I’ve been making this recipe for years in the slow cooker. It’s one of my favorites, because you get a lot of bang for your buck and for your time. But using the Instant Pot Beans for the freezer recipe makes it both easy and fairly quick for cooking beans.
This recipe makes a lot and that’s a good thing! Freeze the beans in 1-2 cup quantities, depending on your family size. You can use them just like you would canned black beans. A quick thaw int he microwave and they’re ready to be added to:
- tacos
- quesadillas
- enchiladas
- casseroles or soups
- mash them to make “refried” beans
The kids love having these in the freezer for a quick snack or late meal. Grab a tortilla, cheese and any other fixings you like and you have a healthy, quick meal.
Since I’ve made these a number of times, I’ve learned that you can substitute for the diced jalepeno. I don’t always have a fresh pepper on hand, so I’ve used a can of diced green chilies or diced jalapeno instead. Any of these options works fine.
For you visual learners, you can watch the facebook live post on cooking beans for the freezer in the instant pot or slow cooker.
Instant Pot Beans for the Freezer
Ingredients
- 1 lb. dry pinto beans
- 1 lb. dry black beans
- 10 big cloves garlic crushed
- 2 onions diced
- 4 oz can diced green chilies or diced jalapeno
- 1½ tsp. cumin
- 2 Tbs. Kosher salt
- 1 Tbs. black pepper
- water - enough to cover the beans but no higher than half way mark on pot
Instructions
- Sort and rinse beans. Place in the instant pot.
- Add remaining ingredients to the pot.
- Set manual cook time for 25-30 minutes, depending on how soft you like the beans.
- Do a natural pressure release.
- Mash or keep them whole.
- Can be frozen for later use.
Once your beans are cooking in your Instapot, check out my 10 best Instant Pot accessories post if you’re wanting to get the most out of your Instant Pot. And tell us, what’s your favorite use for beans?
I am so excited to try some of these recipes. We have the instapot but haven’t really gotten to use it much! Now we have some great ideas!!!
I followed your directions to a “T”! I was worried when I added two tablespoons of salt. I should have followed my gut! The finished beans are so salty that I think I have to throw the batch away!
I’m sorry to hear that. I use kosher salt, so maybe that’s the difference? I make these very often and haven’t had them turn out too salty.
Is this okay for any size Instapot?
I make this in my 6 quart pot. If you have a smaller pot, I’d only make 1 pound of beans in it.