Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

Learn how to cook Flavor-Bursting Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice (Pressure Cooker Red Beans and Rice)! You’ll love the amazing red beans gravy bursting with complex flavors & textures – tender smokey pork hock with juicy savory sausage & hearty creamy beans. Super comforting & heart-warming to eat!

Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

If you’ve enjoyed our Instant Pot Jambalaya or Instant Pot Gumbo recipes, then you gotta try this Red Beans and Rice!

What is Red Beans and Rice?

Red Beans and Rice is a classic Louisiana Creole dish – a delicious southern favorite!

It’s mainly made of red kidney beans, the Cajun holy trinity (bell pepper, onion, & celery), smoked ham bone, sausage, and spices.

A handful of nutritious, common & affordable ingredients, yet bursting with comforting & complex flavors!

The red beans are broken down into soft creamy texture to create a flavorful, hearty textured gravy served over rice.

Using the Instant Pot to cook this Red Beans and Rice make this easy meal even easier with hands-off cooking! You don’t need to watch the pot simmer for hours on the stove.

*Pro Tip: If you’re looking for another recipe using Red Kidney Beans, you gotta try our Fans’ Favorite Umami Chili.

Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

Tips for Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice Ingredients

1. Red Beans: We’re using Red Kidney Beans in this recipe. Don’t confuse them with Small Red Beans or Adzuki Beans.

2. Smoked Pork Hock & Andouille Sausage: The quality & taste of your Smoked Pork Hock & Andouille sausage will affect the flavors they impart to the final dish. So try to use high quality ones when possible.

  • No Andouille Sausage? Kielbasa sausages will also work with this red beans and rice recipe.

3. Spicy Level Adjustments: This dish’s spicy level will depend on how spicy are your sausages, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Make sure to adjust how much cayenne pepper to use accordingly. We used ½ tsp (1.2g) cayenne pepper and it was somewhat medium spicy.

4. Regular Soy Sauce: Soy sauce is definitely not a traditional ingredient in a classic Red Beans and Rice, but wait! We love using it for that extra oompf of umami-savory complexity.

Time for cooking Red Beans and Rice in Instant Pot!

Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

  • 1 pound (454g) dried red kidney beans , soaked overnight for at least 8 hours (913g after soaking for 13hrs)
  • 1 pound (454g) smoked pork hock
  • 1 pound (454g) Andouille sausages or kielbasa sausages
  • 4 cups (1L) unsalted chicken stock
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) vegetable oil or olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) regular soy sauce
  • 6 cloves (20g) garlic , minced
  • 1 (206g) green bell pepper , diced
  • 2 ribs (138g) celery , diced
  • 1 (289g) medium onion , diced
  • 3 (1g) bay leaves
  • ½ teaspoon (0.4g) dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon (0.5g) dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon (3g) smoked paprika
  • ½ - 1 teaspoon (1.2g) cayenne pepper
  • Rice

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  • Soak Dried Red Kidney Beans: *Note: If you're using canned red kidney beans, skip this step. Just drain and rinse the beans before cooking.

    a. Overnight Soaking Method (Recommended): Place 1lb (454g) dried red kidney beans and 1½ tbsp (25g) fine table salt in a large container. Pour 6 cups (1.5L) cold water in the container and give it a few stirs. Soak beans overnight for at least 8 – 16 hours. *Pro Tip: If your house is very warm, place the beans in the fridge to avoid fermentation.

    b. Quick Soaking Method: *Note: If you’re short on time, use this quick soaking method, but the result won’t be as good as the overnight soaking method. Place 1lb (454g) dried red kidney beans, 1½ tbsp (25g) fine table salt, and 6 cups (1.5L) cold water in Instant Pot. Close lid and Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 0 minute + 30 minutes Natural Release. *Pro Tip: No matter which method you use, rinse red beans under cold running water and drain well before cooking.

  • Saute Sausages: Press “Saute” button to “Sauté More” function to heat up Instant Pot. Wait until the indicator says “HOT” (~8 mins).

    Add 2 tbsp (30ml) olive oil or vegetable oil and 1lb (454g) sliced sausages in Instant Pot, then saute for 4 minutes.

  • Saute Onions & Spices: Add diced onions, green bell peppers, and celery in Instant Pot, then saute for 3 minutes.

    Add in minced garlic, 3 bay leaves, ½ tsp (0.4g) dried thymes, ½ tsp (0.5g) dried oregano, 1 tsp (3g) smoked paprika, and ½ - 1 tsp (1.2g - 2.4g) cayenne pepper, then saute for another minute.

