Instant Pot Ham and Beans are ready in 2 hours and using leftover ham makes them extra delicious and filling.
Plant Based Meal
There are lots of reasons I try to have a plant-based supper at least one time a week. Health benefits are top of my list.
For me, that doesn't mean it's a vegetarian meal, but more like meat has a supporting role in the dinner show for the night.
Beans for the Health of it
Everyone has their own opinion about what is "healthy" and I'm no different.
I try to eat foods that are mostly real foods, but also know that convenience foods make life easier at times.
So, I'm all about trying to have a real-life balanced version of healthy.
I recently heard a speaker say our microbiome needs at least 20 different plant foods each week to be happy.
Agree or not, I thought that was a good reminder for me to eat a greater variety of plants.
Instant Pot Ham and Beans gives a filling way to feature beans as the star of this show.
These are some good beans! I love that they aren't pasty and overly soft.
Ingredients for Ham and Beans
Simple recipe list and easy prep, with impressive results.
- Leftover Ham Bone--from a ham cooked using my 3-Ingredient Ham Glaze Recipe
- Dry Beans of your choice--I used Pinto Beans because that's what my Grandma Gertie and my momma always cooked
- Salt--beans take a good amount of salt, but adjust a little due to ham's high sodium content
- Pepper--momma never put pepper in her beans, but I like it in mine
- Garlic Clove--I like a big, fat one cooked with the beans for flavor
- Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning--you will see throughout the recipes on my site that I use Tony's in a lot of recipes. I like the interest it brings to dishes, including this one
- Bacon Grease--a delicious by-product of cooking bacon worth saving that brings flavor to these beans and all kinds of other dishes--including my Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Baking Soda--just a little bit helps keep some people from experiencing the gassiness that sometimes comes with eating beans
- Water--cover the beans to soak then drain them, and cover again with fresh water.
How to make Instant Pot Ham and Beans
Instant Pots vary. These directions are using
Quick Soak: I use the quick soak technique for beans as I don't usually plan ahead enough to soak overnight.
Pour the dry beans into the Instant Pot and cover with water by 2 inches or so. Turn the Instant Pot to the "roast" setting which is 350 degrees on my IP.
With the lid on bring the beans to a boil. Then turn the Instant Pot off and allow your beans to soak for 1 hour, undisturbed.
After one hour, drain the soaking water off the beans and return the beans to the Instant Pot.
Cook:
To the soaked beans, add the seasonings, garlic clove, bacon grease, and ham bone.
Cover the beans by 2 inches of water or so. Replace the lid.
Set the Instant Pot to "roast" and allow to cook until tender. Mine took an hour and 15 minutes to be the desired tenderness.
If your beans start to get low on water, add hot/boiling water to the pot.
If you like your beans a bit thicker and soupier, smash a few beans when the beans are tender and allow the beans to thicken.
We serve with cornbread, diced onions, and a few shakes of pepper sauce such as Crystal Hot Sauce.
EQUIPMENT 🔪
I'm not usually one to like kitchen gadgets because I don't like storing them. But my Instant Pot Aura Pro has proven to have many uses in my kitchen.
The specific Instant Pot I have has been discontinued, but I found this Instant Pot Max to be similar, and it has a sous vide setting.
FAQ
For me, I say yes.
Some people find that unsoaked beans are difficult to digest.
I know many recipes say you don't need to soak, but I prefer the consistency of the beans when they are soaked and the beans take less cooking time, so I ask, why not soak your beans?
Absolutely not! Leave the ham out completely. I often make plain beans and enjoy them, too.
If you leave the bacon grease out, this recipe works for vegetarian needs as well.
Yes! I also love the homey taste of Navy beans in this recipe. But mix up the beans and seasonings to fit your desires.
The cooking technique will be the same.
Sure! If you prefer more of a Bean Soup, add carrots, onions, celery, tomatoes, etc. to make the recipe work for you.
Note, that acid such as in tomatoes, can keep your beans from getting tender. So add them after the beans have achieved the desired tenderness.
One of the reasons I prefer to soak my beans is to make them more digestible which helps with the gassiness some people experience when eating beans.
As another tip--my Grandma Gertie added a teaspoon of Baking Soda to her beans to help this as well. Give it a try!
COOKING OPTIONS: INSTANT POT OR STOVETOP
This recipe can easily be modified to make on the stovetop. Soak and drain the beans as directed. Then proceed with the recipe.
Cooking on medium, the pinto beans can take 1.5 to 2 hours to cook.
Add water as needed and stir often.
University of Nebraska Extension has a great resource for cooking other types of beans as well.
What to do with Leftover Pinto Beans
I love a bowl of beans reheated in the microwave, but when I get tired of leftovers, I repurpose them into a good pot of chili.
More Favorite Leftover Ham Recipes
Cooking a big ol' ham with the 3-Ingredient Ham Glaze gives a great opportunity to reinvent the ham into so many great dishes. The leftovers may be the best part!
In addition to Instant Pot Ham and Beans, try Amish Breakfast Casserole with ham instead of bacon, Ham and Cheese Crescent Rolls for a snack or a fast lunch, or another great soup Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup.
STORAGE
Allow the beans to cool slightly, then put in a shallow lidded container to refrigerate for 3 to 5 days.
DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?
Lastly, if you made Instant Pot Ham and Beans following this recipe, please let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment and/or giving a rating!
I love hearing from you! I'll do my best to respond to each comment.
And of course, if you do make this recipe, tag @laughingroostereats on Instagram and hashtag it #laughingroostereats! Seeing your photos is our favorite thing!
FOOD SAFETY
- Wash hands before cooking
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
Instant Pot Ham and Beans
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1 Ham Bone
- 4 cups Pinto Beans
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
- 1 Garlic Clove large
- 1 teaspoon Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning
- 1 ½ Tablespoons Bacon Grease
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 10 cups Water divided, more as needed
Instructions
- Instant Pots vary. These directions are using my Instant Pot Aura Pro.
Quick Soak
- I use the quick soak technique for beans as I don't usually plan ahead enough to soak overnight.
- Pour the dry beans into the Instant Pot and cover with water by 2 inches or so. Turn the Instant Pot to the "roast" setting which is 350 degrees on my IP.
- With the lid on bring the beans to a boil. Then turn the Instant Pot off and allow your beans to soak for 1 hour, undisturbed.
- After one hour, drain the soaking water off the beans and return the beans to the Instant Pot.
Cook
- To the soaked beans, add the seasonings, garlic clove, bacon grease, and ham bone.
- Cover the beans by 2 inches of water or so. Replace the lid.
- Set the Instant Pot to "roast" and allow to cook until tender. Mine took an hour and 15 minutes to be the desired tenderness.
- If your beans start to get low on water, add hot/boiling water to the pot.
- If you like your beans a bit thicker and soupier, smash a few beans when the beans are tender and allow the beans to thicken.
- We serve with cornbread, diced onions, and a few shakes of pepper sauce such as Crystal Hot Sauce.
Teresa Franklin
Perfect for cooler weather !
Felicity Mitchell
For the nights where it would be so easy to go through a drive thru recipes like these really save the day. Being able to throw everything in the instant pot and pretty much forget about it makes making a home made dinner that is packed with protein and other nutrients easy and convenient. My family loved this recipe! Super Delicious!
Chuckie
Felicity,
You are so right! I often think of how much money I can save my family when I cook at home. I like your thinking!