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My kids love it when we go out to a Mexican restaurant and their meal comes with the refried beans and rice. 

Making your own refried beans at home isn’t hard at all.   It just takes beans, spices, chicken broth, water, and patience. 

Cooking the beans in an instant pot does cut down on the time it normally takes to cook them.

Why are they called refried beans?

Refried beans aren’t actually called refried because they are fried again, which might cause some confusion.  In English we use the prefix “re” to mean something has been done again, but in Spanish “re” is sometimes used to give emphasis to a word.    

What are refried beans made from?

Refried beans can be made with all sorts of different types of beans.  Black beans and pinto beans are the most common ones and Pinto beans are the one used in the majority of restaurants in the US.

What do you eat with refried beans?

Typically, at least in America, you add refried beans into other dishes. 

Dishes you might add refried beans into include:

• tacos
• burritos
• nachos
• bean dip
• Mexican pizza

If you are eating refried beans without adding it to a dish, then pairing it with Spanish rice is delicious!  The rice and beans complement each other really well.  Some people like to mix up their rice and beans and others prefer just having them as two separate dishes on their plate when eating.

Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe

Serves 6
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ cup chicken broth
1 ½ cup water
1 pound dry pinto beans, rinsed and sorted
½ teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon salt

How to Make Refried Beans in Your Instant Pot:

The first thing you are going to do is set your instant pot on the saute mode and add in the olive oil.  After the pot is heated, add in the diced onion and the minced garlic.

Cook until the onion is translucent.

Turn the Instant Pot off.

Next, add in the chicken broth and water. Using a spatula, scrape off any stuck-on onion or garlic bits from the bottom of the Instant Pot.

Now, add the beans and season with chili powder, cumin, oregano, and salt. Stir to combine.

Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set to Pressure Cook for 45 minutes.

Do a natural release when the cook time is over.

After the pressure has been released, remove the lid and carefully drain the beans, reserving some of the liquid. Add the beans back to the Instant Pot and pour in ½ to ¾ cup reserved liquid.

Using a potato masher or immersion blender, mash the beans until they are smooth, adding more liquid if needed.

Serve in your favorite dish and enjoy!

Yield: 6

Instant Pot Refried Beans

Print

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 ½ cup chicken broth
• 1 ½ cup water
• 1 pound dry pinto beans, rinsed and sorted
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Set your instant pot on the saute mode and add in the olive oil.  After the pot is heated, add in the diced onion and the minced garlic.

2. Cook until the onion is translucent.

3. Turn the Instant Pot off.

4. Add in the chicken broth and water. Using a spatula, scrape off any stuck-on onion or garlic bits from the bottom of the Instant Pot.

5. Add the beans and season with chili powder, cumin, oregano, and salt. Stir to combine.

6. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set to Pressure Cook for 45 minutes.

7. Do a natural release when the cook time is over.

8. After the pressure has been released, remove the lid and carefully drain the beans, reserving some of the liquid. Add the beans back to the Instant Pot and pour in ½ to ¾ cup reserved liquid.

9. Using a potato masher or immersion blender, mash the beans until they are smooth, adding more liquid if needed.

Serve in your favorite dish and enjoy!

 

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