Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice is a hearty, flavorful dish made easily in your Instant Pot. This classic Cajun recipe has tender red beans, smoky ham, and bold Creole seasoning. It delivers rich, slow-cooked flavor in a fraction of the time. Perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep. Serve it over fluffy white rice for a taste of Louisiana right from your kitchen!
Originally posted March 2017, updated February 2024.
Jump to:
- Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice Recipe
- New Orleans Red Beans and Rice Recipe
- Video
- Why You'll Love Instant Pot Red Beans & Rice
- Tools Needed
- Ingredients
- What Kind of Red Beans are Best for Red Beans & Rice?
- How to Make Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice
- Pro Tips
- Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice with Canned Beans
- Vegetarian Red Beans and Rice
- What to Serve with Red Beans and Rice
- Storage Directions
- FAQ
- More Cajun & Instant Pot Recipes
- Recipe
Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice Recipe
I am a diehard fan of Instant Pot recipes (and slow cooker recipes) and one of our regular meals to make is this red beans recipe. This hearty dish is both satisfying and budget-friendly.
Actually, we have three Instant Pots and on nights when we make this creole recipe, I also make Instant Pot Rice in another cooker. That recipe is super easy - equal cups of water to equal cups of rice and use the "Rice" setting! But see full instructions here if you're new to using an electric pressure cooker.
I don't know about you, but there is something amazing about a warm bowl of this Instant Pot Red Beans & Rice recipe. It's full of flavor and a perfect option for a one-pot meal that everyone loves! This is a hit with everyone, plus it is super cheap, and that always appeals to my frugal nature!
New Orleans Red Beans and Rice Recipe
When Richy and I first got married almost 30 years ago, my Aunt Susie gave me the best little cookbook that had a delicious New Orleans Red Beans & Rice Recipe in it. I made it so often that eventually, the page came out of the cookbook.
It was a great recipe because it was delicious, easy and budget-friendly (which was super important with military pay and then lots of kids).
Several moves and states later, it was lost. I've always regretted losing that recipe and would give just about anything to remember the name of that cookbook but it's a lost cause.
In the meantime, I started making this Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice with Ham Hock and while it's not the same, it's still a delicious recipe that my kids often request.
Video
Why You'll Love Instant Pot Red Beans & Rice
You'll love this easy Instant Pot recipe because:
- Fast & Easy – No need to soak uncooked beans or simmer for hours; the Instant Pot does the work quickly to cut down on cook time with very little hands-on attention.
- One-Pot Convenience – Minimal cleanup with everything cooked in a single pot in this Red Beans and Rice Instant Pot version.
- Rich, Slow-Cooked Flavor – Achieves the deep, smoky, and amazing flavors of traditional red beans and rice in a fraction of the time.
- Budget-Friendly – Uses simple, affordable ingredients to create a hearty and filling meal.
- Perfect for Meal Prep – Instant Pot Rice and Beans makes great leftovers and tastes even better the next day.
- Customizable – Easily adjust spice levels, swap proteins, or make it vegetarian.
- Naturally Gluten-Free – A safe and delicious option for gluten-free diets.
- Classic Southern Comfort – Enjoy a warm, satisfying dish with authentic Louisiana flavor.
Tools Needed
- Instant Pot pressure cooker (or other electric pressure cooker)
- Sharp knife
- Cutting Board
Ingredients
All of these simple ingredients should be easy to find in local grocery stores.
- Vegetable oil or olive oil
- Yellow onion, diced
- Green bell pepper, seeded and diced
- Celery, diced
- Jalapeño, seeded and diced
- Garlic, minced
- Dry red beans
- Salt
- Creole or Cajun seasoning
- Chicken broth
- Ham bone or ham hock - or any other leftover pork bone
- Fresh thyme
- Bay leaves
- Cooked Rice - to serve with the Instant Pot Beans and Ham.
Find the complete recipe with ingredients measurements in the recipe card below.
What Kind of Red Beans are Best for Red Beans & Rice?
The best red beans for Red Beans and Rice are small red beans or Camellia brand red kidney beans - a favorite in traditional Creole cuisine. You can also find a Camellia red beans and rice recipe and compare for other flavor suggestions.
- Small Red Beans: These beans are slightly smaller than kidney beans, have a smoother texture, and absorb flavors well. They create a creamy consistency when cooked, making them a top choice for authentic Red Beans and Rice.
- Dark Red Kidney Beans: While larger and firmer than small red beans, red kidney beans are also commonly used. They hold their shape well and work great in this dish, especially when cooked long enough to develop a creamy texture.
For the best results, look for high-quality, fresh dried beans (older beans take longer to cook). The Camellia brand is widely praised for its consistent quality and is a staple in many Louisiana kitchens.
How to Make Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice
This easy recipe is made in one pot and you can get a taste of New Orleans in your own home kitchen.
- Set Instant pot to sauté setting, and add oil.
- Let oil heat until it sizzles when a drop of water hits it.
- Add onion, bell pepper, celery, and jalapeño pepper.
- Saute, stirring frequently, until vegetables are softened, and onion is translucent.
- Add garlic and saute another 30-60 seconds.
- Add dry beans, salt, creole seasoning, and chicken broth and give it a stir to distribute everything evenly.
- Add ham bone, thyme, and bay leaves.
- Put lid on Instant pot, and close steam valve.
- Select the manual button and set for 60 minutes of high pressure cooking.
