Instant-Pot Baked Beans Recipe
This Instant-Pot Baked Beans recipe offers a flavorful and hearty dish made from scratch using dried navy beans cooked under pressure with a smoky, tangy sauce featuring bacon, barbecue sauce, and spices. It’s a comforting side perfect for gatherings or a satisfying meal on its own.
- Author: Maya
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
Beans
- 1 pound dried navy beans
- 8 cups water (for cooking the beans)
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
Sauce and Aromatics
- 6 slices bacon (chopped)
- 1 medium yellow onion (finely chopped)
- 1 small red bell pepper (cored, seeded, and finely chopped)
- 2/3 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 1/2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
- 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup water (for the sauce)
- Cook beans: Rinse and pick through the navy beans to remove any debris. Place the beans into the Instant Pot with 8 cups of water and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Secure the lid and set the pot to high pressure for 23 minutes. Once cooking is done, allow a natural pressure release for 15 minutes before opening the lid. Drain the beans and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: Switch the Instant Pot to the Sauté setting. Add the chopped bacon and cook until it starts to brown and render fat. Then add the finely chopped onion and red bell pepper. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until the vegetables soften and release their flavors.
- Combine ingredients: Turn off the Sauté function. Stir in the barbecue sauce, ketchup, spicy brown mustard, cider vinegar, liquid smoke, light brown sugar, and 1 cup of water to the pot. Add the cooked and drained beans back into the Instant Pot and gently stir to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Pressure cook: Secure the Instant Pot lid and set to high pressure for an additional 15 minutes. After the cooking cycle completes, let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes. Then, carefully perform a quick release to release any remaining pressure. Open the lid and stir the baked beans well before serving.
Notes
- Soaking the beans overnight is optional but can reduce cooking time and improve digestibility.
- Adjust the amount of brown sugar and barbecue sauce to suit your preferred sweetness and tang.
- For a vegetarian version, omit bacon and use smoked paprika or liquid smoke for a smoky flavor.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and reheat nicely.
- Make sure to rinse beans thoroughly and remove any damaged ones before cooking.
Keywords: instant pot baked beans, baked beans recipe, navy beans, pressure cooked beans, smoky baked beans