beans can be served up as a dip or a side to many Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes.

If serving these as an appetizer or dip, feel free to add some garnishes. Chopped fresh cilantro,lime wedges, diced tomato, sliced jalapeño, diced avocado, and crumbled queso all work well. Then serve warm with your favorite tortilla chips.

Otherwise, they make a great side dish to any Mexican or Tex-Mex dish, like cilantro lime shrimp, or as a topping on tacos, taco salad, burritos, huevos rancheros, enchiladas, and more.

And don’t forget to wash it all down with a skinny margarita!

How to Store & Reheat

• Fridge. Store leftover beans in an airtight container in the fridge for 1 week.
• Reheat. You can reheat leftover refried beans in the microwave or on the stovetop. They will thicken as they sit, so you may want to add an extra splash of water or broth to prevent them from drying out.

More Instant Pot Recipes You Will Love

• Instant Pot Chicken Taco Chili
• Instant Pot Beef Chili
• How To Make Quinoa in the Instant Pot
• How To Make Eggs in the Instant Pot
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Photo Credit: Jess Larson