Instant Pot Mexican Black Beans

Instant Pot Mexican Black Beans is an easy, healthy and versatile recipe that tastes fantastic served with your favorite Mexican-inspired dinners. Or use your seasoned black beans as an addition to other recipes, like enchiladas, burritos and soups!

This easy recipe for Instant Pot Mexican Black Beans is healthy, super flavorful and very versatile. Dried black beans are tossed into your Instant Pot with lots of Latin seasonings, such as chili powder, cumin, cinnamon and oregano. Set the pot to pressure cook and you're set! They pair perfectly with this pressure cooked Spanish rice.

This hands-off way of cooking dried in your pressure cooker is great for busy days and making large batches of beans for meal prepping. As a flavorful side dish, Instant Pot Mexican Black Beans go great with chicken enchiladas and air fried taquitos.

They can be added to other recipes, like on top of cheesy beef nachos, as a filling for chilaquiles, and in delicious soups like taco soup.

What Are Black Beans?

Black beans are a type of legume that is commonly used in various cuisines around the world. They are small, shiny, and have a deep black color. They are also known by other names such as turtle beans or black turtle beans.

Black beans are a good source of protein, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals, making them a nutritious food choice. They are commonly used in a variety of dishes, such as soups, stews, salads, and side dishes. In Latin American cuisine, black beans are often cooked with spices, herbs, and other ingredients to create flavorful dishes like black bean soup, black beans and rice, or black bean tacos.

Black beans are a staple food in many countries and are popular in vegetarian and vegan diets due to their high protein content. They can be purchased dried or canned. This recipe uses dried black beans combined with flavorful spices to create Mexican black beans that can be enjoyed as a side dish or added to other recipes.

Ingredients Needed

• Dried black beans
• Chicken or vegetable broth: or use water and bouillon
• Cumin
• Chili powder
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Oregano
• Cinnamon
• Bay leaf (optional)
• Cilantro and other toppings for serving, if desired

Can I Use Canned Black Beans?

Dried black beans are preferable for this recipe. If you'd like to use canned black beans, drain and rinse the beans. Add ½ cup of water per 15 ounce can of blacks to the pressure cooker. Add the beans and seasonings and pressure cook for only 2 minutes. Since canned beans are already cooked you don't want them to turn completely mushy while under pressure.

What Size Instant Pot Do I Need?

You can make Instant Pot Mexican Black Beans in any size Instant Pot, including a 3-quart (as long as you are only using 1 cup of dried beans). If increasing the amount of dried beans, you'll need a 6, 8 or 10 quart Instant Pot.

Do I Need To Change Cook Time If Increasing The Amount Of Beans?

No, you do not need to change the cook time if using more beans. Just make sure to always increase the ingredient quantities proportionately.

How To Pressure Cook Mexican Black Beans

STEP 1: Put the dried black beans in the inner pot of the pressure cooker. Add 4 cups of chicken broth or water and bouillon for every 1 cup of beans. Add the seasonings and bay leaf. Stir well.

STEP 2: Close and lock the pressure cooker lid. Set to pressure cook on high for 28 minutes.

STEP 3: When pressure cooking has finished, quickly release the pressure. Remove the lid and stir. Drain about half of the liquid (if desired), reserving the rest of the cooking liquid for serving. Discard the bay leaf. There is a lot of flavor in the broth so I don't recommend discarding it, unless of course you prefer very dry cooked beans.

Serve your Instant Pot black beans topped with torn cilantro and other desired toppings, such as avocado, diced tomatoes, jalapeños, feta cheese, etc.

What To Serve With Mexican Black Beans

• Slow Cooker Birria (and birria tacos)
• Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas
• Slow Cooker Chile Rojo
• Jalapeño Cheddar Chicken
• Tortilla chips and restaurant style Salsa Roja
• Fried Beef Tacos
• Easy Chicken Taquitos or this air fried version

Other Ways To Use Mexican Black Beans

• Add to soups, like slow cooker chicken taco soup and Instant Pot vegetable soup.
• Use in breakfast chilaquiles for added flavor.
• Use as enchilada, burrito and quesadilla fillings.
• Use as a topping for baked sweet potatoes to make a simple and healthy Mexican-inspired lunch.
• Add to Mexican pasta salads, like Mexican street corn pasta salad.
• Use as a taco filler or add to your favorite loaded beef nachos.
• Make a rice or grain bowl.

How To Store

Store Instant Pot black beans in a covered container in the fridge for up to 1 week. They can be frozen for up to 6 months for later use.

Recipe