3 Smart Strategies to Make Easy Instant Pot Baked Beans

This Instant Pot Baked Beans recipe is SO good and as Americana as it gets! Best of all, it takes about 5 minutes prep to do this and you’ll have enough to bring to your next party, picnic, potluck, or tailgate!

This baked beans recipe is seriously going to have you checking the recycling for Bush’s Baked Beans cans. It tastes so much like the homestyle baked beans we all have grown up eating. Best of all, it has none of the processed ingredients or bacon! Yep, these baked beans from scratch are vegan, vegetarian, and 100% homemade!

This post is all about Instant Pot baked beans!

Gut Healthy micro superstars featured in instant pot baked beans

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Easy Baked Beans Recipe

This easy baked beans recipe is really so good and SO EASY that you will definitely be making it all the time. I love using pinto beans, but honestly you could use any dried white bean that will get plenty puffy. Northern beans would also work well here.

These dried Northern beans can be found in the bulk section at Whole Foods. Or, you can find them bagged in 1 pound to 3 pounds at more grocery stores.

Another bean that is easy to find in the bulk section at Whole Foods is the pinto bean. This is my fave bean for this recipe because it really tastes just like the Busch’s baked beans without the processed ingredients.

Just like Northern beans, pinto beans can also be found in bags from 1-3 pounds typically at most grocery stores. Including my other fave store, Aldi!

Baked Beans with Honey

This baked beans recipe also includes maple syrup and raw honey to sweeten the pot.

Raw honey has a ton of nutritious benefits. However, much of the honey you see on the store shelves is pasteurized. This kills off the micro superstars that make honey so good for you!

Raw Honey Decreases Inflammation

Raw honey is full of antioxidants including polyphenols which have been shown to regulate blood sugar among other things (Chávez-Mendoza & Sánchez, 2017). Polyphenols are anti-inflammatory and therefore can help decrease your risk for chronic disease (Ahmed et al., 2018). For example, raw honey has been found to protect people’s risk for diabetes. Additionally, raw honey has been found to strengthen people’s respiratory system, gut, heart health, and nervous system (Samarghandian et al., 2017).

Did you know that raw honey can heal your sore throat? Doctors have found evidence across multiple studies that raw honey decreases sore throat symptoms WHILE HEALING you from the inside out!

Dr. Kait (click here to read Abuelgasim et al. 2021 for all the details)

Sore Throat? Try Raw Honey

Raw honey is antimicrobial which means it can fight off bacteria from the common cold. In multiple studies, doctors have found that raw honey has helped decrease the severity of a sore throat and speed patients’ healing. In a clinical study of 200 patients with sore throat, 100 were given raw honey, antibiotics, and antiseptic gargling liquid. While, the other 100 patients were only given antibiotics, and antiseptic gargling liquid. The study group receiving raw honey reported less symptoms, felt better more quickly, and were more satisfied overall as compared to those patients NOT receiving honey (Nanda et al., 2016). Do you have a sore throat? Try raw honey before another round of antibiotics!

Raw Honey That is True Source Certified

You can find raw honey that is true source certified to make sure you are buying honey and not something else. Unfortunately, there is A LOT of tampering with honey imports coming into the United States. Some of this has even been lethal to those who ate the honey. There is an excellent episode on the underside of honey in Rotten, a documentary you can find on Netflix.

You can find raw honey that is true source certified on Amazon here.

You can also find locally sourced raw honey at Costco with the true source verified label.

Or, even better yet, buy raw honey locally at your nearby farmer’s market.

Baked Beans Calories

The calories for this side dish are pretty darn low. Your body will feel better having gut healthy food, and you will feel full without the bloat! At 206 calories per serving, you can definitely feel good about eating all of your beans. Not to mention, when I am eating vegetarian, gut healthy baked beans from scratch I really don’t worry about calories at all.

Cooking the beans twice will make them so soft and moist they will melt in your mouth!

Baked Beans Nutrition is Fiber Fueled

Pinto beans are a staple ingredient in my cupboard and an excellent source of fiber and protein! As an added bonus, dried pinto beans won’t break the bank. You can buy a pound sized bag for less about $2 at the store.

