Instant Pot Kidney Beans are super quick to make in the Instant Pot with just three simple ingredients and no soaking necessary.
Whether you’re throwing together a last-minute chili or prepping a warm bean salad, kidney beans often play a central role. However, the long soaking and cooking time they traditionally require can be a barrier. That’s why we’re here to share an Instant Pot Kidney Beans recipe that requires no pre-soaking, delivering all the flavor and health benefits with less fuss.
You’ll also want to try these no soak chickpeas or black beans made from dried beans cooked in the Instant Pot.
Why You’ll Love It
- This easy-to-follow method will open up a world of delicious, hearty meals, perfect for busy days or whenever you need a protein-packed pick-me-up.
- The Instant Pot is definitely the tool to use when cooking your own beans from dried. They take a lot of time to make on the stovetop and require overnight soaking, so I say skip that tedious process and use the pressure cooker instead.
- In just 40 minutes, with extra time for pressurizing, you can have perfectly cooked kidney beans to use as you like. We put them in several dishes like salads, stews, and casseroles.
What are Kidney Beans?
Kidney beans are a variety of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). They’re named for their visual similarity to a kidney, with their reddish-brown color and curved shape. These beans are popular in many cuisines around the world, from the spicy Rajma in India to the classic Chili Con Carne in the United States.
In addition to their culinary versatility, kidney beans are packed with nutrition. They’re high in fiber and protein and are a good source of vitamins and minerals such as iron, potassium, and folate. Including kidney beans in your diet can support heart health, aid digestion, and provide sustained energy.
Kidney beans, like many other legumes, contain a type of sugar called raffinose. Raffinose is a complex sugar that humans cannot fully digest because our bodies lack the necessary enzyme to break it down. When raffinose reaches the large intestine, the bacteria there ferment it, producing gas as a byproduct, which can lead to flatulence or discomfort.
One way to reduce the raffinose content in kidney beans is to soak them prior to cooking. However, even with this no-soak Instant Pot method, the cooking process can still help to break down some of the raffinose.
Ingredients You’ll Need
With these four simple ingredients, you can quickly cook beans in your Instant Pot, without the need to soak them first. Keep in mind that 1 cup of dried beans produces about 2 1/2 cups cooked beans. You can double or triple the recipe, as needed.
- Dried kidney beans: The main ingredient is dried kidney beans. Make sure you buy fresh beans and don’t use ones that have been stored in your pantry for years. They cook differently.
- Broth or water: You will need plenty of liquid to cook the kidney beans. You could use broth for more flavor, but be sure to use low-sodium so they aren’t too salty.
- Olive oil: I find that the olive oil gives the beans a silkier texture. It’s not required, however so leave it out if you like.
- Salt: Add salt to season the black beans so that they soak up flavor and are not bland.
Equipment Needed
- Instant Pot – I use a 6-quart Instant Pot Duo Plus to make all of my recipes, but you can use any size or brand of electric pressure cooker. If you’re using an 8-quart pot, you will need to adjust the amount of liquid accordingly, as it requires more water to build steam.
Helpful Tips
Here are a few tips and substitution ideas that will give you good results and make your Instant Pot black beans taste even better:
- You can use chicken or vegetable broth instead of water to cook the beans. This will add more flavor to the beans. Add chicken bouillons to the water if you don’t have chicken broth. If you are a vegan, use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock. Opt for low-sodium.
- For more flavor, add spices like cumin, bay leaf, onion or garlic powder. You can also season the cooked kidney beans with black pepper or a dash of paprika.
- You can cook the beans with onion and red pepper for an additional boost of flavor.
- If you like the beans to be softer, cook them for 30 minutes instead of 25 minutes.
How to Make Instant Pot Kidney Beans
Step 1: Soak the beans (optional)
If you want to dissipate some of the raffinose that causes the build up of gas in the gut, soak them for 1 hour in cold water, then drain. This is not a necessary step. If you don’t have a problem digesting black beans, you don’t need to soak them.
Step 2: Add everything to the pot
Add the beans, olive oil, salt, and water (or broth) and bay leaf and garlic, if using, to the Instant Pot.
Step 3: Pressure cook
Lock on the lid and set the vent to sealing. Pressure cook on high for 25 minutes. It will take about 5-10 minutes to come up to pressure.
When the time is up, allow the steam to release naturally, about 5 minutes then release the remaining pressure. Remove the lid and stir the beans. If they aren’t as soft as you like them, put them back on for another 5 minutes with a quick pressure release.
