Instant Pot Black Bean Soup

This hearty Instant Pot Black Bean Soup is both wholesome and simple to prepare. It's a satisfying dish that is easy and budget-friendly. Made with dry, un-soaked beans, they cook to perfection in under an hour, resulting in a delightful Mexican soup that can also be vegan or vegetarian.

Jump to:

• Instant Pot Black Bean Soup
• Video
• Why You'll Love this Instant Pot Black Bean Soup
• Tools Used to Make this Black Bean Soup
• Ingredients
• Shop here
• Substitutions
• How to Make Instant Pot Black Bean Soup
• What to Eat with Black Bean Soup
• Customizing Your Black Bean Soup
• Storage Directions
• Diet Variations
• Recipe FAQ
• Recipe

Instant Pot Black Bean Soup

As far as soup recipes go, this black beans recipe is one of my favorites for colder months. By using a pressure cooker, you get a soup loaded with flavor in a fraction of the time that most soups need to simmer for maximum flavor. And that's not the only reason to love this soup!

Video

Why You'll Love this Instant Pot Black Bean Soup

• One Pot Meal - this entire recipe is made in one pot, your Instant Pot (or other pressure cooker), so prep and clean up are a cinch.
• Wholesome & Filling - Instant Pot Black Bean Soup is full of wholesome goodness, protein-packed black beans and fiber-rich veggies. 
• Simplicity - with basic pantry ingredients, this recipe requires no fancy foods or preparation methods.
• Affordable - the ingredients in this recipe are inexpensive and simple - great for any budget and belly.

If you do love this soup, you may also love these favorites:

• Red Potato Soup with Cream Cheese [Video]
• Mac & Cheese Chicken Soup
• Easy Taco Soup
• The Best Squash Soup Recipe

Tools Used to Make this Black Bean Soup

• Instant Pot
• Knife & Cutting Board
• Wooden Spoon (or silicone spatula)

Ingredients

These ingredients are all easy to find, basic, pantry ingredients. You may even already have all of the spices on hand.

• Olive oil
• Red onion
• Red bell peppers 
• Carrot
• Garlic
• Salt
• Pepper
• Chili powder
• Ground Cumin
• Oregano
• Green chiles
• Green onions
• Dry black beans
• Broth (chicken stock or vegetables stock for a vegetarian/vegan option)

Shop here

Instant Pot

Buy Now →

Wooden Spoons

Buy Now →

Dried Black Beans

Buy Now →

Substitutions

Green peppers can be used instead of red peppers (or use some of both if you like).

Canned black beans can be used instead of dried beans. Cooking dried black beans takes a while so by using cans of black beans, you will will reduce the electric pressure cooker cooking time to only 15 minutes. That's cutting the cooking time in half for those of you doing the math. 😉

How to Make Instant Pot Black Bean Soup

Whip up this delicious pressure cooker black bean soup with just a few easy steps! 

1. Set your Instant Pot to saute.
2. Heat a tablespoon of oil, and add the onion, pepper, and carrots.
3. Stir fry until vegetables are softened.
4. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper and cook for an additional 30 seconds, stirring while it cooks. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
5. Stir in the remaining seasonings and green chilis.
6. Add the dry beans and broth to the pot and stir it.

7. Place the lid on the Instant Pot, and close the steam valve.
8. Set it to "manual cook", and toggle the cook time to 45 minutes on high pressure.
9. When the cooking time is done, quick release the steam from the pot, open it, and serve it with your favorite toppings. I love to add a dollop of sour cream, maybe a slice of avocado 🥑🫑 and some shredded cheese, then eat it with bread or tortilla chips. But see below for so many more options.

What to Eat with Black Bean Soup

How to Serve Black Bean Soup

While it's delicious on its own, I prefer to have a slice of warm, French bread or a handful of tortilla chips with my soup. As a side, I love to enjoy a fresh green salad before or along with this recipe.

Toppings for Instant Pot Black Bean Soup

• Sour Cream
• Fresh Cilantro
• Cheese
• Avocado
• Guacamole
• Additional diced peppers and/or red onions
• Tortilla chips
• Hot Sauce
• Jalapenos
• Pico de gallo
• A squeeze of Fresh Lime Juice

Customizing Your Black Bean Soup

Creamy Black Bean Soup: if you want to have a Creamy Black Bean Soup, it's so easy to do. Use an immersion blender in your Instant Pot (after the soup is finished pressure cooking, to blend part of the soup. You don't want it to be completely blended - so be sure to leave some of it with whole beans texture.

If you don't have an immersion blender, you can scoop out a couple of cups of the soup and put them in a regular blender to make a puree, then add that back to the pot. Stir it all together for a creamy soup.

Add Your Flavor: while our black bean stew is undeniably delicious as is, don't shy away from personalizing it to your liking! You can easily change up the spices for bean soup and get a completely different flavor!

🫑 Fancy extra vegetables? Toss in some colorful bell peppers or nutrient-dense zucchini to add an extra layer of taste and texture. 

🍗 Meat lovers can up the protein content by stirring in some smoked chicken or sausage for really deep flavor. 

🔥 If you're a spice enthusiast, make spicy black bean soup by adding a few slices of jalapenos or chipotle peppers. Think of this soup as your canvas, with the ingredients as your palette. With each addition, you're creating a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that’s just as unique as you. The beauty of this soup lies not only in its deliciousness but also in its adaptability. Happy experimenting!

Storage Directions

Refrigerator: leftover black bean soup can be stored in an airtight container in your fridge for the next day or up to five days, ensuring you have a hearty meal at your fingertips for those busy weekdays. It will be a thicker soup after refrigeration so you may want to add a little water or extra broth to thin it if that's your preference.

Freezer: This soup freezes beautifully! Leftovers will keep for up to three months in your freezer. Just remember to let the soup cool down completely before transferring it into your storage containers. Freezing in small portions is also a great idea for meal prep. Thaw overnight or in the microwave.

Reheating: This soup can easily be reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop.

So go ahead, whip up a big batch of this soul-soothing soup, and rest easy knowing you have culinary gold ready and waiting in your fridge or freezer!

Diet Variations

One of the best things about our Instant Pot Black Bean Soup recipe is its versatility. It effortlessly caters to a variety of dietary preferences and requirements without compromising on flavor. 

Gluten-free: For starters, it's naturally gluten-free, making it an excellent choice for those steering clear of animal gluten. But it doesn't stop there. 

Vegetarian or Vegan Black Bean Soup: with a quick switch of vegetable broth or vegetable stock in place of chicken broth, this soup is all plant-based ingredients and is a fantastic meatless meal. 

Oil-free: Want to make it oil-free? You got it! You can simply sauté the vegetables in broth instead of oil, and you'll still be rewarded with a potful of flavorful soup that's every bit as delicious. 

Yes,  everyone can enjoy the scrumptious flavors of this soup, regardless of their dietary considerations. 

Recipe FAQ

• Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas
• Easy Crockpot Collard Greens
• Easy Green Beans with Bacon & Brown Sugar (Step-by-Step Video)
• Pressure Cooker Peperoncini Pot Roast Recipe (step by step)
• 25 Amazing Soup Recipes You'll Love!

Print

Recipe