    *Spicy Level Tip: This dish's spicy level will depend on your sausage, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Adjust how much cayenne pepper to use according to how spicy you want your red beans and rice to be. We used ½ tsp (1.2g) cayenne pepper and it was close to medium spicy.

  • Deglaze Instant Pot & Add Soy Sauce: Pour ½ cup (125ml) unsalted chicken stock in Instant Pot, then deglaze by scrubbing all the flavorful brown bits off the bottom of the pot.

    Add in 2 tbsp (30ml) regular soy sauce, then give it a quick mix.

  • Pressure Cook Red Beans and Rice: Push all ingredients to one side, then add in the soaked & well-drained red kidney beans. Give everything a quick mix so all ingredients are thoroughly mixed.

    Pour in 3½ cup (875ml) unsalted chicken stock. Make sure all the red beans are fully submerged in the stock.

    Add in 1lb (454g) smoked pork hock, and make sure it's mostly submerged in the liquid.

    *Pro Tip: If you're using more than 1lb of smoked pork hock, cut the pork hock into two halves.

    With Venting Knob in Venting Position, close the lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing Position. Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 20 minutes + 20 minutes Natural Release. Open the lid carefully.

    *Note: When the Instant Pot is natural releasing, it's a good time to start cooking the rice.

  • Thicken & Shred Pork Hock: It'll look a bit too watery at first, that's normal! Use the "Saute" or "Saute More" function to bring the red beans to a simmer.

    Find and discard the 3 bay leaves.

    Place pork hock in a large mixing bowl, then shred the meat with 2 forks.

    While you are shredding the pork, thicken the gravy by simmering the red beans until desired consistency (~5 to 10 minutes). Stir occasionally.

    Place shredded pork hock back in the Instant Pot.

    Taste & adjust the seasoning accordingly (for reference, we added roughly 1 - 2 pinches of salt to open up the flavors & season the dish properly).

  • Serve: Add rice in a serving bowl, then pour the deliciously saucy red beans beside or on top of the rice. Garnish with some freshly chopped cilantro, then serve. Enjoy~

1. Red Beans: We're using Red Kidney Beans in this recipe. Don't confuse them with Small Red Beans or Adzuki Beans.

2. Smoked Pork Hock & Andouille Sausage: Try to use High Quality Smoked Pork Hock & Andouille sausage because their quality & tastes will affect the flavors they impart to the dish.

3. Regular Soy Sauce: Soy sauce is definitely not a traditional ingredient in a classic Red Beans and Rice, but wait! We love using it for that extra oompf of umami-savory complexity.

4. How to Reheat Leftovers? Use the Pot-in-Pot Method - rice at the bottom, layer a steamer rack on top of the rice, then the red beans in an oven-safe container on top of the steamer rack - pressure cook both the red beans and rice in the same Instant Pot!

*Rate Recipe: If you've tried the recipe, don't forget to Rate the Recipe in the Comments Section. Thank you!

Calories: 605kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 927mg | Potassium: 1369mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 483IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 6mg

Step by Step Guide: Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice

Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

Prepare the ingredients for cooking red beans and rice in Instant Pot.

Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

1

Soak Dried Red Kidney Beans


*Note: If you’re using canned red kidney beans, skip this step. Just drain and rinse the red beans before cooking.

A. Overnight Soaking Method (Recommended):

Place 1lb (454g) dried red kidney beans and 1½ tbsp (25g) fine table salt in a large container. 

Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

Pour 6 cups (1.5L) cold water in the container and give it a few stirs. Soak beans overnight for at least 8 – 16 hours.

*Pro Tip: If your house is very warm, place the container of beans in the fridge to avoid fermentation.

B. Quick Soaking Method:

*Note: If you’re short on time or forgot to soak the beans overnight, use this quick soaking method. But the result will not be as good as the overnight soaking method.

Place 1lb (454g) dried red kidney beans, 1½ tbsp (25g) fine table salt, and 6 cups (1.5L) cold water in Instant Pot Pressure Cooker.

Close lid and Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 0 minute + 30 minutes Natural Release.

Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

*Pro Tip: No matter which method you use, rinse red beans under cold running water and drain well before using.

2

Saute Sausages


First, press “Saute” button to “Sauté More” function to heat up Instant Pot. 

It’ll switch to “ON” on the screen.

Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

Wait until the indicator says “HOT” (takes roughly 8 minutes).

*Pro Tip: Make sure Instant Pot is as hot as it can be in order to induce a maillard reaction.