If you’re doubling or tripling the recipe, be very careful when you release pressure or remove the lid, because the water can bubble up and bubbles can blow out the vent. This doesn’t happen if you let the pressure completely release naturally.
Storing Cooked Kidney Beans
Cooked kidney beans can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. Be sure to keep them in an airtight container and cover them with some of their cooking liquid to prevent drying out.
For long-term storage, cooked kidney beans can be frozen. Simply portion them into freezer-safe bags or containers with some of their cooking liquid, and they will keep for up to 6 months. When you’re ready to use them, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat.
How to Use Kidney Beans
Chili: Kidney beans are a traditional ingredient in chili con carne and vegetarian chili alike, providing substance, texture, and protein.
Salads: Add them to salads for an extra protein punch. They pair well with other beans, corn, tomatoes, and robustly flavored vinaigrettes.
Rice Dishes: Red beans and rice is a classic dish in Creole cuisine. Kidney beans also work well in other rice dishes, including biryani and paella.
Stews and Curries: Kidney beans hold their shape well during slow cooking, making them perfect for stews and curries. For example, Rajma, a North Indian kidney bean curry, is a popular and comforting dish.
Pasta: Kidney beans can be added to pasta sauces to increase the protein content, or used in pasta salads for added texture and flavor.
Baked Beans: While navy beans are the traditional choice for baked beans, kidney beans can also be used for a twist on this classic dish.
Questions About the Recipe
What cook setting do I use on the Instant Pot for beans?
Not all Instant Pots have a Bean/Chili setting, so I recommend just using the pressure cook or manual setting, so everyone has the same experience. However, the bean setting is pre-programmed to set the pot to cook at high pressure for 30 minutes, so it’s the same as setting it manually.
Do you have to soak dried beans before cooking them?
Soaking the dried black beans before cooking is not essential. However, when you soak the beans, they release raffinose, which can cause bloating in some people. As you discard the water you get rid of the gasses. If this is a problem you have, you might want to soak the beans for an hour before cooking. However, soaking the beans to make sure they are tender and cook faster is not a concern in the Instant Pot.
Is rinsing the dried beans necessary?
It doesn’t hurt to rinse the kidney beans in water a couple of times to get rid of any dirt and debris that might be in them. Most packaged dried beans do not need to be washed, but loose beans do.
Are kidney beans healthy?
Yes, kidney beans are very healthy. They are not just rich in protein but are also low in calories. They aid in weight loss, and the fiber in them aids in regulating the digestive system. They are also rich in antioxidants which protect the body against chronic diseases like cancer and several heart diseases. They also strengthen the bones.
Main Dishes to Serve This With
This is a great side dish to serve with just about any main dish protein. I like to serve it with chicken and pork. Here are a few options to enjoy:
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Instant Pot Kidney Beans
Note: Made in a 6-qt Instant Pot
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup (184 g) dried kidney beans
- 3 cups (710 ml) low-sodium vegetable broth or water
- 2 teaspoons (10 ml) olive oil
- 1 teaspoon (6 g) salt
Instructions
- Pour the dried beans, broth or water, olive oil, and salt into the Instant Pot.
- Secure the lid and set the vent to sealing (if necessary for your model).
- Set to cook on high pressure for 45 minutes. Allow a 15-minute natural release before releasing the remaining pressure.
- When done, remove the lid, stir and serve.
Notes
- You can use chicken or vegetable broth instead of water to cook the beans. This will add more flavor to the beans. Add chicken bouillons to the water if you don’t have chicken broth. If you are a vegan, use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock. Opt for low-sodium.
- For more flavor, add spices like cumin, bay leaf, onion or garlic powder. You can also season the cooked kidney beans with black pepper or a dash of paprika.
- You can cook the beans with onion and red pepper for an additional boost of flavor.
- If you like the beans to be softer, cook them for 30 minutes instead of 25 minutes.
- If the beans are not as tender as you like, put the lid back on and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
Nutrition
Laura is a passionate home cook and the owner of A Pressure Cooker Kitchen. She is dedicated to helping people create delicious Instant Pot meals with ease. Laura is an expert at developing recipes that can be prepared quickly and easily using a pressure cooker.
I like to use broth to cook my beans. It gives them more flavor then plain old water.
I cooked them for 5 minutes and they came out great.
I use this recipe to cook the beans for my 5-bean salad. Super easy.
Yum!
I gave up on using the bean setting. Never seemed to work right. I just follow your directions now.
Happy we could help!