Homemade Baked Beans for the win!
If you thought that perfect baked beans could only come from a can or start with canned beans that are then slow-cooked in the oven, then we are here to flip that script! Tender, mouth-watering, lightly sweet, and tangy beans that deserve a place at every backyard barbecue, tailgater, or potluck can be yours with these Instant Pot Baked Beans with Bacon. We’ve reduced the cooking time and the need for soaking the beans significantly by using the power of a pressure cooker. And since the Instant Pot allows you to saute and sear, you can make the bacon in the same pot as the beans reducing the number of dishes to wash. How’s that for knocking it out of the park? Looking for a great slow cooker baked bean recipe? Try our Slow Cooker Baked Beans
Ingredients for Instant Pot Baked Beans
Dried Navy beans or other small white beansBay leafCooking sprayBaconOnionGarlicKetchup (use unsweetened ketchup such as Primal Kitchen to reduce the total sugar)Maple syrupSpicy brown or Dijon mustardApple cider vinegarMolassesLiquid smoke (optional) Chopped fresh parsley, for garnishFine salt and black pepper to taste
How to Make Instant Pot Baked Beans
You’ll start by cooking the beans in the Instant Pot. The beauty of using the Instant Pot for this recipe is that you get to skip the soaking process. Just 25 minutes at high pressure with 15 minutes of natural pressure release will give you perfectly tender beans. Once the beans are done, you’ll drain and rinse them then set them aside so you can use the Instant Pot to cook the bacon. Reserving a little of the bacon grease for cooking the onions and garlic adds another layer of flavor to these homemade baked beans. If you want to make these vegetarian or vegan, simply omit the bacon and saute the onion and garlic in oil instead. Before you add the beans back to the pot, add 1 cup of water to the pot and scrape up any browned bits of onion before adding the ingredients for the sauce. Once the sauce ingredients are in the pot, give it all a stir, then fold in the cooked beans. Cook at high pressure for 10 minutes. If you get a ‘Burn’ error, release any pressure that has built up and remove the lid from the Instant Pot. Stir in the remaining ½ cup water and set the cooking time to 10 minutes at high pressure. Once the cooking time is up, allow for 10 minutes of natural pressure release before flipping the vent valve to the ‘venting’ position to release any residual steam. Remove the lid and stir. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if desired. Any leftover baked beans may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Can Instant Pot Baked Beans be made ahead of time?
Absolutely! Making these homemade baked beans ahead of time means you can enjoy the convenience of reheating them whenever you’re ready to eat. They can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
How do I reheat homemade baked beans?
If you’ve made these Instant Pot Baked Beans ahead of time you can reheat them in several ways.
On the stove – Place baked beans in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cover with a lid and heat for 10-15 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally.In a slow cooker – Place baked beans in a slow cooker set to low. Heat for 1-2 hours or until heated through, stirring occasionally.In the Instant Pot – Place baked beans in the Instant Pot. Select the ‘Saute’ function and heat for 8-10 minutes or until heated through, stirring frequently to avoid burning. Alternatively, you can use the ‘Slow Cook’ function and heat on low, covered, for 1 – 1 ½ hours or until heated through, stirring occasionally.In the Microwave – Place the desired amount of baked beans in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover loosely with a damp paper towel and microwave on high power for 2 minutes. Stir and continue to reheat in 1-minute increments until heated through.On the Grill – Place baked beans in a large oven-proof skillet, small Dutch oven, or enameled casserole/braiser (such as this one). Cover and heat over indirect heat (350-400℉) for 25-30 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Alternatively, if your grill has a side burner, you can follow the stove-top directions above for reheating.
Can these be made in the slow cooker?
If you’re looking for a slow cooker version, be sure to check out these Slow Cooker Baked Beans with Bacon. They use canned beans as a shortcut but if you want to make your own beans, just follow the cooking instructions on the back of the bag of beans then proceed with the recipe as written.
Can these be made vegetarian?
Yes! To make these Instant Pot Baked Beans vegetarian or vegan, simply omit the bacon and replace the 1 tablespoon of rendered bacon grease with olive oil or avocado oil. To give your homemade baked beans a little smoky flavor, add a little liquid smoke to taste.
What can I serve Instant Pot Baked Beans with?
These homemade baked beans pair well with any of the usual barbecue and cookout fare: Burgers, hot dogs, and bratwurst are the first to come to mind but they are also delicious served alongside Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Spatchcock Chicken, or Grilled Steak Kebabs.
Other Side Dishes You Might Like:
Creamy Mayo-Free Broccoli SaladBroccoli Cauliflower Salad with BaconCreamy Ranch Pasta SaladLow Carb Mock Potato SaladBlue Cheese Potato Salad with Chives
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All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use our photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish this recipe, please rewrite the recipe in your own unique words and link back to the source recipe here on The Real Food Dietitians. Thank you! Photo Credit: The photos in this blog post were taken by Jess of Plays Well with Butter.