Now, add 2 tbsp (30ml) olive oil or vegetable oil and 1lb (454g) sliced sausages in Instant Pot, then saute for 4 minutes.

Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

3

Saute Onions & Spices


Add diced onions, green bell peppers, and celery in Instant Pot, then saute for 3 minutes. 

Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

Add in minced garlic, 3 bay leaves, ½ tsp (0.4g) dried thymes, ½ tsp (0.5g) dried oregano, 1 tsp (3g) smoked paprika, and ½ – 1 tsp (1.2g – 2.4g) cayenne pepper, then saute for another minute.

Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

*Spicy Level Tip: This dish’s spicy level will depend on your sausage, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Adjust how much cayenne pepper to use according to how spicy you want your red beans and rice to be. We used ½ tsp (1.2g) cayenne pepper and it was close to medium spicy.

4

Deglaze Instant Pot & Add Soy Sauce


Pour ½ cup (125ml) unsalted chicken stock in Instant Pot, then deglaze by scrubbing all the flavorful brown bits off the bottom of the pot (as shown in below photo).

Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

Add 2 tbsp (30ml) regular soy sauce in Instant Pot, then give it a quick mix.

5

Pressure Cook Red Beans and Rice


Push all ingredients to one side, then add in the soaked & well-drained red kidney beans.

Give everything in Instant Pot a quick mix so all ingredients are thoroughly mixed.

Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

Pour 3½ cup (875ml) unsalted chicken stock in Instant Pot.

Make sure all the red beans are fully submerged in the stock.

Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

Finally, add 1lb (454g) smoked pork hock in Instant Pot, and push it down so it’s mostly submerged in the liquid.

*Pro Tip: If you’re using more than 1lb of smoked pork hock, cut the pork hock into two halves. 

Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

With Venting Knob in Venting Position, close the lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing Position.

Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

  • Pressure Cooking Method: Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 20 minutes + 20 minutes Natural Release 

After 20 minutes, release the remaining pressure by turning Venting Knob to Venting Position.

When Floating Valve drops, open the lid carefully.

*Note: When the Instant Pot is natural releasing, it’s a good time to start cooking the rice. If you have two Instant Pots, here’s our Instant Pot Rice Recipe.

6

Thicken & Shred Pork Hock


Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

*Note: It’ll look a bit too watery at first, that’s normal!

Use the “Saute” or “Saute More” function to bring the red beans back to a simmer.

Find and discard the 3 bay leaves in Instant Pot.

Place pork hock in a large mixing bowl, then shred the meat with 2 forks.

Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

While you are shredding the pork, thicken the gravy by simmering the red beans until desired consistency (For Reference: ~5 to 10 minutes). Stir occasionally. 

Place shredded pork hock back in the Instant Pot.

Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

Finally, don’t forget to taste the Red Beans in Instant Pot, then adjust the seasoning accordingly.

*Pro Tip: For reference, we added roughly 1 – 2 pinches of salt to open up the flavors & season the dish properly. 

7

Serve Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice


Add rice in a serving bowl, then drizzle the delicious Instant Pot red beans beside or on top of the rice.

Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

Garnish the Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice with some freshly chopped cilantro, then serve.

Instant pot red beans and rice ham hock

Enjoy this ultimate Creole comfort Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice! 🙂

How to Reheat Leftovers?

This Red Beans and Rice Recipe cooks roughly 6 – 8 servings. So, you might end up with some leftovers – depending on how hungry you are. hehe~

You can reheat the leftovers using the Pot-in-Pot Method: rice at the bottom, layer a steamer rack on top of the rice, then the red beans in an oven-safe container on top of the steamer rack – pressure cook both the red beans and rice in the same Instant Pot! 😀

Some Useful Tips & Resources

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Can you cook rice and meat at the same time in Instant Pot?

All you do is set a trivet right over the beef, then fill one Insert Pan with rice and water, set it on top of the trivet and cook both the beef and rice together.

How long does it take to cook beans in a pressure pot?

Place seasoning and beans in pressure cooker. Cover with about 1 1/2 inches of hot water over the level of the beans. Be sure to not fill the cooker over half way. Cook for 22 to 30 minutes, depending on the variety.

How do you make red beans and rice gravy thicker?

If your sauce isn't as thick as you would like you can easily thicken the consistency. Create a slurry using 2 tablespoons cornstarch diluted into 2 tablespoons of chicken stock or water. Add this slurry near the end of the cooking time.

How many beans can you cook in an Instant Pot?

A 6-quart Instant Pot will hold up to 24 cups of cooked beans at maximum.