- When Instant pot timer beeps, you can let it do a natural release or if you're impatient, you can do a quick release and let any remaining pressure out of your pot.
- Remove bay leaves, and thyme.
- Remove ham bone to another bowl or platter, and let cool for a few minutes so that you can handle it without burning yourself.
- Remove ham from bone, and stir back into beans.
- Serve with hot cooked rice as the side dish or serve the beans over your rice - either way, it's an easy meal!
Pro Tips
- I like to use a ham bone with plenty of ham left on it to add back into the beans. If you’re using a ham bone that is truly just the bone, skip the last half of step 11, and 12.
- Instead of ham, you could also use smoked sausage for great flavor. If you decide to make Instant Pot Red Beans and RIce with sausage, slice it diagonally and brown sausage with the vegetables in steps 3-4. For extra kick, use spicy andouille sausage!
- The cooking time listed for this recipe is 90 minutes which includes time to saute vegetables + heat the pot + actually pressurized cooking.\
- To save on time, you can use Seasoning Blend frozen vegetables which include the Cajun "Holy Trinity" of green pepper, onion, and celery.
- For a little extra color and flavor, you can garnish with green onions.
- If you like creamy red beans and rice, use a potato masher to mash up some of the beans and stir before serving.
- Add other seasonings to adjust to your taste. Some popular choices are black pepper, cayenne pepper (for more heat), garlic powder or minced garlic, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, etc.
- Adjust the cooking time as needed, as different Instant Pot models, elevations, and other factors can affect the results. Use the listed cooking time as a guideline rather than a fixed rule. If your beans aren’t fully cooked after the 55-minute pressure cycle, simply add a few more minutes and continue cooking until tender.
Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice with Canned Beans
Cut your cooking time down dramatically by using canned red beans. You'll follow the directions above exactly as written except you'll only need to cook for 5 minutes on high pressure.
Vegetarian Red Beans and Rice
For an Instant Pot Red Beans and RIce vegetarian version, skip the ham or sausage and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
What to Serve with Red Beans and Rice
- The best way to serve red beans is with warm buttered cornbread or saltine crackers,
- Adding a dash of hot sauce is popular for those who really like a spicy dish.
- If you prefer, you can serve this cajun dish over brown rice
Storage Directions
- Refrigeration: Let the red beans and rice cool completely before transferring to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheating:
- Stovetop: Reheat Pressure Cooker Red Beans and Rice in a saucepan over low to medium heat, adding a splash of water or broth to loosen the consistency OR
- Microwave: Heat in a microwave-safe bowl, covered, in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between, until warmed through.
For best texture, store the rice separately and cook fresh when serving.
FAQ
Older beans take longer to cook and may never fully soften and some beans, especially kidney or chickpeas, may need more time.
Solution: Return to pressure cooking for an additional 5–10 minutes, then check for doneness... and/or:
This is my best tip: for quick red beans and rice, add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of baking soda per pound of dried beans when cooking in the Instant Pot.
If I ever open my Instant Pot and find that my beans aren't done, this is my go-to tip to fix them! I add the baking soda, then cook them for 15 more minutes and it works every time!
No, you don’t need to soak beans before cooking in the Instant Pot! The pressure cooking process allows dried unsoaked beans to cook quickly without pre-soaking.
Yes, you can cook red beans and rice together in an Instant Pot, but for the best texture, it's usually better to cook them separately because beans need longer cooking time.
Red beans take about 55–60 minutes, while white rice cooks in 3–5 minutes and brown rice in 20–25 minutes. For my recipe, I recommend cooking separately.
If you feel like your instant pot red beans and ham have too much liquid or you simply want them thicker and creamier, you can use an immersion blender or a potato masher to mash some of the beans. This releases the starchy goodness from the beans, naturally thickening the dish.
More Cajun & Instant Pot Recipes
Recipe
Instant Pot Red Beans & Rice
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
Description
Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice is a hearty, flavorful dish made easily in your Instant Pot. This classic Cajun recipe has tender red beans, smoky ham, and bold Creole seasoning. It delivers rich, slow-cooked flavor in a fraction of the time. Perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep. Serve it over fluffy white rice for a taste of Louisiana right from your kitchen!
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1-2 ribs of celery, diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and dice
- 5 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 lb dry red beans
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon Tony’s Creole seasoning
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 ham bone
- 2 sprigs of fresh thyme
- 2-3 bay leaves
Instructions
- Set Instant pot to saute, and add oil.
- Let oil heat until it sizzles when a drop of water hits it.
- Add onion, bell pepper, celery, and jalapeño pepper.
- Saute, stirring frequently, until vegetables are softened, and onion is translucent.
- Add garlic and saute another 30-60 seconds.
- Add beans, salt, Tony’s seasoning, and chicken broth and give it a stir to distribute everything evenly.
- Add ham bone, thyme, and bay leaves.
- Put lid on instant pot, and close steam valve.
- Select manual, high pressure, 60 minutes.
- When instant pot is done cooking, you can let the pressure come down naturally, or go ahead and open the pressure valve to release.
- Remove bay leaves, and thyme.
- Remove ham bone to another bowl or platter, and let cool for a few minutes so that you can handle it without burning yourself.
- Remove ham from bone, and stir back into beans.
- Serve with rice.
Notes
- Nutrition information is approximate. Calories and other measurements do not include rice, which is added separately.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 90
- Method: Instant Pot
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
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