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This refried kidney beans recipe is a flavorful and easy recipe made with pantry staple dried beans & spices, no soaking required.

These bold and flavorful beans can be made on the stove top or Instant Pot / pressure cooker. These beans make a great side dish or you can add them to tacos or burrito bowls.

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We are all about easy flavorful recipes on our homestead- and these kidney bean refried beans are a fantastic way to get some major flavor onto your plate without.

These beans are great to make when you want a hearty side dish, but don’t have traditional pinto beans on hand to make refried beans. I use my Instant Pot weekly for meal prepping and cooking ahead, but the Instant Pot really shines for beans! I can have a delicious pot of beans ready in under an hour, no soaking required.

These Refried Kidney Beans are:

Earthy
Spicy (but can be less spicy if desired)
Warming
Filling
High Protein
Vegan & Gluten Free
High in Plant Based Protein

Easy Refried Beans are Best From Scratch!

While I love the convenience of canned beans, I usually cook dry beans from scratch in my pressure cooker – the texture is better and it’s more affordable. I use a large 7.5-Quart Instant Pot which is bigger than the standard model so I can batch cook more at a time.

If you don’t already have one, the Instant Pot works wonders for cooking dried beans quickly, with no soaking required! While canned beans are convenient, they are often loaded with sodium. If you buy canned beans, I always recommend using a no-salt-added variety so you can control the amount of salt in your dish.

Next time you reach for canned beans, consider investing in a pressure cooker instead! Homemade beans are incredibly cost efficient, and you can add seasonings and spices to the beans while they cook for extra flavor.

What’s In These Refried Beans with Kidney Beans?

Be sure to visit the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts and recipe instructions!

Onion, Jalapeno, Cilantro

Kidney Beans – either canned or dried beans work, I’ve included directions for each below.
Adobo Seasoning: a really fantastic blend of salt, pepper, garlic, and spice!
Chili Powder: for a really nice flavor in this dip – the chili powder isn’t spicy but will give you a rich and bright flavor.
Paprika – for a hint of spice and great flavor!
Bay Leaves: I always add bay leaves to many bean recipes that I make.
Red Chili Pepper Flakes: for a little heat! I like to add a few shakes to this recipe to give this dish a nice complex depth of flavor.

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How Do I Make These Vegetarian Refried Beans?

You can make these beans using canned kidney beans on the stove top, or dried kidney beans in the Instant Pot/pressure cooker.

Stove Top Directions

In a large pot, add the Olive oil and onions and cook over low heat for 4 to 5 minutes.
Add the canned beans and the rest of the ingredients, and stir well to combine. Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes.
Using an immersion blender or a potato masher, blend the rest of the beans until they are a creamy consistency. Garnish with extra cilantro and chili flakes and enjoy.

Instant Pot Directions

Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode, add Olive oil and onions and cook for 4 to 5 minutes.
Add the rest of the ingredients, and set to Manual/Pressure Cook mode for 45 minutes.
Allow the beans to naturally release for 20 minutes or so. Then release any remaining pressure. Using an immersion blender or a potato masher, blend the rest of the beans until they are a creamy consistency. Garnish with extra cilantro and chili flakes and enjoy.

Along with my Instant Pot Black Bean Recipe, these pinto beans are super easy to start in the pressure cooker and walk away from. The Instant Pot does all the work, and you reap the benefits without constantly stirring or watching a pot boil on the stove. This “passive cooking” is my kind of meal prep!

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More Easy Instant Pot Bean Recipes You’ll Love!

Instant Pot Chili Beans Recipe (Vegetarian, Gluten Free)

Pressure Cooker Oil Free Hummus Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free)

Instant Pot Oil Free Lentil Soup Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free)

Instant Pot Vegetarian Cowboy Beans Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free)

Vegetarian Instant Pot Succotash Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free)

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If you made this recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!

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