Instant Pot Baked Beans

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Baked beans in Instant Pot can be made with dried beans, but using canned beans speeds up the process. Homemade beans don’t have to be complicated, and Instant Pot Baked Beans are incredibly simple to make.

Putting sweet, smoky homemade baked beans on the table in under 30 minutes is simple when you make this easy baked beans recipe. 

On their own, canned beans can lack flavor. Adding chopped onion, lots of smoky bacon, a hint of brown sugar, and your favorite BBQ sauce will make this the best bean recipe you’ve ever made. This Baked Beans Instant Pot recipe is easy and delicious, and it makes for a classic recipe your whole family will love.

Want even more tips for cooking canned beans? Then be sure to check out my How To Cook Canned Pinto Beans and How To Cook Canned Chickpeas recipe posts.

Pressure cooking baked beans in the Instant Pot is easy and gives you deliciously sweet baked beans every time. Instant Pot BBQ Beans are a favorite for potlucks and picnics, and, of course, backyard barbecues. 

Why Make This Recipe

• Incredible Flavor – These Instapot baked beans have a deep, rich flavor that’s often lacking in canned baked beans. 
• Quick Cooking – Easy baked beans cook in just 10 minutes since we’re using canned beans.
• Versatile – There are so many ways to customize these BBQ Beans so you can make a recipe that highlights your favorite flavors.  
• Homemade Flavor – Homemade beans are so much more flavorful than canned beans. 

Ingredient Notes

• Bacon – select your favorite bacon and chop into half-inch pieces.
• Aromatics – diced yellow onion and minced garlic add flavor and depth to the recipe. 
• Water – for deglazing the bottom of the Instant Pot insert.
• BBQ sauce – Select your favorite sauce; it will impart deep flavor to these beans. 
• Brown Sugar – light brown sugar has a mellow flavor. Use dark brown sugar if you prefer more of a molasses taste. 
• Apple Cider Vinegar – This small amount of acid cuts the sweetness and marries all the flavors together. 
• Seasonings – ground mustard powder and smoked paprika add flavor while red pepper flakes (optional) add a little heat.
• Canned Beans  – use either dark or light kidney beans, be sure to drain the beans and rinse them.

Ready to make this Baked Beans Instant Pot recipe? Gather your ingredients, and I will show you…

How To Make Instant Pot Baked Beans

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

1. Set Instant Pot to sauté, add chopped bacon, and cook until the bacon is browned and crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon, leaving the grease in the insert. 
2. Add the chopped onion to the bacon grease and cook for about 3 minutes, until translucent. Then add garlic and cook for an additional minute, making sure it doesn’t burn.
3. Pour the water into the Instant Pot and gently scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to remove any browned bits and prevent a burn notice.
4. Add remaining ingredients, including the cooked bacon, and stir to combine. 
5. Place the lid on, turn the valve to the sealing position, and set to manual pressure / high pressure for 10 minutes.
6. When done, allow for a 5-minute natural pressure release, then perform a quick pressure release of any remaining pressure. Open the lid, season with salt and ground black pepper, then serve. 

Expert Tips 

• Leave the bacon grease in the Instant Pot insert to cook the onions and garlic. 
• If you prefer to lighten up these beans a bit, drain the grease and use olive oil for the aromatics. 
• Feel free to use maple syrup instead of brown sugar. Maple syrup is a natural sweetener and is a great swap if you are avoiding processed sugars. 
• Water prevents the sauce from becoming too thick. For a thicker sauce, reduce the amount of water you add. 
• If the Instant Pot Baked Beans aren’t smoky enough, stir in a splash of liquid smoke. 
• To avoid mushy beans, follow the cooking time listed in the recipe. 
• The cooking time listed does not include the time needed for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure. 

Delicious Variations

• Swap The Beans – Kidney beans are a favorite, but you can certainly swap in other beans. Try canned pinto beans, great northern beans, rinsed navy beans, or a bean mixture in your Instant Pot Baked Beans.
• Vegetarian Baked Beans – Simply omit the bacon for a tasty vegetarian version of beans Instant Pot. 
• Customize – By adding tomato sauce, liquid smoke, maple syrup or honey, chili powder, tomato paste, bell pepper, salt pork, and Worcestershire sauce to this easy baked beans recipe. 
• Use Dried Beans – You can make this with dry beans like navy beans, pinto beans, northern beans, or your favorite beans. For presoaked dry beans, you will need to increase the cooking time to 25-35 minutes at pressure, followed by a natural release of pressure.

Prep And Storage

• Prep Ahead – Cook beans and then use the keep warm function in the Instant Pot for about an hour. They may begin to dry out after that. 
• Store – Leftover Instant Pot baked beans can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. 
• Freeze – Transfer to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating.

FAQs

More Recipes You May Like

• Instant Pot Mexican Pinto Beans.
• Easy Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice.
• How to Cook Black Beans.

Serving Suggestions

• Easy Grilled Steak.
• Hawaiian Instant Pot Pulled Pork.
• Grilled Whole Chicken.

Thank you for reading my Instapot Baked Beans recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog. 

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