Ham and Pinto Beans 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 Ingredients List:
- 1 pound bag dried pinto beans(washed and remove any rocks, cracked beans and foreign objects)(soaking overnight 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
Instant Pot Ham and Pinto Beans Directions:
- In a 6qrt Instant Pot MultiCooker. (If you have an 8qrt Instant Pot as I do, you can also do a 3-pound bag of pinto 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 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 Instant Pot according to your appliance to High Pressure for 1 to 1 1/2 hours (unsoaked) . (We like our beans softer so I set it for 2 to 2 1/2 hours). (If you soaked set for 30 minutes to 1 1/2 hours the lesser time results in a firmer bean.)
- When the timer sounds turn Instant Pot 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.
Instant Pot Ham and Pinto Beans Additional 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 fairly new personal find 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 placed pictures of the specific product I use at the bottom of the page. (Don’t be afraid to use a little of more than one for a recipe!) Don’t get me wrong. 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 to your heart’s content and Never Have Another Boring Bowl of Pinto Beans!!
- Instead of fresh jalapeños use Rotel Tomatoes with green chilis (choose desired heat level)
- Instead of water use vegetable, beef, chicken, ham, or turkey broth or stock
- Try a bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce added to the water along with BBQ seasonings for Baked Beans. (with beer or soda (pop) like Dr Pepper or Coke)
- Want a more Italian flare use your favorite Italian seasonings with vegetable broth or stock and wine or Sprite. Also, add a large can of diced and peeled tomatoes.
- Italian sausage, andouille sausage, ground meat, chorizo, bacon, salt pork, diced or shredded chicken or pork
- Make your favorite cornbread recipe and crumble it into your bowl when serving
- Sprinkle with your favorite shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream
- Spoon over rice or mix into your favorite cooked pasta or spoon over fried potatoes.
- Want Cajun Flare use your favorite cajun seasonings, a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce, and the andouille sausage. Since you don’t want overcooked shrimp or crawdads I suggest cooking them on the side and stir them into each serving when dished up.
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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