Instant Pot Cannellini Beans

My favorite no-fail Instant Pot Cannellini Bean recipe that can be used for meal prep and quick dinners. This recipe works with any dried white beans, including Navy beans, Cannellini beans, and Great Northern beans.

One of the best things you can do for meal prep is cook dry beans and store them in your refrigerator or freezer.

I love using the Instant Pot to cook any type of beans and chickpeas. It is so much quicker than cooking on the stovetop and so much cheaper than buying canned. Here are my Mexican black beans and Instant Pot chickpeas recipes.

Here are all the details for cooking any type of white beans in your Instant Pot. If you don’t have an Instant Pot, you can cook white beans on the stovetop.

Once your beans are ready, try using them in this delicious Tuscan White Bean Salad for a light and flavorful meal!

Watch How to Make Instant Pot Cannellini Beans

What are White Beans?

Any bean that is white or off-white in hue is accurately referred to as a “white bean.” White beans sold commercially are usually referred to by more specific names, such as Navy beans, Great Northern, or Cannellini.

Though different white bean varieties have slightly varying flavors and sizes, their nutritional contents are relatively similar and can easily be substituted in recipes.

What Are The Benefits Of White Beans?

White Beans are very nutritious. Some of the benefits of white beans are:

Loaded with protein: White beans can be a key protein source for vegetarians and vegans.

Provide ample fiber: White beans promote improved digestive health and can help with bowel regularity. 

Promote healthy body weight: White beans have a high nutrient density while being relatively low in calories. These characteristics, when combined with their high fiber and protein content, may promote a healthy body weight.

Why use the Instant Pot to Cook Cannellini White Beans?

The Instant Pot is our go-to method for cooking any type of white beans—navy beans, Great Northern beans, and Cannellini beans. It is quick and easy, whether you soak the beans or not, and produces perfectly tender beans every single time!

Healthy substitute for canned beans

Canned beans can be easily substituted with dried beans that have been cooked in the instant pot. Making your own beans has many advantages:

• They taste better as they are freshly made
• Dried beans have more protein, fiber, iron, potassium, and magnesium as compared to canned beans. Most importantly, they contain less sodium.
• Dried beans are friendly on the pocket as they are much cheaper.
• Cans also have potentially harmful chemicals.
• Reduces the amount of waste generated.

What You’ll Need?

To make a batch of beans, you’ll need a 6 to 8-quart Instant pot. I use a 6-quart Instant Pot, but this basic method can be applied to other electric pressure cookers and stovetop pressure cookers as well.

Besides that, you will need the following ingredients:

• Dried White beans: 1 cup of dried beans will give you 3 cups of cooked beans. I used cannellini beans.
• Water or stock: Either one works. Use stock if you want extra flavor in the cooked beans.
• Flavoring Ingredients: Add a bay leaf for some extra flavor. You can also add garlic if you like.
• Salt

To soak or not to soak?

This is one question I always get asked when cooking beans.

White beans do not need to be soaked before being cooked in the Instant Pot. While soaking beans overnight may help soften them and speed up the cooking process, a pressure cooker’s high heat does all of that for you.

Soaking the beans decreases the phytic acid content and enhances the nutrient absorption. Also, soaking beans can help reduce gas-causing compounds in the beans, which is beneficial if someone has bloating from beans. Also, soaked beans cooked faster.

How to Make?

• Soaking the beans: This is optional but helps reduce cooking time. You can soak 1 cup of beans in 3 cups of water overnight or for 8 hours. Then, drain the liquid once the soaking time is done.

• Fill the inner pot of a standard instant pot with liquid, beans, salt, and spices. Give it a good stir to ensure that everything is evenly distributed.

• Set the vent to sealing and close the lid of the instant pot.
• Then pressure cook. See the recipe card for exact cooking times.
• Let the pressure release naturally.
• The beans are perfectly cooked in the instant pot.

How To Store Cooked Beans?

Cannellini beans should be stored in shallow, airtight containers or resealable zip-lock bags in the refrigerator.

They will keep well in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days if properly stored.

Bacteria grow quickly at temperatures between 40°F and 140°F, so cooked cannellini beans left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours should be discarded.

Recipe Tips

• Always wash your beans before using them. If you’re using dried beans, make sure they’re clean before soaking to get rid of any dirt or discolored beans. If you’re using canned beans, strain and rinse them to remove any excess sodium from the preserving liquid.
• Before cooking, soak dry beans. If you’re using dried beans, soak them for six to eight hours (or overnight) before cooking.
• Avoid overcooking your beans unless you’re making a dip or spread. If you boil them for too long, the skins will crack, and the beans will lose their shape.

How to Serve

White beans can be used in a variety of dishes, including soups, stews, dips, salads, thickening sauces, and more.

Recipes Using White Beans

White beans are versatile and can be incorporated to any recipe of your choice.

• Bean Salad: For a quick, refreshing, and protein-packed snack on a hot day, try bean salad.
• White Bean Soup: A hearty, warm soup can be made with any type of white bean.
• Minestrone Soup: This favorite Italian soup with beans, veggies, and pasta is a great one to use up all the wonderful beans.
• Chilli: You can use any white beans in a white-bean chili.
• Beans with rice: Beans and rice are a great option to enjoy for any meal.
• Bean Burger Patties: Plant-based burgers with white beans taste delicious.
• Grain Bowls: Add these beans to a grain bowl for the extra protein. eg. Sorghum grain bowl.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Instant Pot Recipes

Try a few more of the easy Instant Pot recipes from our collection-

• Mexican Black Beans in Instant Pot
• Easy Instant Pot Rice & Beans
• Instant Pot Black Chickpeas / Sookha Kala Chana
• Instant Pot Green Beans with Garlic & Lemon