Instant Pot Baked Beans
Recipe by Amy + Jacky | PressureCookRecipes.com
Make easy Instant Pot Baked Beans from scratch with dry beans using the quick soak or overnight soak methods. Tender creamy beans packed with deliciously rich complex flavors. A crowd-pleasing side dish for more than just barbeques, cookouts, and parties!
Ingredients
Soak Navy Beans:
- 1 pound (454g) dried navy beans (soaked overnight for at least 8 to 16 hours, 889g after soaked)
- 1 ½ tablespoon (25g) fine table salt
- 6 cups (1.5L) cold water
Baked Beans Sauce & Aromatics:
- 6 strips (242g) thick cut bacon , roughly diced
- 1 (159g) small onion , roughly diced
- 2 (6g) garlic cloves , roughly chopped
- 1 ¾ cup (438ml) cold water
- ¼ cup (80g) blackstrap molasses
- ¼ cup (60g) maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) regular soy sauce
- ¼ teaspoon fine table salt
- 2 bay leaves
- Ground black pepper to taste
- 2 teaspoons (12g) dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) apple cider vinegar
Equipment
Instructions
- Soak Navy Beans:Option 1 - Overnight Soaking Method: Place 1 lb (454g) dried navy beans and 1 ½ tbsp (25g) fine table salt in a large container. Pour 6 cups (1.5L) cold water in the large container and give it a few stir. Soak beans overnight for at least 8 to 16 hours. If your house is very warm, place the large container in the fridge to avoid fermentation.Option 2 - Quick Soaking Method: If you didn't soak the beans overnight, you can use this quick soaking method. But the results won't be as good as the overnight soaking method. Place 1 pound (454g) dried navy beans, 1.5 tbsp (25g) fine table salt, and 6 cups (1.5L) cold water in Instant Pot. Close lid and pressure cook at High Pressure for 0 minute, then Natural Release for 30 minutes.
- Drain Beans: Discard the soaking water and drain the navy beans through a mesh strainer. Rinse the beans with cold tap water. Drain well. The soaked beans should almost double in weight.
- Render Bacon: Place chopped bacon in Instant Pot, then press Sauté button. Stir occasionally and allow the bacon bits to crisp (~3 mins). Add in diced onion, freshly ground black pepper, then sauté for a minute. Add in chopped garlic cloves, then sauté until fragrant (~30 seconds).
- Make Molasses Mixture: While the bacon is rendering in Instant Pot, combine ¼ cup (80g) blackstrap molasses, ¼ cup (60g) maple syrup, 1 tbsp (15ml) regular soy sauce, and 1¾ cup (438ml) cold water in a 1L (4 cups) glass measuring cup. Mix well.
- Deglaze: Pour ½ cup (125ml) of the molasses mixture in Instant Pot. Deglaze by scrubbing all the flavorful brown bits off the bottom of the pan, then mix them into the mixture.
- Pressure Cook Navy Beans: Add ¼ tsp fine table salt, 2 bay leaves, soaked navy beans and the remaining molasses mixture in Instant Pot. Mix well and make sure all the beans are submerged in the molasses mixture. Close lid and pressure cook at High Pressure for 20 minutes, then Natural Release for 20 minutes Natural Release. Open the lid carefully. *see notes for cooking time tips
- Season, Thicken, Serve Baked Beans: Add 2 tsp (12g) dijon mustard, and 1 tsp (5ml) apple cider vinegar in the cooked baked beans. Mix well. Press Sauté button, then stir to thicken the baked beans to your desired consistency. Taste and adjust the seasoning by adding more blackstrap molasses, salt, or vinegar if necessary. For reference, we added in another tbsp of blackstrap molasses.Serve this delicious sweet ‘n smokey baked beans as a side dish. Enjoy~
Video
Notes
Best Pressure Cooking Time: The pressure cooking time may vary depending on many factors such as the age of your beans. If your beans are not fully cooked, add pressure cooking time accordingly. For reference, some readers reported their beans need to pressure cook for an extra 15 to 25 mins.
Blackstrap Molasses: this is a key flavoring in this recipe, so choose a high quality brand with a flavor profile and aroma that you like.
Regular Soy Sauce: soy sauce isn't a traditional ingredient in baked beans. But, it’s one of our secret ingredients for a kick of some umami flavors and aroma. This will enhance the baked beans’ flavor profile. Try it!
Total Cooking Time: Stated total cooking time excludes the soaking time.
Rate Amy + Jacky's Recipe: If you've tried our recipe, rate the recipe in the Comments section. Thank you!
Nutrition
Calories: 309kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 278mg | Potassium: 753mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Vitamin C: 1.4mg | Calcium: 99mg | Iron: 3.1mg