Turn dried organic pinto beans into perfectly spiced whole pinto beans or refried beans in under an hour. No soaking required. Best of all you can control the spices, flavor, and sodium content of these beans. Let your creativity in the kitchen flow and try making these tonight!

Dried Organic Pinto Beans are a Real Whole Food and a “Back to the Basics” pantry staple full of fiber, protein, and even folate. Eating beans is not only a great way to add fiber and protein (which most of us are lacking) to your diet, it’s also a great plant-based way to get essential nutrients like iron, magnesium, zinc, and calcium. Not to mention pinto beans are cholesterol and sodium free.

For this Perfectly Spiced Pinto Bean Recipe you need dried organic pinto beans, spices, garlic, bay leaves, and water. Don’t skip the bay leaves when it comes to making beans. They help to soften the beans while cooking and make them easier for the body to digest. Who knew??? Bay leaves help with digestion!

Using an Instant Pot unsoaked dried pinto beans are fully cooked in under an hour. Season them with spices, fresh garlic, diced onion, and even try adding diced jalapeno peppers for more heat. Cooked whole beans are a great addition to rice bowls and soups. Or mash them to make refried beans for burritos, enchiladas, or a 7 layer bean dip. You can even freeze any left overs beans…if you have any!

Dried Organic Pinto Beans, spices, bay leaf, and garlic.

Start by adding 1 cup of dried organic pinto beans to your Instant Pot (the 6 quart size works perfect for this recipe). Next, add the spices: chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, dried onion flakes, 2 cloves of fresh sliced garlic, 2 bay leaves, and cover with spring or filtered water. Cook on high pressure for 40 minutes. Once finished cooking, allow the pressure to release naturally.

Tip: Never add salt or any seasoning that contains salt to the beans prior to cooking. Beans will not soften if cooked with sodium.

For Spicier Beans: If you like your beans on the spicier side, add 1/4+ tsp of cayenne pepper and 1 diced jalapeno with seeds before cooking. Jalapeno peppers not hot enough??? Try a diced serrano pepper instead. This is how home cooking sparks creativity and is so inspiring. You get to decide what is in your food and can flavor it to your liking!

I personally love to make this recipe and divide the beans in half when they have finished cooking. This way I end up with both Whole Pinto Beans and Organic Refried Beans and I only had to cook them once. By dividing the beans you end up with both types of beans ready for burrito’s, enchilada’s, 7 layer bean dip, rice and bean bowls, and even minestrone soup. It is such a bonus when you can cook something once and end up with so much inspiration for other meals. Oh, and don’t waste the liquid. It makes the perfect base for bean soup!

For Whole Pinto Beans: Remove the bay leaves. Save the liquid for another recipe (Minestrone Recipe coming soon) and remove the beans with a slotted spoon. Taste for flavor. Additional spices can be added and you can also add a small amount of sea salt or season with 1/2 tsp of Better than Bouillon Vegetable Base. Keep in mind that you will rarely eat these beans without other flavors so additional salt is really not necessary. Once you assemble your burrito, rice bowl, or make soup with these beans – you won’t miss the salt at all!

Refried pinto beans in a bowl w/ shredded cheese

For Refried Beans: Remove the bay leaves and save the liquid for blending the beans. Using a large metal spoon place the pinto beans in a food processor. Next add 1/2 cup of the bean liquid including the garlic slices and spices to the pinto beans and begin to pulse. Add additional liquid if needed and blend until smooth or until they have reached the desired consistency.

Don’t have a food processor??? A potato masher works to make these refried beans too! Just place the beans in a large glass bowl and begin mashing with a 1/2 cup of the bean liquid to start. Add more liquid as needed. Mash until desired consistency is reached.

Also, be sure to check out my Organic Black Bean Recipe that can be used to make BBQ Black Bean Salad, Black Bean Burgers, and more. Looking for a great Organic Source for Dried Beans??? You can find a great selection of organic beans grown right here in Idaho at 1000 Springs Mill. FYI: I am not being paid to say this…I just love their products!

Below you will find my favorite way to cook Pinto Beans in the Instant Pot. It’s super simple and I encourage you to use this recipe as inspiration to create your own! Just make sure that none of the spices you add for cooking contain salt (as your beans won’t soften).

Perfectly Spiced Pinto Beans – Instant Pot

Inspire Create Wellness ~Mari J

This recipe makes whole pinto beans, refried beans, or both in less than an hour. No soaking required! You control the ingredients, the spices, and the sodium content.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 6

Ingredients

1 cup Dried Organic Pinto Beans
3 cups Spring Water
2 cloves Organic Garlic (minced or sliced)
1/2 tsp Black Pepper
1 tsp Organic Cumin
1 tsp Organic Chili Powder
1 tsp Organic Onion Powder
1 tsp Garlic Powder
2 Tbsp Dried Organic Onion Flakes
2 Bay Leaves
1/2 tsp Optional: Better than Bouillon (Vegetable Base)

Instructions

Add Beans, Water, Garlic, Spices, & Bay Leaves to Instant Pot and stir.
Set to high pressure for 40 minutes
Let the Instant Pot naturally release pressure at the end of the cook time.
Once safe to open, remove the bay leaves.
Whole Pinto Beans: Use a slotted spoon to remove whole pinto beans (save the liquid for making bean soup or minestrone). You can add additional spices and a pinch of salt if needed.
Refried Beans: with a large spoon remove beans from the instant pot and place in a food processor. Start by adding 1/2 cup of liquid at a time, while pulsing until you reach the desired consistency. Taste and add any additional seasonings. Instead of salt, try seasoning with 1/2 teaspoon of Better than Bouillon Vegetable Base. A potato masher also works! Place beans and liquid in a large glass bowl and mash until desired consistency is reached.

Notes

Don’t be afraid to be creative with this recipe. If you like onions, add a 1/2 cup of diced onion to the beans before cooking. If you like spicy, add 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper and diced jalapeno peppers prior to cooking. This recipe makes pinto beans that taste like beans and spices instead of salty beans. I typically make this recipe without any sodium. Once you serve them with your favorite protein, salsa, and cheese you won’t miss the salt at all!

Divide cooked beans in 1/2 and make both whole beans and refried! Whole Beans are great for bean and rice bowls and minestrone soup. Refried Beans are perfect for burritos, enchiladas, and 7 layer bean dip.

www.inspirecreatewellness.com

Keyword pinto beans, dried beans, refried beans

Remember to be creative with your food. It doesn’t have to be complicated and there is inspiration all around you. If you haven’t tried making beans in your Instant Pot, what are you waiting for?

About the Author

I love animals, gardening, and being creative in the kitchen. I can’t waste food and rarely follow the recipe! As a IIN Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach I can help you get from where you are to where you want to be. Join me on my journey!

Tip: Never add salt or any seasoning that contains salt to the beans prior to cooking. Beans will not soften if cooked with sodium.