Red Beans and Rice Pressure Cooker Recipe (2024)

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Published on November 1, 2013 - Updated on August 28, 2019 - by Steve Cylka

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Red Beans and Rice Pressure Cooker Recipe (1)

Red beans and rice is a staple dish in Lousiana cuisine. Typically served on Monday’s, this dish would slowly cook away on the stove. Ham was traditionally served on Sunday and the ham bone was used to provide a wonderful flavor in the dish. Monday was laundry day and a pot of red beans and rice was perfect, as it was left unattended while the the clothes were washed and hung to dry. This laundry day tradition is part of the culture in Louisiana and today many homes still prepare this classic dish, although people make it any day of the week. It is also available at many restaurants in New Orleans, throughout the state of Louisiana and beyond.

Red beans and rice is slow cooked so that the flavor of the meat penetrates the kidney beans. Also, the bean get nice and soft through this prolonged cooking time. Some of the beans are broken and mashed to help thicken the broth into a nice creamy gravy. There are different options for meat in the dish, although it is typically pork, ranging from ham or tasso, to smoked sausage like andouille.Served on rice, this dish is economical but tastes incredible!

Red Beans and Rice Pressure Cooker Recipe (2)

I received a pressure cooker a month ago and I was interested to see how this dish would fare in a machine that speeds up the cooking time. Since red beans and rice takes so long to cook, many people do not have the time to make it. If the pressure cooker can make this dish well, in a fraction of the time, it can become a far more manageable dish to prepare.

Red Beans and Rice Pressure Cooker Recipe (3)

The pressure cooker that I use can brown food, so I fried up the onion, pepper and celery (aka the trinity in Louisiana). Then I added some cubed ham and garlic.

Red Beans and Rice Pressure Cooker Recipe (4)

Add the rest of the ingredients (dry red kidney beans, water, and spices) to the pressure cooker. Close the lid and make sure the vent is also closed. Set the pressure cooker to high pressure and select 60 minutes. Then, walk away and let the pressure cooker take care of the rest. The 60 minutes should be enough to cook the beans until they are tender, but it is possible they may need a bit more time. Try using a wooden spoon spoon to press a kidney bean against the side of the pot. It should mush up easily and if it seems a little hard, then set the pressure cooker to cook for another 30 minutes. That should be plenty of time to soften those beans up.

Red Beans and Rice Pressure Cooker Recipe (5)

Mash up about 1/3 of the beans and stir to thicken the sauce. My pressure cooker has a simmer function, so I let the red beans and rice simmer for a bit until the rice was cooked and we were ready to eat.

Red Beans and Rice Pressure Cooker Recipe (6)

Even though these red beans and rice were cooked in under 2 hours total time, they had a full and rich flavor. If you did not know, you would assume that a pot had been simmering on the stove all afternoon! Serve with white rice and a side ofcollard greens for the full Louisiana experience!

Get the recipe for collard greens here! –Collard Greens with Ham Hock

Red Beans and Rice Pressure Cooker Recipe (7)

Red Beans and Rice Pressure Cooker Recipe

Red Beans and Rice Pressure Cooker Recipe (8)

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Make this classic Lousiana dish in a fraction of the time by using a pressure cooker like an Instant Pot. Kidney beans, ham, sausage, onions, pepper and celery make this great dish served on rice.

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours hours

Total Time: 2 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 onion , diced
  • 1 pepper , diced
  • 2-3 celery stalks , chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves , minced
  • 1 1/2 pounds ham , smoked sausage, tasso, cut into cubes
  • 1 pound dry red kidney beans
  • 5 1/2 cups water
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp white pepper
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (or more if you want it spicier)
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 2 bay leaves

Instructions

  • Heat oil on medium high and add onion, pepper and celery. Cook until they start to get tender, about 5 minutes.

  • Add garlic and chopped meat and cook for another 3-4 minutes, stirring often.

  • Rinse the kidney beans and drain.

  • Add all the ingredients (except the rice) to the pressure cooker. Close the lid and the vent.

  • Set the pressure cooker to high and select 60 minutes cooking time.

  • After the 50 minutes, let the pressure cooker release the pressure naturally. It should take 10-15 minutes.

  • Remove the lid and use a wooden spoon or potato masher to mash about 1/3-1/2 of the beans.

  • Stir thoroughly and the mashed beans should thicken the broth into a nice creamy gravy.

  • Serve with rice.

