INSTANT POT RICE & BEANS (ONLY 5 INGREDIENTS!)
written by Caitlin Shoemaker February 23, 2018
These Instant Pot Rice & Beans require only 5 simple ingredients to make! Perfect for Meal Prep or an Easy Weeknight Dinner. Vegan, Gluten Free, Oil Free.
While they may be simple, there is just something that is so satisfying about a big ol’ bowl of rice and beans. As an added bonus, this recipe has BIG flavor, but only required 5 affordable ingredients.
Heck, you may already have all of them in your pantry! And if you don’t you can definitely get them at your local store for a great price.
While the ingredients for this recipe are humble, I promise that the flavors will still “wow” you. I’m not exactly sure what it is, but something magical happens to that Salsa and Cilantro in the pressure cooker – the flavors intensify and become much more complex.
While this recipe is so dang easy, I also love how customizable it can be. You can easily increase or decrease the spice level based on the Salsa you choose to use, and you can also add in some extra spices if you’re feeling fancy. Plus, let’s not forget about the toppings! I like this Instant Pot Rice & Beans recipe best when topped with fresh Cilantro, Avocado, and a squeeze of Lime.
This dish is hearty and filling on it’s own as a main, but you could also use it as a side! May I suggest making some Sheet Pan Fajitas to go along with it?
I pretty much only use my Instant Pot to make rice and beans (or both at the same time), but if you’d like me to create more iPot recipes, please leave a comment below and let me know! I think it would be a nice challenge and change of pace
A Few Final Thoughts:
- You can also use dried Black Beans for this recipe, but they will make the rice look a little, er, grey. It’ll still taste great though!
- This recipe is simple, but feel free to add in some extra ingredients if it suits your fancy – I think Corn, Jalapeños, or some extra tomatoes would be great!
- I have not tested this recipe on the stovetop, so unfortunately I cannot provide modifications for that. You may be interested in my One Pot Mexican Quinoa though !
instant pot rice & beans (only 5 ingredients!)
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: 25 Minutes
- Yield: 5 Servings 1x
DESCRIPTION
These Instant Pot Rice & Beans require only 5 simple ingredients to make! Perfect for Meal Prep or an Easy Weeknight Dinner. Vegan, Gluten Free, Oil Free.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 1/4 cup dry Red Kidney Beans
- 1 1/2 cup dry Brown Rice
- 1 cup Salsa
- ½ bunch Cilantro, stems and leaves divided
- 3 cups Vegetable Broth
- 2 cups Water
INSTRUCTIONS
- First, chop your Cilantro, keeping the leaves and stems roughly separated.
- Add the dried Beans and Rice to the bottom of your Instant Pot.
- Gently pour the Vegetable Broth and Water over the Rice and Beans, then give everything a good stir.
- Next, add the Salsa and stems of the Cilantro into the pot. Do not mix!
- Close the Instant Pot, set the valve to Sealing, and use the Manual Mode to cook on High for 25 Minutes.
- One the cook time finishes, let the Instant Pot release pressure for an additional 10 Minutes (leave the “Keep Warm” feature on).
- Finally, move the valve from Sealing to Venting to release all remaining pressure, and serve the Beans and Rice warm. Garnish with the chopped Cilantro leaves, and anything else you desire!
NOTES
- A few of my beans rose to the top of the mixture, and I noticed they looked a little “dry” when I opened the pot. If this happens to you, simply mix the Beans and Rice together, then cover the pot again and let sit for 12 – 15 minutes.
- Different beans require different amounts of time to cook in the pressure cooker, so I would be wary of substitutions. If you do decide to use a different bean, make sure to cook the mixture for at least 22 minutes, so the brown rice will cook completely.
- I used this Instant Pot to make this recipe.