Instant Pot Black Beans and Rice | Cuban Inspired Beans and Rice Recipe (2024)

Make lovely cumin-scented, Cuban inspired Instant Pot Black Beans and Rice in a fraction of the time of traditional methods! One of the best black bean recipes you'll make in your Instant Pot.

What Makes This Black Beans and Rice Recipe Incredible?

• Quick. This vegetarian recipe is a spin on a Cuban Moros y Cristianos recipe done in a fraction of the time. It's simplified for efficiency, but still comes out with all the flavors you'd expect from the dish.
• Flavor. This is one of those dishes that literally explodes with flavors in your mouth. You can't have Cuban-inspired cooking without crazy good flavors!
• Simple. Besides soaking the beans and a quick one-minute saute, this is a very simple pour and cook recipe. Perfect for any day of the week.
• Vegetarian. Meatless Monday? Vegetarian family member coming to visit? This recipe is perfect. It's meat-free, but still packs plenty of protein from the black beans and will leave your guests full. If you want to add meat to this, you could always serve it with my Instant Pot Pulled Pork Carnitas for a little Cuban/Mexican fusion!

What Ingredients Do You Need For Moros y Cristianos?

Here's what you'll need to make this delicious Instant Pot Beans and Rice recipe:

• oil
• Onion
• Bell Peppers
• Minced Garlic
• Ground Cumin
• Dried Oregano
• Tomato Paste
• Bay Leaves
• Kosher Salt
• dried black beans
• Brown Rice
• Water
• Cilantro(optional)
• Jalapeno Pepper

How Do You Make Instant Pot Black Beans and Rice?

Take the following steps to make this Instant Pot recipe:

1. Heat. Turn the Instant Pot on SAUTÉ then add oil.
2. Saute. When the oil heats, add onions, garlic, green pepper, and jalapeño. Sauté for 1 minute to soften vegetables.
3. Spices. Add cumin, oregano salt, tomato paste, and bay leaves.
4. Rice and Beans. Add brown rice, black beans, and water and stir.
5. Pressure Cook. Press CANCEL to turn off Sauté. Press PRESSURE COOK and cook on high pressure.
6. Finish. Garnish with cilantro and serve.

Why Does This Instant Pot Rice and Beans Recipe Use Brown Rice?

A traditional Cuban Black Beans and Rice recipe actually cooks the rice and the beans separately so that the rice is white and the beans are black. But since I can be a bit of a lazy cook, I adapted the recipe with brown rice.

• Cooking time. To cook black bean recipes properly in this Instant Pot recipe, you need at least thirty minutes. White rice only takes about four minutes at high pressure to cook, so it would be impossible to cook them together at the same time.
• Less steps. I wanted to cook this in one step instead of two, I mixed them together in my Instant Pot, used brown rice instead of white, and came up with this lovely Cuban black beans recipe that's my signature lazy/efficient way of cooking.

Can I Use A Different Kind Of Rice?

You CAN use a different type of rice for this recipe, but you'll likely end up with overcooked rice, or undercooked beans. As I mentioned above, the reason for using brown rice is to cook them both at the same time to the perfect consistency.

Tips and Tricks For Cooking Instant Pot Black Beans

Tips and Tricks For Making Instant Pot Rice And Beans

• Don't like it spicy? Eliminate the jalapeno, or reduce the amount used for less spice.
• If you don't have time to soak the black beans overnight, simply soak them for an hour in hot water before cooking.
• Don't forget to remove the bay leaves at the end of pressure cooking. They're good for infusing flavor, but not so much for eating.

What Do You Serve With Instant Pot Beans And Rice?

This Rice and Beans Instant Pot recipe is incredibly filling and satisfying. So, if you're living a vegetarian lifestyle or love a great budget-friendly meal, this can easily stand alone.

However, if you want to use this as a side dish or a bed for your favorite protein, here are some of my favorite things to serve with it:

• Stuffed Poblano Peppers - Packed with flavor and a great option for Taco Tuesday.
• Chipotle Steak Tacos - Add a little Black Beans and Rice to make them even more filling.
• Tomatillo Salsa - Finish with a dollop of this and sour cream for a refreshing bite.

Can You Freeze Instant Pot Beans And Rice?

Yes! One of the reasons I love this Instant Pot Black Beans and Rice recipe so much is because of how great it is for meal prep. Not only is it a delicious dinner option, but it's also fantastic reheated.

If you decide you want to save your leftovers or prep extra for lunches throughout the week, simply save it in an air-tight container and pop it in the freezer for 3-4 months for the best flavor and texture.

To defrost, place in your refrigerator for 24 hours and then warm in the microwave until heated through.

Want More Instant Pot Beans Recipes?

• Instant Pot Pinto Beans - the easiest recipe you will LOVE.
• Pressure Cooker Baked Beans - if you've never made your own, you need to start!
• Instant Pot Refried Beans - so easy to make and SO much better than canned.
• Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice - make these at the same time in your pressure cooker and you'll never make it another way again.

Whether you're new to Cuban-inspired food, or this is your first time, you're going to fall in love with this Instant Pot Black Beans and Rice recipe. It's the perfect side dish or meatless main course. Don't forget to pin it on Pinterest or share it on Facebook so you don't lose the recipe.

Originally Published March 15, 2020

Don't forget to check out my other Best-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!

Indian Instant Pot, Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy, Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot.