Instant Pot Black Beans {gluten-free, vegan}

These Instant Pot Black Beans are packed full of nutritious protein, and easy to pull together in the Instant Pot. Plus, they're 100% vegan and gluten-free. (That's dairy-free cheese down there!) 

Quick & Easy Instant Pot Black Beans

I've always been a fan of black beans. They can turn pretty much any dish into a hearty, protein-packed meal. And as a long-time vegetarian, that's something I can really appreciate!

So as a recent Instant Pot convert, I thought I would try my hand at making my favorite black beans in the Instant Pot.

I can't believe how good these turned out - and how incredibly easy they are to pull together. I know this is going to be a new weeknight favorite in our house.

How to Make Instant Pot Black Beans

This recipe is so simple. Honestly, you could probably guess how it's done.

Start off with some dry black beans — not the canned ones. The consistency won't be what you're expecting if you use canned black beans.

You'll also need about 3 cups of water, which the Instant Pot is going to infuse into the black beans, making them plump and delicious.

And of course, you're going to need some spice to pump up the flavor! I used a combination of sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, dried cilantro leaves, white pepper, and Jamaican Jerk BBQ seasoning.

If you've never cooked with white pepper before, you're in for a treat! White pepper is simply the seed taken from the inside of black peppercorns. It tastes much hotter! So, these beans are sure to have a little kick to them.

Combine all your ingredients in the Instant Pot, mixing it all together well.

Then, close the lid of the Instant Pot and turn the valve to the sealing position.

Set the Instant Pot to cook your black beans on high for 35 minutes. Once the timer is up, start a manual release, which can take about 25 minutes.

Then all you need to do is stir and eat!

Serving Instant Pot Black Beans

Now, if you're just looking to add these black beans to your loaded sweet potato or vegan burrito bowl, then you can simply serve the beans just as they are. They'll be delicious!

But if you want to eat these beans on their own as a main dish, or serve them as a beautiful side dish, it's always nice to dress them up a bit.

I like to simply add a bit of chopped green onion and dairy-free cheddar cheese to mine. It looks so pretty, and adds an extra layer of flavor. Enjoy!

Recipe