How to Cook Pinto Beans (Stovetop, Oven, Slow Cooker, Instant Pot,)

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Pinto beans are one of my best pantry staple ingredients. I love that they are affordable, versatile and can be used in all sorts of different recipes. And it’s easy to learn how to cook pinto beans using a variety of methods.

And I have got you covered – whether you prefer to soak or use a no soak method, cook ’em in your Instant Pot, in your slow cooker, oven or on the stovetop, everything you need to know in order to learn how to cook pinto beans is right here!

What Are Pinto Beans?

These beans or frijoles pinto “speckled beans” are super popular, especially in the southern United States and Mexico. Inexpensive, nutrient-dense, high in fiber, protein and fat-free, pintos are a staple in many kitchens. 

I find that these beans are creamier and softer than other beans and have a nuttier, earthier, balanced flavor.

Why You’ll Love Them

• Dried beans are SUPER cheap and one bag can make so many meals.
• There’s no need to pre-soak beans especially if using an Instant Pot.
• Filling, nutritious, and loved by the whole family.
• Easy to prep ahead for many a freezer-friendly meal.
• You can add much more flavor to the beans when you cook them from scratch.
• You can also cook them to the firmness you desire for different recipes.
• Reserve the cooking liquid and use it to cook a divine tasting treat.

Oh, and like learning how to cook black beans, you can easily cook more beans than you need and store them in the fridge. They keep this way for about 5 days without any problems.

Soaking Beans Overnight

Whilst you don’t need to soak dried pinto beans, soaking them means that you will greatly reduce the cooking time if using the stovetop/ oven or slow cooker. And soaking means they become easier to digest. The easiest way to do this is to soak them overnight.

Place the picked through dried beans into a container and add approximately 4 times the volume of water to beans (easiest if you use cup measures so 1 cup dried beans to 4 cups water). In the morning, drain, rinse and proceed with cooking.

How To Quick Soak Dried Pinto Beans

You can also quick soak dried pinto beans. Just place them in a pot with approximately 4 times the volume of water, bring to the boil and boil for 2 mins. Then switch off the heat and let them soak for 1 hr. Drain, rinse and proceed with your recipe.

How To Cook Pinto Beans On The Stove

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

• So you add your pre-soaked bean to a pan, along with your water or broth.
• Add seasonings to suit your taste: e.g. onions, thyme, chili, garlic or for some smoked paprika. Meat lovers can also add in some bacon, ham hock or chorizo.
• Cover your saucepan and bring it to the boil. Then reduce to a simmer, leave the lid very slightly open and cook until tender. Now, this can take anything from 45-90 minutes as this depends on the age of your beans. Older beans will take a little bit longer.
• Cooking time depends on what you are using the beans – firmer for beans salads, but much softer for soupy meals. So taste the beans after the first 45 mins of cooking and check them every 15 minutes after.
• Also if the water level reduces before the beans are cooked you will need to add about 1 cup (250 ml of water or broth at a time).

Cook Pinto Beans In The Oven

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Place the pre-soaked beans into an oven-ready dish with enough water or broth so that there is 4-5cm (1.5-2 inches) of liquid above the beans.
2. Add in your flavorings, cover and bake about 90 mins at 350F /fan-assisted 160C / 180C / gas 4.
3. Check the beans if they are cooked through.
4. If not then bake them for a little bit longer checking them every 10 mins.

Cook Them In The Instant Pot

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

• Add dried beans, broth stock into the inner pot of the electric pressure cooker. Then layer in the rest of the ingredients. If you want to add diced tomatoes, then end the layering with diced tomatoes on top and DO NOT mix.
• Close pot, set valve to sealing, select the pressure cook / manual (dependent upon IP model), select high pressure and set the timer to 40 minutes.
• Allow a natural pressure release (NPR) for 20 minutes and then a quick pressure release for the rest.
• Open the Instant Pot and if you want stir in some tamari soy sauce and serve.

Make These In The Slow Cooker

1. Place rinsed pre-soaked beans, aromatics, meat and any other seasoning you like into the slow cooker.
2. Top with the broth and water up until the beans are covered in 2 inches of water.
3. Cover and slow cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 4-5 hours until the beans are tender to your liking.

Cooking Tips and Variations

• Pick through the beans. Remove shrivelled beans and any debris before cooking.
• Add veggies. Mix and match the veggies with what you have on hand.
• Do soak the beans. If cooking in oven or stovetop, soaking beans before helps them cook evenly and reduces gas / bloating.
• Add salt at the end of cooking. Salting at the start can cause you to end with tough beans. So season with salt when they are almost done.
• Check for doneness. Grab a few beans, cool and bite into them to see if they are tender enough for you. Alternatively, use a fork to mash a couple of beans on the side of the pot, if they mash easily then they are cooked.
• Vary the spices. Look through your spice cupboard and use whatever you have. I love making these beans with homemade creole seasoning and fajita seasoning. I also love chili powder or diced jalapeños for a spicier version.
• Add meat. You can certainly add bacon, ham hock, chorizo or a smoked turkey during cooking if you wish.
• Be flexible on the cook time: You beans may take longer to cook than recipes say, so if do let them cook a little longer if needed.
• Bulk it out. Add bulk to the meal by serving the beans over another starch such as rice or quinoa.
• Thicken it or thin it out. Feel free to remove some of the beans, mash them and add back in to thicken it. If you plan to reheat or if you want them more soupy, you may want to add more broth to thin as desired.
• Change up the beans. This method will work with other beans like navy beans, black beans, kidney beans, and garbanzo beans (chickpeas) but be aware that cook time will vary.

Storage

• Store – Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Use a great container like these.
• Freeze – Add them an airtight container, cover in some liquid like water so they don’t dry out and freeze for up to 3 months.
• Reheat – Reheat in a small saucepan on the stovetop or in a microwave using a microwave-safe container. 

Meal Prep And Use

Meal Prep – Feel free to make a fair amount of beans and with a few adjustments you can get several meals out of one pot of beans. Here are some suggestions:

• Add additional broth, bring the pot to a boil and serve as a bean soup or bean stew.
• You can also use some of the brothy beans to make Tex Mex rice and beans, cornbread and beans or all over potatoes.
• Stuff inside corn tortillas to make a batch of vegetarian taquitos or bean burritos.
• I love using these to to make some chili or a cold bean salad.
• Mash the leftover beans and serve refried beans style as a side dish with tortillas.
• Love southern food then make ham and beans, bean pie, and dirty rice.

FAQs

Serving Suggestions

These normally pair well with some easy salsa, a dash of hot sauce, sour cream and guacamole or avocado and tortillas.

• 4 Ingredient Corn Tortillas.
• Mexican Instant Pot Quinoa.
• Easy Instant Pot Rice.
• The best Skillet Cornbread.
• Spicy Mexican Potatoes.
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes.

Easy Pinto Bean Recipes

• Instant Pot Mexican Pinto Bean Stew.
• Find out How To Season Pinto Beans.
• Doctored up Canned Pinto Beans.
• Easy Crockpot Pinto Beans.

Weight Watchers Points

If you do not add bacon (or other meats) and replace the olive oil with a no-calorie cooking spray, there will be 0 Blue Plan SmartPoints in a serving of pinto beans.

Thank you for reading my guide on how to cook Pinto Beans. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you.

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