This AMAZING Instant Pot Baked Beans recipe uses dry beans, and there's no soaking required. Tender cooked beans with bacon, onion and bell pepper in a delicious sweet and smokey sauce. I'm confident this easy baked beans recipe will become a staple at your summer BBQ's!
If you could only pick one, what is your favorite side dish at a bbq? It's a hard choice, I know, but I'd probably say baked beans. They pairly perfectly with any type of meat from the grill. My favorite sweet cornbread, and one of these fresh salads make the meal complete.
I've been really excited to share this instant pot baked beans recipe with you all because it's proof that making baked beans from scratch can happen in about an hour! The instant pot is just amazing, and I'm proud to add this recipe to the ranks of my instant pot recipe archives!
How to make baked beans in the Instant Pot:
To make baked beans in the instant pot, start by adding the dry beans and water to the pot. Cook in high pressure for about 25 minutes, with a natural pressure release. When the pressure has released, remove the lid and pour the beans into a strainer to remove the water. Rinse them well with cold water.
DISCLAIMER: This recipe was created using the DUO 60 6-quart instant pot. Not all instant pot recipes work perfectly for all types of instant pots. See this article for more information on adapting recipes for your instant pot.
I've chosen navy beans or pinto beans for this recipe, but you could also use great northern beans, with the same cooking time.
After straining the beans, wipe out the instant pot and add spray it with non-stick cooking spray. I do this because even though bacon is greasy, it can still initially stick to the bottom of the pot when the saute setting is on.
Cook the bacon until it starts to get golden brown and slightly crisp on the edges. Drain some of the grease (I usually just stick a few paper towels in the pot and use them to blot out the grease). You still want a little grease at the bottom so that the other vegetables don't stick when you add them to saute.
Add the onion and bell pepper to the pot and saute them, stirring often, until they're tender.
Turn the instant pot off and stir in the bbq sauce, ketchup, mustard, vinegar and liquid smoke. Stir until smooth and then add the cooked beans and brown sugar. Secure the instant pot lid and cook the mixture on high pressure for 15 minutes, with a natural pressure release.
Do I need to soak the dry beans?
Normally when making baked beans from scratch you need to soak the dry beans in water overnight, but with the instant pot pressure cooker you can cook the dry beans and water together, without soaking them first, and you'll end up with tender, perfect beans for making baked beans.
Can I substitute canned beans instead of dry beans?
Yes. If you'd rather use canned beans start with step 4 of the recipe, and when it's time to add the beans, substitute 56 oz canned pork and beans (whatever brand you prefer).
Make it a meal and serve these Baked Beans with:
Instant Pot Ribs or Slow Cooker Ribs
Recipe

Instant Pot Baked Beans
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 ounces dry navy or pinto beans
- 8 cups water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 8 slices bacon
- 1 yellow onion , finely chopped
- 1/2 red or green bell pepper , cored, seeded, and finely chopped
- 2/3 cup barbecue sauce store-bought or homemade
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 Tablespoons spicy brown mustard
- ¼ cup cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- **DISCLAIMER: I created this recipe using a 6 quart instant pot DUO 60. Some users have had problems with a burn notice for this recipe using different versions of the instant pot. I have tested it many times with this version and had no issue.
- Add beans, water and salt to instant pot. Cook on manual (high pressure) for 25 minutes. Allow the pressure to naturally release.
- Remove lid and pour beans into a colander/strainer. Rinse with cold water. Set aside.
- Set Instant Pot to saute setting. Add bacon and saute for a few minutes until it starts to get golden brown, tossing and scraping down the bottom of the pot often. Drain some of the grease.
- Add bell pepper and onion and cook until tender.
- Turn IP off. Add bbq sauce, ketchup, mustard, vinegar and liquid smoke to the pot and stir well to combine.
- Add brown sugar, water and beans and stir to combine.
- Secure IP lid, close steam valve and cook on Manual (high pressure) for 15 minutes. Natural release the pressure.
- Carefully open lid, and gently stir mixture to combine. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?!