Gluten Free Baked Beans

Pinto beans are chock full of fiber supporting your gut health. Getting enough fiber in your diet can support your heart health, digestion, help you maintain or lose weight, and keep your blood sugar stable.

A Source of Antioxidants

Kaempherol is a primary component in pinto beans. Kaempherol is an antioxidant, and has been linked to decreased risk of chronic diseases including cerebrovascular disease, or your blood flow (Knekt et al., 2002). They also contain other polyphenols and flavonoids, antioxidants that protect you from disease (Lobo et al., 2010).

Regulate Blood Sugar

Pinto beans have been shown to regulate blood sugar. In a randomized clinical study on individuals with Type II diabetes, pinto beans showed significant improvement to regulating sugar levels (Thompson et al., 2012). Given that they have a low glycemic index, pinto beans are able to digest slowly. Slow digestion keeps blood sugar from spiking and keeps your energy levels more consistent over time (Thompson et al., 2012). Another study on the impact of food on our blood sugar levels found similar results (Ojo et al., 2018). 

Lower Cholesterol and Blood Pressure

By eating about 1/2 a cup of pinto beans daily you may be able to lower your cholesterol (Finley et al., 2007; Winham et al., 2007). Though these were small studies, doctors found a reduction of total cholesterol and an improvement in the good to bad ratio of cholesterol within participants. 

To boot, pinto beans are a good source for magnesium and potassium both of which can support regulating blood pressure. Another excellent source for magnesium and potassium is kale. For more on that, check out my post!

Weight Loss

Finally, pinto beans could support weight loss or maintaining your weight (Papanikolaou & Fulgoni, 2008). As a good source of protein and fiber, pinto beans can help you feel full longer (McCrory et al., 2010).

Baked Beans Instant Pot Recipes

This is definitely not the only baked beans instant pot recipe that I have on Kait’s Cupboard! There are many already available on this website and more to come. If you love baked beans you can take a look at my recipe for refried beans below.

Easy Instant Pot Refried Beans

When it is hot and humid, the last thing I want to do is use my oven. Making homemade refried beans in the Instant Pot is a great way to keep the heat out of the kitchen. This recipe uses pinto beans as the main ingredient and an immersion blender to easily make this a one pot meal. Pinto beans are a staple ingredient in my cupboard and an excellent source of fiber and protein! 

Amazing Stuffed and Roasted Bell Peppers

This recipe for Roasted Stuffed Bell Peppers with Lime Vinaigrette combines some of my favorite ingredients into one dish. Including refried beans, black beans, lime, onion and garlic, and of course cheese, you can top with some leafy greens and cherry tomatoes or serve à la carte. Roasted stuffed bell peppers has all the flavors of your local Mexican restaurant without the grease. In fact, by cooking your own refried beans and roasting your own peppers you can nix the hydrogenated oils and maintain the healthy superhero bacteria in your fresh vegetables and fruits!

Easy Instant Pot Corn Hummus

My recipe for corn hummus also uses baked beans in the instant pot! Except these beans are chickpeas!

This Easy Instant Pot Corn Hummus combines corn, hummus, and a vegetable medley to serve up a delicious appetizer or main course. I like to pair my corn hummus with whole wheat naan bread. However, you could also serve it with tortilla chips or pita chips. Or, if you are baby Joe, you might just eat it plain! 

Instant Pot Baked Beans are a Staple Ingredient and Regular Recipe in Kait’s Cupboard

Instant pot vegetarian baked beans work in so many different recipes. You can eat them as a side with grilled chicken or veggie burgers. Or, throw them into a burrito with a sprinkling of cheese!

I’m always looking for nut free kids lunches, since we usually cannot send lunches with nuts due to classroom allergies. Baked beans burritos are a kid favorite! Freeze for lunches at the ready!

Try instant pot baked beans today and post your comment below! And, if you like Kait’s Cupboard, share it with a friend and follow me on Pinterest or Instagram!