Ham and Pinto Beans recipe made in an Instant Pot. Using stock, wine, beer, soda (pop), or plain ol’ water! They can be done in a Crock Pot or on the Stove top too. However, I will be focusing on the Instant Pot. The one thing I really love about pinto beans is their versatility! I hope with my base recipe and additional Tips provided you will agree that pinto beans really are a magical fruit!
🍲 Instant Pot Ham and Pinto Beans
Hearty, smoky, and simmered to perfection. This Instant Pot ham and pinto bean recipe is packed with flavor, budget-friendly, and perfect for leftovers. Swap liquids and spice it up Cajun, BBQ, or Italian style!
🍲 How Many Does It Feed?
This hearty Instant Pot Recipe uses 1 pound of dried pinto beans, which expands to about 6 cups of cooked beans. When you factor in the savory ham hocks, onions, jalapeños, spices, and broth. You’re looking at a total cooked volume of approximately 10 to 12 cups.
- 1-cup servings: Yields about 10–12 servings
- 1.5-cup hearty servings: Yields about 6–8 servings
- Stretch it further: Serve with cornbread, rice, or fried potatoes to feed 12–14 folks
Perfect for hungry families, big appetites, or meal prepping like a pro!
Ingredients List:
- 1 pound bag dried beans(washed and remove any rocks, cracked beans and foreign objects)(soaking overnight is optional)
- 1-2 onions chopped (We love onions)
- 1-2 jalapeño(s) chopped (seeded and de-veined if you don’t like a lot of heat)
- 3-4 Ham Hocks (Ham diced into bite-sized chunks if I have it leftover from a previous meal I will add it also. We love meaty beans.)
- 5 Cups Liquid (1 to 1 1/2 Cups of Fine Wine (I used our Deanna Young Califorina Melbec that was delivered right to my door from Napa and Sonoma Valley this time)(see Additional Tips below)
- 2 cloves of Garlic minced
- 1 Tbls Garlic Powder(or to taste we love garlic plus it is good for you)
- 1 Tbls Onion Powder
- 1 Tbls Cumin
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 3 good shakes of Chili Powder
- 1-2 Bay Leaves
Directions:
- In a 6qrt Instant Pot Multi-Cooker. (If you have an 8qrt pressure cooker as I do, you can also do a 3-pound bag of beans just adjust everything for the larger amount. However, I don’t ever add more than 6 Ham Hocks depending on their size and how much diced ham I have.)
- Add pinto beans, onions, peppers, and seasonings
- Add in liquids, diced ham, and stir
- Add ham hocks
- Place the lid on the pot and make sure the vent is set to seal
- Set according to your appliance to High Pressure for 2 1/2 to 3 hours for unsoaked . (We like our beans softer so I set it for extra 30 mins to 1 hour). (If you soaked then set for 30 minutes to 1 hour the lesser the time results in a firmer bean.)
- When the timer sounds turn off and let Natural Release for 10 minutes.
- Carefully release the remaining pressure and remove the lid. Stir and if needed add salt to taste.
I have learned with my family that as soon as I put the beans on to cook, I need to go find the Tootalizer Neutralizer! These beans may be delicious but man does it make their farts stink! Yes, I know there are several ways to “de-gas” your beans. But with family members, pets, and life sometimes there just isn’t time to soak those beans for several hours.
Additional Recipe Tips
The following ingredients list is as substitutions or additional add-ins. The sky is the limit really!
Now, I am going to pass on a little secret that I have found. I am sure there are many of you who will say you have known about this product line for years. However, it is a new personal favorite for me. I have always hated the over-saltiness of bouillon cubes and powders. I am also not fond of the difficulty of dissolving them. Therefore, when I found Better than Bouillon I was excited, to say the least for two reasons. First, they are a concentrated paste. Secondly, there are several that are low in sodium. Oh, there are also several that are Vegan.
I experiment with them often and have not been disappointed yet! I have used the Roasted Garlic, Roast Beef, and the Vegetable options and can not pick a favorite combiation. Don’t be afraid to use a little of more than one for a recipe! Furthermore, you don’t need these to have a great recipe but they do add a great depth of flavor! So, if you use just water in the above recipe try one or more of the bouillon flavors mixed into the water before adding to the pot.
✨ Mix and Match Your Pinto Bean Bowl!
Never have another boring bowl of beans! Get creative with your flavor combos:
- Spicy Swap: Use Rotel tomatoes with green chilis instead of fresh jalapeños
- Flavorful Liquid Base: Use veggie, beef, chicken, ham, or turkey broth instead of water
- Baked Beans Twist: Add BBQ sauce + BBQ seasoning + beer or soda (like Dr. Pepper or Coke)
- Italian Flare: Use Italian seasoning, veggie broth + wine or Sprite, and add canned diced tomatoes
- Protein Options: Mix in sausage (Italian or andouille), chorizo, bacon, salt pork, shredded chicken, or ground meat
- Comfort Add-Ins: Crumble cornbread into your bowl, top with cheese and sour cream
- Serve It Up: Spoon over rice, pasta, or crispy fried potatoes
- Cajun Style: Add Cajun seasoning, hot sauce, and andouille sausage. Cook shrimp or crawdads separately and stir them in when serving
💡 Pro tip: Mix and match these ideas to suit your taste, stretch leftovers, or jazz things up for the whole fam!
In Conclusion
So, as you can see pinto beans can be so versatile it just takes a little imagination and adventurous spirit when it comes to your cooking to find your family’s next favorite recipe.
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