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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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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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!!

James Spencer
2 years ago

5 stars
What a great recipe. Even my nephew that said he didn’t like baked beans, tried and liked them. Only bad thing was that there’s nothing left for late night snack. Definitely a keeper.

Admin
2 years ago
Reply to  James Spencer

That’s wonderful to hear!!

Kristin
2 years ago

Do you have to use liquid smoke? I’m not a huge fan of the flavor.

Admin
2 years ago
Reply to  Kristin

No, you can leave it out.

Jo Ferris
2 years ago

4 stars
I have tried many baked beans recipes and never liked the results.

FINALLY I like the results!

My only criticism is that it is VERY sweet. with the BBQ sauce and the ketchup already being sweet I will substitute 2 TBSP of Molasses for the brown sugar next time.

cori
2 years ago

2 stars
beans turned to mush cooking them that long. Only reason I’m giving 2 stars is I will save the beans and do refried beans at a later date. DONT COOK the bean for 25 minutes. I used pinto as I didn’t have navy and the recipe said you could use pinto. I’m starting again and only cooking for 15 minutes and see how it goes.

Admin
2 years ago
Reply to  cori

Hey Cori, This recipe calls for dry, unsoaked beans. If you use anything else they will be overcooked and mushy.

Brian
2 years ago
Reply to  Stacy Popham

3 stars
I used dry unsoaked pinto beans and had the same problem. I tried a second time and quick vented after 10 minute natural release and they were still over done. I have a duo 80 IP so maybe thats the problem but i dont think a little bit more room in the pot should make that big of a difference. The finished product is almost more like BBQ refried beans. They still taste good but the texture is not great.

Charlo Davis
2 years ago
Reply to  cori

For the cooking with the Instant Pot Duo do we push pressure cook or the beans/chili program button?
Also, how many more oz dry beans can I use in the 8 quart Instant Pot Duo? 4 oz?

Mike R
2 years ago

This is my go to recipe. Superior to canned beans (more control of ingredients). I like to add 1/4-1/2 lb hot dogs, summer sausage or kielbasa. No tweaks needed, follow the recipe and it comes out perfect every time. thanks again.

MarySC
2 years ago

5 stars
Wonderful! I used pintos and I like firmer beans so cooked them for 20 mins and will cut the second cook to 12 mins the next time. I think one can easily adjust the second cooking time if the beans are too hard or too soft. I added garlic, jalapeño, and smoked paprika (sub for liquid smoke) with the onions. I used the ½ c water to deglaze the pot and prevent the burn notice before adding everything else. (I also added ½ tsp baking soda when cooking the beans which is supposed to help with potential digestive issues but I have no idea if it really does anything)

Jo Ferris
2 years ago
Reply to  MarySC

4 stars
I find the Apple Cider Vinegar helps with digestion. I always either soak my beans with a splash of it or if it’s in the recipe like this, I have a much easier time with digestion.

never tried the baking soda trick though. 🙂

Hockey Mom
2 years ago
Reply to  MarySC

Not sure if the baking soda will work either, but I am THANKFUL you posted this.. looking forward to the hope of less gas… Worth it though…

Mike Brigham
3 years ago

5 stars
Excellent recipe perfect texture and taste…substituted bacon lard that I saved for the bacon…best beans ever out of insta pot…

DGMom
3 years ago

Fabulous recipe. If you are using the same IP and following the recipe EXACTLY, it is just perfect. I’ll bet the part about “scrape the bottom while sautéing the bacon” is probably where most end up in “burn” trouble. Scrape the bottom so there is NOTHING stuck on the bottom prior to putting in the beans and cooking the last 15 minutes, you’ll be fine. BTW, I used dried pintos.

munwispy@gmail.com
3 years ago

Just at final stage of making this recipe. Cooked the onion, bacon and green pepper separately in a pan. I used navy bean and they turned to mush at the cooking time recommended in the recipe. I thought the sauce is amazing. I used 1/2 brown sugar and 1/2 backstrap molasses.
Those were my only changes. I will make these again but shorten the cooking time for the beans by about 10 min or maybe quick release the steam?

Suggestions?

Julia Wilson
2 years ago

Going to try this today. I will be quick-releasing the steam because the recipe doesnt say how long to “natural release.” I’ll let you know if it turns out. Love the idea of using molasses with the brown sugar!

Dlynn
3 years ago

I love making beans in the instapot pot. I have friends over today, I knew I could find a delis baked bean recipe to add to a Texas brisket. I would probably cook the beans from experience specially if beans have been stored a little while for 30 min and let it naturally vent until ready to eat.
No smoke use smoke Paprika and a little amino acid.

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