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
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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

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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.

3.2 13 votes
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4.80 from 510 votes (305 ratings without comment)
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Erin
5 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!!

Ethel Jack
3 years ago

Tried this out…great recipe , btw. However, my IP must be different from yours, as I got the BURN message. So, I shut off the Pressurrcsetting, ànd did a Slow setting for 2 hours. Turned out perfectly. Am trying today with an àdapted version of my mom’s recipe.

Suzanne
3 years ago

I was wondering if this recipe could be doubled in my six quart Insta pot. As I love to freeze baked beans to use later on. I’m used to using a crockpot and make a big batch.

Connie piatkowski
3 years ago

5 stars
I had a pint jar of home canned pork I also added, this recipe is absolutely delicious!!

Melody
3 years ago

4 stars
I used my own recipe for the actual beans, but used the cooking time for the initial cook. These were ready to go after their 25 minutes. After 15 more minutes, I did a quick release since I knew the beans were more than done. Way too mushy. I think navy beans could easily be done for 15-20 minutes instead of the 25.

Vanessa
3 years ago

5 stars
I have the same model IP and got the burn message too during the second stage of the recipe —and quick released the pressure, stirred it taking care to scrape the bottom of the pot. Didn’t add any extra liquid as I had already added 1/2 can of fire roasted tomatoes. I returned the pot to high pressure for 9 minutes. Had no further burn messages. Also didn’t use bacon as my daughter is vegan.
Made a lot of beans and they are good. Thanks for sharing this. The IP is new to me and have only made yogurt before. Definitely an advantage to cooking dried beans!

Pat
3 years ago

I make this early in the day, then put in my slow cooker for at least 4 hours. More like oven baked beans. My family loves them.

Annette
3 years ago

5 stars
I use the same IP as you, Lauren, and had the burn warning issue (I used navy beans in case that’s relevant) BUT I will absolutely make these again. They’re fantastic. The only thing I changed was leaving out the liquid smoke, since I didn’t find it in the store, but substituting 1tsp smoked paprika worked well. For the burn warning, no big. Folks can just follow instructions in the IP manual. I added a cup of water, 1/2 cup at a time, and that did the trick. The flavor is well worth minor experimentation!

Darrell
3 years ago
Reply to  Annette

Got the burn message also. Took lid off and stirred mixture again. Put it back on and set to manual with high pressure for 15 minutes with no problems These beans are the dope!!

Saul
3 years ago

If I do 2 pounds of beans do I double the water?

T
3 years ago

3 stars
Well, I couldn’t get my IP to stop giving me the burn message. I even put in 4x the amount of liquid needed. After turning my pot off 3x for it burning I decided to just put it on my stove.

Kiki
3 years ago

If we double the recipe to 2 pounds of beans do we keep the same cooking time?

Brigitte
3 years ago
Reply to  Lauren Allen

Thank you for this recipe. Turned out fantastic! Used my 6qt Duo and now No more soaking overnight. From start to finish it was just under 2 1/2 hours.
I also modified some of the ingredients.
I did not use Bacon, barbecue sauce or ketchup. Changed Mustard to yellow powder. Cider vinegar reduced to 1 tbsp (I just ran out, trying balsamic). Added 1 teaspoon liquid smoke, 1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp Chicken stock mix and 1 tbsp soy sauce.
This is easily turned into a gluten-free vegan dish too.

NO Bacon NO Burn

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