Notes

If after the 60 minutes the kidney beans are still not soft, you may need to cook them a bit longer. If needed, set the pressure cooker to high and select 30 minutes cooking time. After this, the bean should definitely be tender.

Author: Steve Cylka

Course: Main

Cuisine: southern

Red Beans and Rice Pressure Cooker Recipe (9)

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Red Beans and Rice Pressure Cooker Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the ratio for beans in a pressure cooker? ›

Place beans in electric pressure cooke and cover with about 6 cups of fresh water. Make sure there is at least 2 inches of water above the beans and the pressure cooker is not more than ½ full. Add 1 to 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil and up to 1 tablespoon of salt to 1 pound of beans.

What thickens red beans and rice? ›

If your red beans and rice is on the thinner side, you can either add a roux or a simple slurry to help thicken it. Use a simple ratio of 1 part cornstarch to 2 parts water to make the slurry add about a ¼ cup of it and gently whisk it into the red beans.

Is it better to soak beans before cooking in pressure cooker? ›

Here's how a pressure cooker can help. Beans should be soaked in cold water for at least eight hours so that they'll cook faster, more evenly, and also to minimize the unpleasant effects that have earned them their "musical fruit" reputation.

What is the ratio of water to red kidney beans? ›

Here's what you need to know: Ratio = 1 part kidney beans : 3 ½ parts water. Cook Time = 40-45 minutes.

Can you overcook beans in a pressure cooker? ›

Yes, technically speaking, you can cook beans in the Instant Pot without soaking. However, you will find that the cooking times can be all over the place, and the final product is often inconsistent. Some beans will be overcooked and completely decimated, while others are still gritty or firm in the center.

How many cups of water per cup of beans in pressure cooker? ›

When cooking beans in the Instant Pot, you'll use 2 1/2 cups of water for every 1 cup of dry beans. I've tried using less than that, but since beans expand as they cook, the ones that aren't fully submerged in liquid will cook unevenly.

Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook beans? ›

Both methods were ranked as easy, however, considering the amount of cook time required for slow cooker beans, the Instant Pot method comes out on top. The stovetop and oven methods result in beans that were unevenly cooked– some had hard spots while others were mushy.

Does pressure cooking beans make them less gassy? ›

But most people can enjoy more beans with less gas with the help of these tips: Soak beans overnight in water, then drain, rinse and cook in fresh water. This decreases the oligosaccharide content. Cooking the beans in a pressure cooker may reduce the oligosaccharides even further.

What happens if you don't soak beans before cooking? ›

Modern cooking websites often say it doesn't matter. In a way, they're both right. Soaking beans can help improve the texture of the final product once the beans are cooked and reduce the gas produced when the food is being digested. But it isn't necessary to soak them.

What if red beans and rice have too much water? ›

If there's too much liquid in the pot, raise the heat back up to a rolling boil to burn off some of the liquid. After letting the pot boil for 10-15 minutes, reduce heat, and let simmer for 20 minutes. To make it a memorable experience, add a bottle of beer to the pot when you add the red beans.

Are red beans and kidney beans the same? ›

No, red beans and kidney beans are actually different types of beans. The main difference? Red beans are smaller and rounder (like pinto beans), but red in color. However, these beans still are fairly similar and can generally be used interchangeably in recipes that call for either dried or canned beans.

Which beans are not good for the kidneys? ›

Control of phosphorus often is difficult for kidney failure patients. High-phosphorus foods to eliminate include: Beans (red, black, and white) Black-eyed peas.

What is the ratio of liquid to beans during cooking? ›

Place rinsed beans in a large cooking pan. Cover with 3 cups of water per 1 cup of beans. Use 10 cups for a 1 pound bag.

What is the ratio for beans? ›

Ratio is 5:1 water to beans. Optimum soak time is 6 hours. Go much longer and some of those beans may start to break. Afterward soaking, rinse and start again with fresh, filtered water, ratio 3:1 for cooking.

How long do you can beans in a pressure cooker? ›

Set your timer for full processing time as soon as the canner has stabilized at full pressure. Process quarts for 90 minutes, and pints for 75 minutes. Once the time is up, turn off the heat and allow the pressure to return down to zero pressure naturally. (This should take about 20 minutes.)

What is the water to Pinto Bean ratio? ›

Rinse beans before cooking. Place 1 cup beans in a large pot with 4 cups water and 1 tsp salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until tender, 1–1½ hours; drain well.

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