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!

Instant Pot Baked Beans served in a white bowl with a handle, and another filled bowl in the background.

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.

Process photos for making baked beans in the instant pot including an overhead photo of an instant pot with dry beans and water in it, next to another photo of bacon, onion and green bell pepper added to the 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.

Bacon, onion, green bell peppers, ketchup, mustard, bbq sauce, cider vinegar and liquid smoke in the instant pot, next to another photo of the mixture stirred together and brown sugar added on top.

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.

Baked beans cooked in an instant pot pressure cooker with a wooden spoon stirring the mixture.

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).

A close-up photo of a white bowl filled with baked beans with bacon, that were made in the instant pot.

 
Make it a meal and serve these Baked Beans with:

Instant Pot Ribs or Slow Cooker Ribs

The BEST Cornbread

Tomato Cucumber Salad

Recipe

Instant Pot Baked Beans served in a white bowl with a handle, and another filled bowl in the background.
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 1 hour 20 minutes
Total 1 hour 30 minutes
Save Recipe

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

To 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.
Don't miss my other favorite INSTANT POT RECIPES

Nutrition

Calories: 195kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 5gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 585mgPotassium: 287mgFiber: 4gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 250IUVitamin C: 7.8mgCalcium: 49mgIron: 1.2mg
Have you tried this recipe?! 
RATE this recipe and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.

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About The Author

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

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Erin
6 years ago

5 stars
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!!

Marcia Henderson
5 years ago

5 stars
These beans are terrific. A lot more tangy than the canned variety, which we like. Can’t say I exactly followed the recipe as I use leftover ham and ham fat instead of bacon and due to Covid 19 I wasn’t about to drive to the store for a pepper so I left that out and added a bit more onion and also some garlic. Thanks for the recipe!

Susan Burkley
5 years ago

Delicious flavor but I did have to bake for a while in the oven to get rid of some of the liquid and brown it up. Yum!

Randy
5 years ago

These baked beans are terrific. They are like the ones you get when you go to a real bbq restaurant. I am adding 2 tbsp of Chipotle Peppers in Adobe sauce, this gives some heat and additional smoke to the beans. Thanks for a great recipe

Stephanie Glandon
5 years ago

5 stars
I made this recipe exactly as the directions said with the same model of instant pot, and got the “burn” notice at the end 🙁 so I just put it on slow cooker instead for an hour.
But they tasted delicious.

Lisa
5 years ago

5 stars
I got the burn notice as well and I followed the recipe to the letter. I ended taking them out and putting them in a casserole dish with a lid in the oven for an hr and stirred them twice and I have an 8 q duo. They were amazing though

Laraine
5 years ago

Can this be frozen? There are only 2 of us and I freeze a lot.

Deb
5 years ago

5 stars
My first attempt at baked beans. They taste wonderful. I followed the recipe, don’t think I’ll change a thing. I appreciate recipes with common pantry ingredients. Thank you

Kellysue
5 years ago

5 stars
I made this for our Easter dinner and it was delicious. i added a jalapeño with peppers and onions, I did have to add another cup of water and stir to get rid of burn message after adding all ingredients but other that, it was a great success.

Bruno
5 years ago

5 stars
Wonderful! I usually stick to the instructions exactly the first time I use a recipe and I did this time with one exception… I cooked the bacon and veggies on the stove top. I find the extra surface area of a skillet much easier to work with than the saute function of the Instant Pot. That said, your recipe didn’t disappoint in flavour. It’s a keeper. Thanks!!!

Trish
5 years ago

For my pot I had to add an extra cup of water and put the beans in last without stirring and I no long get the burn message. Thanks for the delicious recipe, it’s a big hit in our family and so easy!

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