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Bowl of pressure cooker pinto beans on the counter topped with avocado and cotija cheese.
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4.81 from 41 votes

Pressure Cooker Pinto Beans

One of my favorite side dishes at a Mexican restaurant is whole pinto beans.  I like them kind of soupy and really flavorful.  When I discovered I could make beans in the instant pot without soaking and waiting I jumped on board.  These pressure cooker pinto beans are so darn tasty!
Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Natural Release Time25 minutes
Total Time1 hour 40 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Diet: Vegetarian
Servings: 14 servings
Calories: 146kcal

Equipment

  • Pressure Cooker

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 roma tomato diced
  • 1 jalapeno diced
  • 1 pound dry pinto beans rinsed
  • 5 cups low sodium chicken broth use veggie broth for vegetarian version
  • 7 ounces can diced green chilis
  • ¾ tablespoon Redmond Real Salt
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 bay leaves

Instructions

  • Using an electric pressure cooker, set to saute.  Add olive oil. 
  • Add onion, garlic, tomato, and jalapeño. Cook until tender.
  • Add beans, broth, diced green chilis, salt, cumin, paprika, and bay.
  • Cook on high pressure for 50 minutes.  Allow a complete natural release.
  • Discard bay leaf.
  • Serve Immediately.
  • Optional - garnish with pico de Gallo, cilantro, avocado, and cotija cheese.

Video

Notes

  • Don't forget to add salt. This is an essential ingredient and if you skip it, you are left with bland and boring beans.  
  • Use natural release. The beans will continue to cook during the twenty minutes it takes to release all the pressure.
  • Make them over the top with a topping! They add flavor and color.
  • Serve it up as a vegetarian main dish. Turn this dish into a tasty vegetarian main dish everyone will love and serve it up with some rice or tortilla chips and lots of delicious toppings.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 146kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 527mg | Potassium: 618mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 335IU | Vitamin C: 7.9mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 2.5mg