Instant Pot Sweet and Spicy BBQ Beans Recipe (2024)

The perfect summer barbecue side dish: Sweet and Spicy BBQ Beans made from scratch in your Instant Pot, no soaking required.

We love these Instant Pot Sweet and Spicy BBQ Beans, especially in the summer time! They’re the perfect side dish for any bbq or potluck, and they’re always a crowd favorite.

This recipe is slightly spicy, but sweet and made entirely from scratch. The best part is – you don’t have to soak your beans!

If you don’t have an Instant Pot, we’d highly recommend it. This is our favorite Instant Pot – the exact one we used in this recipe.

How to make Sweet and Spicy BBQ Beans in the instant pot:

Add beans, water, and salt to your instant pot (there’s no need to soak them!). Cook on manual, using high pressure, for about 25 minutes (you’ll want to cook them around 20 minutes for firmer beans or closer to 30 minutes for very soft beans). Allow the pressure to naturally release.

Remove the lid, and pour the beans into a strainer. Rinse with cold water and set aside.

Set the instant pot to saute and heat the bacon until it starts to brown. Drain some of the grease, then add the onions (the onions are optional, but you could also add in any of the veggie substitutions listed below) and cook until tender.

Turn the instant pot off and add ketchup, bbq, chilies, syrup, and mustard. Stir, making sure to scrape the bottom of the Instant Pot. Add the beans back in to the instant pot and stir until completely combined.

Replace the lid, turn the steam valve to sealing and cook on manual, using high pressure, for 15 minutes. Natural release for the pressure. Open the lid and stir, then serve warm.

Substitutions/additions

We love that this recipe turns out beans that are sweet (from the maple syrup) but just a little spicy (from the green chilies). We think it’s just spicy enough as written (with the ingredients we used above), but you can change it to your liking.

If you want to add more spice, try substituting diced jalapeños for the green chilies. Try a spicier BBQ sauce (we love Stubbs Sweet Heat) or mustard. You could also add a pinch or two of chili powder.

If you want to add more vegetables, you could add in diced bell peppers, diced celery, or diced carrots.

If you want to add more sweetness, try adding in some brown sugar (like this recipe), or honey instead of maple syrup.

Can I make this recipe using canned beans?

Yes! Skip steps 1 and 2, and start with step 3. You’ll need about 48 ounces of canned beans to make this recipe.

Related article: Serve these with our Slow Cooker Fall-off-the-Bone BBQ Ribs for the perfect summer dinner!

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Pair these beans with

These beans are the perfect summer side dish (especially for potlucks!). Serve them as a side to our Smoked BBQ Ribs, Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork and Coleslaw, or our Juicy BBQ Turkey Burgers.

More instant pot recipes

If you love your Instant Pot, you’ll love these recipes, too.

• Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
• Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli
• Instant Pot Lemon Rice Pilaf
• Instant Pot Cheesy Beef Taco Pasta
• Instant Pot Sesame Chicken and Rice

Serves: 12

Instant Pot Sweet and Spicy BBQ Beans Recipe

The perfect summer barbecue side dish: Sweet and Spicy BBQ Beans made from scratch in your Instant Pot, no soaking required.

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

PrintPin

Ingredients

• 16 ounces great northern beans 1 pound
• 8 cups water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 8 slices thick cut bacon
• ½ medium onion diced, optional
• ½ cup ketchup
• ½ cup BBQ Sauce
• 4 ounces diced chilies 1 can
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 2 teaspoons Dijon Mustard

Instructions

• Add beans, water, and salt to your instant pot. Cook on manual, using high pressure, for about 25 minutes (20 minutes for firmer beans, 30 minutes for very soft beans). Allow the pressure to naturally release.

• Remove the lid, and pour the beans into a strainer. Rinse with cold water and set aside.

• Set instant pot to saute and heat the bacon until it starts to brown. Drain some of the grease, then add the onions (optional) and cook until tender.

• Turn the instant pot off and add ketchup, bbq, chilies, syrup, and mustard. Stir, making sure to scrape the bottom of the Instant Pot. Add the beans back in to the instant pot and stir until completely combined.

• Replace the lid, turn the steam valve to sealing and cook on manual, using high pressure, for 15 minutes. Natural release for the pressure. Open the lid and stir, then serve warm.

Notes

• If you want toadd more spice, try substituting diced jalapeños for the green chilies. Try a spicier BBQ sauce (we love Stubbs Sweet Heat) or mustard. You could also add a pinch or two of chili powder.

Nutrition

Calories: 198 kcal · Carbohydrates: 21 g · Protein: 7 g · Fat: 10 g · Saturated Fat: 3 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 4 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 16 mg · Sodium: 586 mg · Potassium: 295 mg · Fiber: 3 g · Sugar: 11 g · Vitamin A: 99 IU · Vitamin C: 2 mg · Calcium: 49 mg · Iron: 1 mg

Equipment

• Instant Pot

• Wooden Spoon

Recipe Details

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

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See Also

62 Easy Soup Recipes To Cozy Up To This Fall