Instant Pot Red Beans and Ham
Red beans and ham is a delicious, budget-friendly meal that comes together quickly in the Instant Pot. It’s a perfect way to use up leftover ham for a cozy, satisfying dish.
Servings: 10 servings
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 4 to 5 cloves garlic finely minced
- 3 ¾ cups broth vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 pound dry red beans or red kidney beans
- 2 bay leaves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ pound ham bone-in or boneless works fine
Instructions
- Rinse the dried beans and pick out any pebbles if you find them.
- Set the Instant Pot to ‘saute’ and add the vegetable oil.
- When the oil is hot, add the onion and saute until soft. Add the garlic and stir for 30 seconds.
- Add the broth and deglaze the pot (scrape off the brown bits of onion on the bottom of the pot).
- Add the red beans, bay leaves, salt and ham then seal the lid.
- Cook on high pressure for 33 minutes (40 minutes if you’re using red kidney beans).
- Let the Instant Pot release pressure naturally, about 20 minutes.
- Remove the bay leaves, taste the beans and add more seasoning if needed.
- Slice or shred the ham before serving.
Video
Notes
Use the right bean: Small red beans cook in 33 minutes. If you use red kidney beans, increase the cook time to 40 minutes.
Deglaze well: After sautéing the onion and garlic, add the broth and scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot to help prevent a burn warning.
Watch the salt: Ham and broth can both add quite a bit of salt, so taste the beans after cooking before adding more seasoning.
Natural release is best: Let the pressure release naturally for about 20 minutes so the beans stay tender and don’t split as much.
Ham options: Bone-in ham adds extra flavor, but boneless ham works well too. A smoked ham hock or shank will give the beans a stronger smoky flavor.
Serving idea: These beans are great served as is, or spooned over rice for a more filling meal.
Storage: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The beans will thicken as they sit, so add a splash of broth or water when reheating if needed.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 241kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 943mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g
