Instant Pot Pinto Beans & Ham

Cooking beans in the Instant Pot is a quick, easy and makes the perfect pinto beans. I am  loving this fail-proof method of cooking beans! 

Pinto beans are one of my favorite meals to prepare whenever I have leftover ham and nice ham bone to go with it. I normally cook pinto beans in my slow cooker, but recently started cooking them in my Instant Pot and I haven't looked back since. Cooking dried pinto beans has never been easier using your Instant Pot and it only takes about an hour.  

This Instant Pot bean recipe makes the best beans. Their taste and texture is firm but creamy, pink in color and so delicious. I like to season my beans with chopped onions and garlic that have been sauteed in olive oil and a bit of bacon grease. Then add chicken broth, water, bay leaves, salt, pepper and a big meaty ham bone. I love that you can saute everything right in the Instant Pot.   

After a quick saute, secure the lid on, select pressure cook, set the cooking time to 45 minutes and let the beans cook. When the cooking time is up let the pot naturally release which will take about 15 minutes. What I love most about this recipe is that it's completely hands free after adding all the ingredients. Instant pot pinto beans are delicious served plain and garnished with chopped onions, salt and pepper. Serve with a skillet of corn bread and fried potatoes. Yum it doesn't get better much than that. Let's get started........

Start by sorting your beans and remove any pebbles or broken beans. 

I like to soak my beans in baking soda and do a quick soak before cooking. The baking soda helps break down some of the beans "natural gas making sugars" making them easier to digest and it also helps soften the skin so the beans don't burst when cooking. Soaking the beans a couple hours will do the trick. After soaking make sure to drain the water and rinse the beans thoroughly before adding them to the Instant pot. 

Set the Instant pot to saute. Add olive oil, bacon grease and chopped onion. Saute the onion for about 3-4 minutes and then add the garlic. Cook the garlic for 1 minute. 

Pour in the chicken broth, water, and pinto beans, mix to combine. Add the bay leaves and pepper. Pull as much of the meat off the ham bone and then set the ham aside in the refrigerator. Add the ham bone to the instant pot, secure lid and turn the steam valve to "sealing". 

Use the "pressure cook or manual" button and set to normal pressure and set the timer for  45 minutes. When the timer goes off allow the instant pot to release the steam to naturally (this can take 15-20 minutes) for the steam to fully release. 

When the pin drops, open the lid and give the beans a good stir. Remove the bay leaves and ham bone. Drain some of the liquid off the beans (if needed), season with salt and pepper if needed. Add the reserved ham back to the pot. Put the lid on top and let the ham heat through for about 5-10 minutes. 

Ladle into bowls and serve. 

Yield: 8

Author: Tina Butler | Mommy's Kitchen

Instant Pot Pinto Beans & Ham

Cooking beans in the Instant Pot is a quick, easy and makes the perfect pinto beans. I am loving this fail-proof method of cooking beans!

Prep time: 2 HourCook time: 45 MinTotal time: 2 H & 45 M

Ingredients

• 1  16 ounce package dry pinto beans
• 1 meaty ham bone (pull off most of the meat)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon bacon grease
• 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 cup water
• 2 bay leaves
• salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Rinse and sort the beans and remove any broken beans or pebbles. Add the beans to a medium size bowl and cover with cold water. Add about 1 tablespoon of baking soda and give it a good stir.
2. Soaking the beans is not necessary, but it does help break down the "natural gas making sugars" making them easier to digest .
3. Let the beans soak for about 2 - 3 hours. Rinse the beans thoroughly to remove the baking soda and set the beans aside.
4. Pull as much of the meat off the ham bone, cover and set the ham aside in the refrigerator.
5. Set the Instant pot to saute. Add olive oil, bacon grease and chopped onion.
6. Saute the onion for about 3-4 minutes and then add the garlic. Cook the garlic for 1 minute.
7. Pour in the chicken broth, water, and pinto beans, mix to combine. Add the bay leaves, pepper and ham bone. Secure lid on instant pot and turn the steam valve to "sealing".
8. Use the "pressure cook or manual" button and set to normal pressure and set the timer for 45 minutes.
9. When the timer goes off allow the instant pot to release the steam to naturally (this can take 15-20 minutes) for the steam to fully release.
10. When the pin drops, open the lid and give the beans a good stir. Remove the bay leaves and ham bone. Drain some of the liquid off the beans (if needed), season with salt and pepper if needed.
11. Add the reserved ham back to the pot. Put the lid on top and let the ham heat through for about 5-10 minutes.
12. Serve beans with a side of skillet potatoes or fried potatoes and skillet of cornbread.

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