Want to make easy Pressure Cooker Refried Beans? This recipe is delicious and so simple, you'll never want to buy canned refried beans again.

What Makes Instant Pot Refried Beans Better Than Canned?

Cost. Dried beans cost pennies on the dollar, which makes it significantly cheaper to make your own than to buy them in a can.
Flavor. Canned beans are mediocre at best, and these are what dreams are made of. I'm serious when I say they will ruin canned beans for you forever.
Control. Making your own means you can control the ingredients and flavor profile. Make them gluten-free, make them spicy (or not spicy), or whatever you want.

Don't Refried Beans Need Lard?

Mexican refried beans need lard. I don't have any. I don't want to buy any. What if I end up loving it and eating too much of it? What if I never use any of it?

Then again, lard is nothing but pork fat--and coincidentally, so is bacon. I always have bacon. I do love it and eat too much of it. So, here's what I thought I'd do:

Make pinto beans or red kidney beans in the Instant Pot, and then cook them up with bacon fat afterward.

That's what I ended up doing, and it tasted quite good. Besides, since you use just the bacon fat and not the bacon, you get to eat it, which to me is only fair if you're cooking, as your reward.

If you'd rather keep these Instant Pot Refried Beans vegetarian, use coconut oil or ghee instead of the bacon, and enjoy them that way.

Oh and yes, refried beans in your Instant pot can be made with red kidney beans instead of pinto beans.

For more info on how to cook beans and lentils in your pressure cooker, check out my guide on How to Cook Beans in the Instant Pot!

How to make Instant Pot Refried Beans

This Instant Pot Refried Beans recipe is so very simple, you'll wonder why you ever bought that sticky looking stuff in a can. The best part of making Instant Pot Refried Beans? How EASY it is.

Soak Beans. Soak pinto beans in enough hot water to cover them for 1 hour.
Cook the Pinto beans. Drain, add beans into your Instant Pot, add 3 cups of water, and cook at High Pressure for 20 minutes. Allow it to release pressure naturally to avoid spluttering.
Mash the beans. Once they're cooked, you can either mash them with the back of a spoon for a more rustic finish, or if you prefer a smoother finish, use an immersion blender on your beans to get a smooth paste. You may have to remove some of the cooking water so it's not too runny.
Fry Bacon. While the beans are cooking, Heat a frying pan and fry the bacon on a medium low heat to render all the bacon fat. Cook until the bacon is crisp and then remove bacon and reserve for another use (which means, eat it before anyone else sees it).
Add Aromatics. To the fat, add chopped onion and cook until onion starts to brown at the edges. Add chopped garlic and sauté for a minute.
Add mashed beans. Pour in the mashed or puréed beans along with a little water, as well as the cumin and salt. Mix everything well, and let it cook. You may have to add water. Your goal is to get the beans heated through, and you will want to add enough water to ensure it is a slightly loose mixture. This will take about 4-5 minutes.
Serve. Add a sprinkle of cilantro, and a pass of shredded cheese as you serve.

Do You Need to Soak the Beans?

I've come up with a quick method for soaking beans to keep from having to soak them overnight.

Soak them in hot water for an hour, and they'll be perfect for cooking in the Instant Pot.

For more info on how to cook beans and lentils in your pressure cooker, check out my guide on How to Cook Beans in the Instant Pot!

Tips and Tricks for Making Instant Pot Refried Beans

Heat. Make your beans with a little kick by adding half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the seasoning list.
Texture. Make your beans smooth by using an immersion blender on the cooked beans. Leave them with some more "whole bean" texture, by using a spoon instead of a blender.
Serving. I like to serve these easy homemade refried beans with any of my Mexican-inspired dishes, but I especially love them with my Chile Rellenos or my Carne Asada recipes!

Other Authentic Mexican Recipes

After years in Texas, I have a ton of easy, authentic Mexican recipes you should check out. They may not be made in traditional ways, but they taste authentic because of #RuthlessEfficiency.

Here are some Fan Favorites:

So the next time you're throwing together a Mexican meal for your family, I beg of you, put the canned refried beans DOWN and make these authentic Instant Pot Refried Beans instead.