Instant Pot Homemade BBQ Baked Beans

This Instant Pot Homemade BBQ Baked Beans recipe will show you how to make baked beans from scratch and with no soaking. Ditch those canned pork n beans for dried navy beans or pinto beans. Feel free to add ground beef, bacon, or brisket.

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This post was originally published in 2019. It has since been updated.

FOR THE FULL LIST OF INGREDIENTS AND COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTIONS, PLEASE SEE THE RECIPE CARD AT THE END OF THIS POST. BEFORE YOU SCROLL, THERE’S IMPORTANT INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG POST.

Baked beans are a staple for us in the summer months. What better way to make this classic recipe, than in the Instant Pot. You don’t have to use your oven and heat up the whole house!

The best way to make beans is using a pressure cooker. I love that you don’t have to soak!

Are Baked Beans Already Cooked?

Most baked beans recipes call for canned beans or canned pork n beans. I have even seen Instant Pot recipes used canned beans. There’s really no need to with an Instant Pot. Let it do all of the work.

Canned beans are usually loaded in sodium. Some brands also have unhealthy additives. You can read more about Are Canned Beans Healthy here.

What Type of Beans to Use

Navy and pinto beans are the most common. You can even use Great Northern Beans.

How to Make Baked Beans in the Instant Pot

Detailed serving sizes and instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

1. First, cook the beans in the Instant Pot with chicken broth.
2. Remove the beans and rinse.
3. Cook bacon in the Instant Pot and then saute garlic and onions in the pot.
4. Add the cooked beans back to the pot with bbq sauce, ketchup, brown sweetener, chili powder, liquid smoke, salt, and pepper.
5. Saute until the sauce thickens.

Cook Time/How Long to Cook

You can prepare these beans in the Instant Pot on 25 minutes of High-Pressure. You will also need an additional 20 minutes of natural release of steam.

If you choose to soak the beans, soak for 8-16 hours (overnight). Rinse the beans and cook for 20 minutes with 15 minutes of natural release of steam.

Baked Beans Ingredients

I’ve seen several variations of southern baked beans. The thing that remains the same, is that most recipes include brown sugar and a form of meat such as bacon, ground beef, and at Jack Stack here in Kansas City, they add tender brisket. Feel free to add what you wish!

I like for my baked beans to be sweet with a slight tang. I have seen some recipes call for yellow mustard, which will give the beans a little more tang. If that’s what you are going for, feel free to add a teaspoon, taste, and adjust as necessary.

How Many Cups of Beans Are in a Pound?

One pound of beans is about 6 cups.

How to Thicken the Sauce

I thicken the sauce by placing the lid of the Instant Pot over the cooked baked beans. I let them sit for about 10 minutes and they thicken right up. If you like them thicker, you can try making a slurry of 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water. Combine them in a bowl first and add it to the mixture.

Freezer Tips

You can freeze baked beans for up to 6 months. To reheat, defrost the beans in the fridge overnight. Reheat the beans on the stove for 10 minutes. Read more about How to Freeze Baked Beans here.

Recipe Tips

• The way to get amazing tasting beans, that taste the way YOU want them to taste is to taste repeatedly throughout the cooking process. If you like sweet beans, use more sugar. If you like your beans to have a tang, add a little yellow mustard or apple cider vinegar.
• The BBQ sauce is the star of this dish. Use your favorite BBQ sauce. Most sauces are loaded in sugar, so be cognizant of that if you want a healthy version. Here is the recipe for my Low-Carb Unsweetened Homemade BBQ Sauce recipe above.
• Feel free to add whatever meat you like. Here in Kansas City, this dish is often prepared with BBQ brisket.

If you would rather use canned beans, check out my Southern Baked Beans recipe.

Main Dishes to Pair

Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork
Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken
Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs
Instant Pot Southern Potato Salad
Air Fryer Ribs

More Southern Recipes and Side Dishes

Southern Coleslaw
Air Fryer Hush Puppies
Southern Soul Food Baked Mac and Cheese
Instant Pot Southern Green Beans
Instant Pot Collard Greens
Instant Pot Potato Salad
Southern Mustard Greens
Southern Homemade Cornbread