Rice and beans are a classic frugal meal made from shelf-stable pantry staples. Today we’ll show you how to make our favorite rice and bean meal in the Instant Pot and give you some options to mix up the flavors in this cheap family dinner.
Recipes Kids Can Make
If your kids are old enough to use the Instant Pot or stove then they can make this recipe!
In our Kids Cook Real Food™ Course we make rice and beans in lesson 5. Beginner kids sort and soak dried beans, intermediate students make the rice and the advanced class teaches how to cook beans.
Our Instant Pot skill lab your kids can learn all about using an Instant Pot (and a slow cooker!)
Part 1: Kids Make Instant Pot Rice and Beans
Can’t see the video? Watch it here on YouTube.
Instant Pot Dry Beans Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 c. dry beans (we used pinto)
- 2 Tbs. of olive oil
- 8 c. water
Directions
- Pour dry beans into a colander. Pick through for rocks and debris. Rinse under running water.
- Pour beans, oil, and water into a 6 qt. (or larger) Instant Pot. (Don’t fill the pot more than 1/2 way when cooking beans!)
- Check the sealing ring, lock the lid in place, and close the vent (to “Sealing” on an Instant Pot).
- On the stovetop, bring your cooker to high pressure and then keep it there for the time recommended in the chart in this post.
- For an Instant Pot, press “MANUAL” or “BEANS/CHILI” and adjust the time manually to fit the chart in this post.
- When the time is up, allow 15-20 minutes for a natural pressure release. (That means that the pin will drop and no steam will spray out when the valve is opened on any kind of pressure cooker.)
- Check the beans. When done, they should be soft and pleasant to eat.
- Strain beans through a colander.
Jump in With Your Instant Pot!
When I first got an Instant Pot it sat in its box for over 6 months because I was so intimidated to open it and use it! Now, I 😍 LOVE my Instant Pot…or rather Instant Pots because I have two of them. That’s how much I love them!
Let me help you get comfortable using your Instant Pot so that you can feel confident using it right away!
Part 2: Our Family’s Favorite Rice and Beans Meal
Can’t see the video? Watch it here on YouTube.
Instant Pot Pinto Gallo Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Tbs. olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 onions, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 tsp. salt
- 2 c. brown rice
- 3-4 c. chicken broth or water
- 1 whole bay leaf
- Beans from above (if using canned beans, use 2 cans)
Directions
- Set Instant Pot to “SAUTE” add oil, onions, pepper, and garlic. Saute until fragrant. (1-2 minutes) Press “CANCEL.”
- Add the rest of the ingredients to the Instant Pot. Lock lid, and close the vent. For white rice, you can press the “RICE” button, for brown rice we usually press “PORRIDGE” It should be about 20 minutes for brown rice.
- You can let the pressure release naturally or do a quick release manually.
- To cook on the stovetop, cook rice according to package instructions with seasonings and add beans at the end once the rice is done.
- Stir around and remove bay leaves before serving.
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Part 3: How to Make Rice and Beans More Exciting!
Can’t see the video? Watch it here on YouTube.
Our Favorite Topping Options for Rice and Beans
- A soft fried egg
- Salsa
- Shredded cheese
- Sour cream
- Avocado or guacamole
- Hot sauce
- Green onion
- Cilantro
More Instant Pot Posts:
- How to set up your Instant Pot
- Instant Pot mac and cheese
- Converting a slow cooker recipe for Instant Pot
- Cook frozen ground beef in the Instant Pot
- 10 basic Instant Pot techniques
- Easy Instant Pot mashed potatoes
Find more cooking videos for kids here!
If you had fun with this recipe, check out our online cooking course!
This post contains affiliate links.
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About Katie Kimball
Katie Kimball, CSME, creator of Kids Cook Real Food™ and CEO of Kitchen Stewardship®, LLC, is passionate about connecting families around healthy food. As a trusted educator and author of 8 real food cookbooks, she’s been featured on media outlets like ABC, NBC and First for Women magazine and contributes periodically on the FOX Network.
Since 2009, busy moms have looked to Katie as a trusted authority and advocate for children’s health, and she often partners with health experts and medical practitioners to stay on the cutting edge. In 2016 she created the Wall Street Journal recommended best online kids cooking course, Kids Cook Real Food™, helping thousands of families around the world learn to cook. She is actively masterminding the Kids’ Meal Revolution, with a goal of every child learning to cook.
A mom of 4 kids from Michigan, she is also a Certified Stress Mastery Educator, member of the American Institute of Stress and trained speaker through Bo Eason’s Personal Story Power.