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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
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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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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!
I just tried this recipe out for the first time. I’ve gotta say that these are the BEST baked beans I have ever tasted in my 76 years.
I followed the recipe exactly but added a little dusting of garlic powder and perhaps just a tad more liquid smoke. I used dried kidney beans and they came out at the perfect consistency.
These will be my go-to beans from now on.
Thanks Lauren!
Too much sugar!!! Tasted good but the sugar ruins it! 2 stars and 5 thumbs down.
Made this last night in my NUWAVE Nutri-Pot 6-Quart. Followed the recipe for everything except the first cook of the beans with water and salt. I cooked those for 10 minutes with natural release which took about 30-35min. Used Bobby D’s Jalapeno Molasses BBQ sauce we got in AZ. These beans came out amazing. Al dente to our taste, maybe i’ll try 15 min first cook of the beans next time, just to see the difference, but i’d have no problem doing the 10 min cook on the beans again. This recipe is a keeper. No burn issues, I kept checking in between bacon cooking and the peppers and onions but didn’t have to scrape anything off the bottom.
The beans, navy beans, were total mush after 25 min in my Instant Pot duo 6 qt. Hence, the one star. They were totally unusable. I only did an IP recipe as it was a last minute BBQ on 4 th of July. No beans this year.
Made these for last minute invite to cookout. Rave reviews at dinner. 3 people saying best baked beans EVER. I agree
Hi, I love this recipe. I want to make these 3-5 days before our camping trip, what is the best way to store them? Frozen, or how long do they last in the fridge?
You can store the baked beans in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you want to make them further in advance, you can freeze them. Just make sure to store them in an airtight container and thaw them in the fridge before reheating. Enjoy your camping trip!
I cooked the first Navy beans for 25 minutes and they were mush. The second batch I did for 15 and they were perfect. The flavor in this recipe is robust and perfectly sweet and tangy. They were a huge hit at the party.
I got the BURN message on my IP after I put the cooked beans in with the sauce and set it for 15 minutes. I shut it off immediately and was able to salvage my beans in time, thankfully, because I was taking these to a church potluck. They were delicious, though. They needed more liquid in them.
This is one of my go-to recipes that I make in the 6 qt Instant Pot. I usually cut the recipe in half unless I’m making it for a crowd. I also reduce the brown sugar by half, just a personal preference.
I modified this to eliminate the ‘burn’ notice. The first cook I use pressure cook function for the beans. On the final cook I use the slow cooker function for 4 hours. It comes out perfect. I also add sliced uncured all beef frankfurters and make homemade Beanee Weenees.