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Instant Pot Kidney Beans (No Soaking!)

Instant Pot Kidney Beans (No Soaking!)

Need to make kidney beans in a rush? This Instant Pot Kidney Beans recipe doesn’t require a soak so you can make kidney beans in the Instant Pot in no time!

If you enjoy making cooked beans in a pressure cooker, check out all our Instant Pot Beans Recipe: Instant Pot Black Beans, Instant Pot Pinto Beans, Instant Pot Refried Beans, Black Eyed Peas and Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice.

Three clear bowls of various uncooked beans with an instant pot in the background.

Cooking in the pressure cooker has made dinner time easier than ever. You can easily make this recipe with just a little time and effort. This way of making cooked beans is preferred because there is no reason to soak the beans. You can do every step in the pressure cooker and have delicious beans to enjoy in no time! 

Instant Pot Kidney Beans No Soak

If you’ve ever made dried beans out of a bag before, you know that you usually have to soak them in order to make them soft enough to eat. Without even soaking these red kidney beans, you’ll get perfectly soft beans that you can eat! Once the beans are done, you can add them to soups recipes, chili, or even pasta! 

How To Cook Kidney Beans In the Instant Pot

Make sure you plan out at least an hour to make kidney beans in the Instant Pot. While that may seem like a long time, it’s actually quite fast for beans. Usually beans need to soak overnight in order to have the best texture for eating. 

  • Place the red kidney beans in the pressure cooker with 1 cup beans and 3.5 cups of water, chicken stock or Instant Pot Bone Broth. Here are substitute for beef broth and chicken broth substitute lists, if you need some ideas.
  • Pressure cook on high for 45 minutes. 
  • Go with the natural release so you’ll end up with tender beans.
  • Strain the excess cooking liquid. Enjoy!

Close up shot of cooked beans in the instant pot.

How Long Do You Cook Kidney Beans In a Pressure Cooker?

The beans take 45 minutes to cook in a pressure cooker. Add the 10 minutes it takes to come to pressure and the 15 minutes it takes to naturally release, and you’re looking at a total of 70 minutes.

Instant Pot Beans

This dump and go Instant Pot Beans recipe is a perfect base recipe. Meaning you can add any herbs or spices you like. Think finely chopped onions, fresh thyme, bay leaves, creole seasoning and more. Even a shake of BBQ Dry Rub or Jamaican Jerk Seasoning would be killer. Maybe even a scoop of pico de gallo.

Variations

Vegetarian

Reach for vegetable broth vs chicken stock to keep these vegetarian/vegan. 

Low Sodium

Utilize water or low sodium broth. Also, omit the salt altogether and add it at the end when serving. 

Recipe Tips

  • Pre-make beans to help make meal prep easier. Kidney beans are so versatile that you can add them to so many recipes. Cook them in the pressure cooker for shorter prep and cooking time. We use them in many soup recipes, like our Pasta e Fagioli recipe. This way we can control the sodium content.
  • Save money cooking beans in a bag. When you cook beans in a bag, you are getting a budget friendly version, which is great! Save money by cooking kidney beans in the pressure cooker vs buying canned beans. 
  • Use them to make Smoked Baked Beans.

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Instant Pot Kidney Beans in a white bowl, sitting next to the full Instant Pot full of beans.

Instant Pot Kidney Beans (No Soak)

Need to cook beans in a rush? This Instant Pot Kidney Beans recipe doesn’t require a soak and you’ll have beans in no time!
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American
Keyword: 30 Minute Meals, Bean Recipes, Instant Pot Recipes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 184kcal
Author: Darcey Olson
Cost: $3.00

Equipment

Ingredients

OPTIONAL ADDITIONS:

  • Onion, Bay Leaf, Cumin, Salt, Garlic Powder, Garlic Salt or Tapatio (*Note 3)

Instructions
 

  • Rinse the beans and pick out any pebbles. 
  • Add the beans and broth to the Instant Pot and stir to combine. (Here is where you'll also add any flavor elements you decide to go with) Secure the lid, making sure the valve is in the sealed position.
  • Set pressure cooker to "pressure cook" or "manual" (depending on model) on high pressure for 40 minutes. Once the timer beeps, let naturally release for 15 minutes.
  • Quick release any remaining pressure before removing the lid.
  • Remove the beans with a slotted spoon or drain excess liquid.

Notes

Note 1 - Make sure to pick out any pebbles rocks or floating beans.
Note 2 -  You can use water but the bone broth really amps up the flavor. 
Note 3 - This is a basic kidney bean recipe. Add your favorites spices and herbs to enhance the beans if eating right out of the instant pot.

Nutrition

Calories: 184kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 84mg | Potassium: 625mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Recipe Rating




Elizabeth Conley

Thursday 16th of March 2023

I agree with the author. Cooking dried beans is economical, and the Instant Pot makes it easy and fast. Food prices are going up. Adding beans to your meals makes your food dollars go further, and they're very nutritious. I recommend you go with a wide variety of beans, and really learn to enjoy them. You can make hummus, 3 bean salad, refried beans, hoppin' John, falafel, several varieties of chili, and so much more. You can extend your chicken soup with chickpeas, and get in the habit of adding beans to vegetable soup recipes. You want to be moderate, or you'll "crop dust" folks wherever you go. That being said, beans are a healthy way to combat the skyrocketing grocery bills.