RATE this recipe and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.
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So easy and So So Good!!! I took them to a cookout and they got rave reviews. Making them again tomorrow for another cookout! 🙂 Thank you for this recipe!!
Thanks so much for the great review! I’m thrilled you liked the recipe!
Was wondering if this recipe is worth making if I don’t have the liquid smoke. Or is there a liquid smoke substitute that I may have on hand?
I think it would still taste good without the liquid smoke 🙂
Does this recipe work in the 6 quart Instant Pot?
Yes, I made and tested this recipe using a 6qt instant pot 🙂
Yes it does. That’s what I used and it turned delicious. No problems.
This has become a regular dish in our home. I turn it into a main dish by adding lean ground beef. I have also omitted the bell pepper and use half the brown sugar to suit my husband’s preferences.
Delicious!
I made this recipe and as an aspiring vegan I substituted smoked tempeh for bacon and it came out absolutely amazing. I will make this recipe many times! Thank you!
As someone who cooks out of necessity, I appreciated the clear directions. I left out the bacon and it was still very good.
I am very new to Instant Pot and followed the directions very carefully. First step cooking the beans, no problem. I wiped the inside of the pot out very carefully before cooking the final mixture because I thought some of the residue could become “scorch points” and start to burn. It burned anyway — I stopped the pot 3 separate times because the “burn” warning came up on the display. Each time I stirred and added water to make it more liquid and started it again; I kept getting the same warning and it was scorching badly. I finally gave up and finished it for few minutes on “saute.” Luckily the beans were cooked through and the sauce thickened up again. I can’t figure out how you are supposed to cook something this thick with so much sugar without it scorching, and why this isn’t a problem for everyone. Maybe I shouldn’t have wiped out the pot? Would spraying the inside of the pot with cooking spray solve the problem? As for taste, the recipe is very good – great balance of flavors; really delicious. One warning though – it calls for WAY too much liquid smoke. I can’t imagine using that much; it would be overpowering. I used a couple dashes, and would never put in more than 1/8 tsp, max. Other than than, it was very tasty and a big success.
You’re only ever supposed to cook things on the “saute” option.
I cooked it no problem. The used a different brand of bbq sauce and had the same burn issue.
I ran into the same issue, there wasn’t enough liquid to bring up the pressure in the second part, and it started to scorch. I think I’ll finish them in the oven. I’m surprised nobody else ran into this.
I am having the same problem getting the burn message. I added liquid, same burn message. I hesitate to add to much because they will be too thin. ?
Hi Linda,
I’m so sorry for your frustration! The problem may be that your instant pot is not compatible with this recipe. I used a DUO 60- 6 quart instant pot. Check out this resource for more info on adapting recipes for different instant pots.
Lauren, theres a lot of burning going on in the comments. Do you have any input to help with this issue? I have the new ultra pot and it has a bean setting. I’m brand new at this. More water, maybe? I want to try this but, of course, not burn it. Thx, John
Hi John,
I have tested the recipe over and over (and had friends test it as well). What I have found is that all instant pots (even all 6-qt. instant pots) are not created equal. I created this recipe using a DUO 60-6qt. instant pot. If yours is different, check out this resource for modifying the recipe to your instant pot.
My beans scorched to the bottom of my cooker. Beans were good, but clean up and very bottom of beans were bad. Suggestions?
Thank you,
Jodi
I have the same problem when I do beans.
The best way is to put hot water and vinegar more vinegar than water. Do when pot hot. Just wait about 1 hour and the sticky food should just wipe off.
Sometimes I will use my small lifter to scrap the bottom before trying to use dish cloth.
Then after baking soda with elbow grease. This is more to remove any stains
I have never had this fail me.
Great recipe and a great addition to any summer BBQ. We have made them a few times now and love them!
Made these for a family party this past weekend and everyone loved them! I added a little more bacon, which I thought only added to the flavor. Great recipe!
I’ve made these twice now, and really love them. I use navy beans and left out the bell pepper.