Instant Pot Black Beans and Rice

Name: Instant Pot Black Beans and Rice
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 6 servings (1.5 cups each)
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 and 1/2 cups brown rice, rinsed; 1 and 1/2 cups dry black beans; 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes with juice; 2 cups vegetable broth; 3 cups water; 1 teaspoon oil of choice, more as needed; 1 medium onion, diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon cumin; 1/2 teaspoon chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon oregano; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 teaspoon hot sauce

October 7, 2018 By Cassidy Reeser, RDN, LD 43 Comments

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This healthy instant pot recipe is made with brown rice and dry black beans in under an hour. Perfect for a week of meal prep or a last minute dinner!

Black beans and brown rice with Instant Pot in the background

Rice and beans is hands-down one of the most common meals in my house. It’s great for a last-minute dinner recipe and make for versatile leftovers.

This recipe is must-have in any kitchen. It takes under an hour to make, the majority of which is hands-free.

Pre-Instant Pot (Pre-IP?) I would begrudgingly make a pot of brown rice on the stove and throw in canned black beans and taco seasonings. Thankfully the days of mushy canned beans and stove cooked brown rice are gone!

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Dry black beans taste so much better than canned and they’re free from added salt. They’re also an inexpensive plant protein; you can usually get 1 pound of dry beans for under $2.

And that’s a lot of food!

Black beans and brown rice in an instant pot

How to make Instant Pot Rice and Beans

Step one: Start by sauteing onions until translucent, then add in your garlic for a minute more.

Step two: Add taco seasonings or spices of choice; feel free to customize the spices and add-ins to your preferences. The spices in this recipe are Mexican-inspired, but you can certainly adapt the base recipe to different cuisines.

Step three: Add your liquids; I use a combination of water and vegetable broth to amp up the flavor. By cutting the vegetable broth with water you can lower the sodium content of your meal significantly without sacrificing flavor.

Step four: Add rinsed rice and beans and stir everything together. Cook on high pressure for 30 minutes, then allow pressure to release for 10 minutes before removing the lid.

Spoon lifting a serving of rice and beans out of a white bowl

Recipes Tips

Test the beans for doneness; you can reseal and add 5 more minutes on high pressure if needed.

It can take anywhere from 25-35 minutes at high pressure to fully cook dry black beans. Note that the cooking time may vary a bit based on the age of your beans.

You need to cook on high pressure for at least 22 minutes to fully cook the brown rice.

How to serve

Add to a corn tortilla for an easy taco filling, or wrap in a tortilla with your favorite burrito fillings
Pair with lettuce, fresh tomatoes, and sliced avocado for a taco salad
Use as a tortilla chip dip for a party appetizer
My favorite way: enjoy on their own topped with salsa, Greek yogurt, and crunched tortilla chips

Bowl filled with rice and beans with a spoon resting on top

Looking for more vegetarian recipes?

Enjoy this recipe? You might also like my stove-top rice and beans recipe.

All of my Instant Pot recipes are made in a 6 qt DUO60 Instant Pot. Check out more of my Instant Pot recipes here.