Do you dread the thought of soaking and cooking beans? Everyone does - it's awful! The great thing about this Instant Pot White Beans recipe is that no soaking is required! Tender beans in just 1 hour? Yes, please!
The next time that you're looking for a fast way to get beans on the table let your handy dandy Instant Pot help out! Not only will your favorite kitchen appliance cook tender and flavorful beans, but it's literally a one-pot bean recipe as well!
You can't go wrong with making cannellini beans in the Instant Pot. You'll NEVER waste time soaking beans ever again! If you're a fan of easy side dishes, this one is going to be at the top of your list.
Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
I don't know about you, but having a dump-and-go bean recipe is literally music to my ears. Before discovering this simple way to cook beans, I'd spent too many hours of my life soaking the beans, straining the beans, and worrying about if the beans were cooked all the way through.
But once I made this recipe just one time - I knew that moving forward, using my Instant Pot to make beans was the only way that I was ever going to cook white beans like these ever again.
Since this simple bean recipe is easy to do, it's a great protein and fiber addition to any meal. It's also fun to pair up with soups and salads, too!
- You don't have to waste time soaking the beans overnight!
- The Instant Pot cooks the beans perfectly every time
- It's an easy way to make a large portion of beans to eat throughout the week
If you're a fan of beans, make sure to check out my Instant Pot Navy Beans as well as my Instant Pot Cornbread to pair with it!
Recipe Video
What are White Beans?
White beans are also called cannellini beans, which can also have names such as haricot beans, Boston beans, Peas beans, and Yankee beans. These beans are closely related to the larger white beans such as Great Northern and Cannelloni beans.
Recipe Ingredients
White beans - Dry beans are what you are looking for. You can use Navy Beans, Great Northern beans, Cannellini Beans or Adzuki Beans.
Vegetable broth - This helps to cook the beans. You could also use chicken broth.
Onion powder - This is optional, or garlic powder only could be used.
Salt - To taste.
Garlic powder - The powder works best for this recipe, but minced garlic could work in a pinch.
Bay leaves - Only for flavoring - don't consume.
Parsley - Great for a fresh herb taste.
How to Make Instant Pot White Beans
Gather the ingredients to make these Instant Pot White Beans. Since you only need a few ingredients, it's not a hard list of ingredients to grab.
Step One: Add 1 pound of the dried white beans to your Instant Pot.
Step Two: Pour 4 cups of Vegetable Broth into the Instant Pot.
Step Three: Add all the spices into the Instant Pot.
Step Four: Add in the Bay Leaves.
Step Five: Add on the lid and set the pot to High pressure for 1 hr.
Step Seven: Do a Quick Release, and your Instant Pot White Beans are ready!
Add to a serving bowl and add the parsley to garnish it.
Variations
Change up the type of beans - As long as you're using dried beans, you can use other types of beans for this same cooking process.
Vary up the seasonings - Mix and match flavors by adding your favorite herbs and ingredients.
Helpful Tips
Once you cook these beans, you can add them straight to your freezer! Just let them cool down first before storing.
If you want to add in some cooked bacon chunks or bits of onion, those are great ingredients to enhance the flavor.
How To Serve
These beans are pretty straightforward! You can serve them up in a bowl and top with a bit of salt and pepper or even add a little bit of butter on top to melt and enjoy as well.
White beans are perfect with ham chunks and cornbread as well.
How To Store
Since this will make a large serving of beans, make sure that you store any leftovers in an airtight container and keep them stored in the fridge. Eat within 2-3 days for best results.
How To Reheat
The best way to reheat white beans is to add them to a microwave-safe container and heat them for a few seconds. You can add a little bit of butter before you reheat them just to add some extra liquid.
How To Cook Dried Beans
There are a couple of other methods to cook dried beans. However, keep in mind that using your Instant Pot is the fastest and most efficient way to make this recipe.
1. Overnight Soak:
Let the beans soak in 6 to 8 cups of water for 6 to 8 hours.
Drain the water and pour the beans into a large pot, then add 6 cups of water.
Cook slowly for 1 ½ to 2 hours.
2. Quick Soak:
Put the beans in a pot and cover them with 6 to 8 cups of water. Heat the water to boiling.
Take the beans off of heat and let cool for 60 minutes.
Drain the water and then add 6 cups of water with the beans back into the pot.
Cook slowly for 1 ½ to 2 hours.
Recipe FAQs
There are so many great benefits of eating white beans. Some of the best benefits are:
White Beans are very healthy for brain cells and are beneficial for folate requirements.
White Beans are full of antioxidants, especially Magnesium.
White beans are helpful in maintaining healthy blood pressure.
White beans are also a great source of fiber and protein.
White beans have detoxifying properties
No, don't use canned beans for making this bean recipe. Dried beans are needed due to the cooking time and the high pressure that the Instant Pot uses.
If your cooked beans are mushy, you may have cooked them a tad bit too long. They'll still be edible and delicious - so don't toss them out. Instead, adjust the cooking time on the next batch accordingly.
Instant Pot Bean Recipes
Instant Pot White Beans
Ingredients
- 1 lb white beans no soaking required
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon garlic Powder
- 6 bay leaves
- parsley for serving
Instructions
- Place all of the white beans inside the Instant Pot.
- Add vegetable broth, onion powder, salt, garlic powder and bay leaves. Stir until mixed.
- Put on the lid and cook on high pressure for 1 hour (60 minutes).
- When the cooking time is complete, do a quick pressure release.
- Put the white beans into your favorite serving bowl and garnish with parsley.
- Serve and enjoy 🙂
Nutrition
Video
Notes
- For this recipe you can use Navy Beans, Great Northern beans or Cannellini beans.
- Once you cook these beans, you can add them straight to your freezer! Just let them cool down first before storing.
- If you want to add in some cooked bacon chunks or bits of onion, those are great ingredients to enhance the flavor.
- As long as you're using dried beans, you can use other types of beans for this same cooking process
Hi, thanks for your great recipes , do you have one for Butter beans please
You're welcome, I'm glad you like it! You can use this same recipe for butter beans, it will taste great I think ◡̈
Great recipe! I usually cook them on the stove but these are definitely quicker and just as tasty! Thanks!!
Thanks, that's great to hear! The Instant Pot is such a time saver with beans. I'm happy you enjoyed the recipe ◡̈