Spice it up with this fiery Mexican inspired Pinto Bean Soup made from scratch in the Instant Pot. This sensational soup recipe features creamy pinto beans, Mexican chorizo sausage, tomatoes, and a range of piquant peppers from Poblano to Chipotle.
Creating a delicious Mexican feast at home is so easy! Type ‘Mexican’ into the recipe search bar to find the many great Mexican recipes on this blog. Start with a cup of Pinto Bean Soup then bring out a mouth-watering tray of golden fried Milanesa de Res and wash it all down with a Spicy Pineapple Margarita.
Disclosure: This post is made possible by Alberta Pulse Growers. All opinions and experiences are my own.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below and get this post sent straight to your inbox. Plus, I’ll send you my weekly newsletter featuring the newest and best Dish ‘n’ the Kitchen recipes every week!
Spicy Pinto Bean Soup
This Pinto Bean Soup recipe is for those who love the heat. It builds with each spoonful, until your sinuses become clear and the warmth spreads from your head to your toes. However, this soup not only brings the heat, it brings the flavor too.
Although Instant Pot soup recipes take very little time, this soup tastes as though it has been simmering stovetop all day long. The secret is the incredible flavour that builds as you sauté your way through the ingredients list. Mexican chorizo meatballs provide heat and a generous amount of oil for sautéing the aromatics, while classic spices bridge the gap between the aromatics and hot peppers.
Blending half of the beans with stock in a high-speed (or immersion) blender before adding them back into the soup creates the most luxurious and satisfying soup. By the way, if you use canned pinto beans in this soup recipe, the recipe can be ready in 20 minutes cook time (30 minutes total time).
My favourite way to serve this satisfying soup is with simple cheese toasties or Bean and Cheese Quesadillas for even more bean protein!
Ingredients for this Recipe
The combination of spices and peppers in this Pinto Bean Soup creates a flavourful medium heat. If you want to reduce the spice level, you can reduce/omit the jalapeños or reduce the chipotle peppers. I don’t suggest omitting the chipotles because they make this soup extra tasty.
Additionally, if you crave even more spice feel free to increase the diced jalapeño or add your favourite hot pepper. I suggest habañero, serrano, or ghost peppers.
To make a vegan pinto bean soup, simply omit the chorizo sausage and use vegetable broth in place of chicken stock. This soup is naturally gluten-free if you source gluten-free chorizo sausage.
- Dried Pinto Beans
- Olive Oil
- Chorizo Sausage
- Onion
- Poblano Pepper
- Jalapeño Pepper
- Garlic
- Cumin
- Oregano
- Chipotle Peppers in Adobo
- Can of Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies
- Tomatoes
- Chicken Stock
- Fresh Cilantro
- Avocado
Dried Pinto beans are budget friendly and store well for a lengthy time, which makes them perfect pantry staples. Beans are a great source of protein and fiber and super healthy as they contain numerous vitamins and minerals. Canned beans can be high in sodium, so I choose dried beans or reduced sodium canned beans for my recipes.
Did you know that 38% of Alberta’s bean crop is Pinto beans? This is because both the seed and the seedling are hardier and can withstand Alberta’s unique climate better than most other varieties.
For this recipe, I used Mexican style fresh chorizo, seasoned with jalapeños, dry chilies, vinegar, and aromatic spices like cinnamon and clove. It is not the same as Spanish style dried chorizo which is heavily seasoned with smoked paprika.
While some of the heat in this soup is from the chorizo sausage, the bulk of it is from peppers, in particular diced chilies (in the can of tomatoes), jalapeños, and canned chipotle peppers in adobo.
I used Rotel brand ‘original’ diced tomatoes with chilies but you can use a can of fire roasted tomatoes with a small can of diced chilies. Just be careful, you can always add more heat, but you can’t take it away.
The spice level of most fresh peppers, like jalapeños can vary widely. Sometimes they can be quite mild, and I use the whole pepper and other times, I can only use a portion of the pepper. The only way to know how much to use is to taste it raw.
Canned Chipotle Pepper in Adobo can pack quite the punch. I’ve made the mistake of adding the entire can to a pot of beans (the first recipe test of Chipotle Pinto Beans with Peaches) and while they were still edible, they were much too spicy for me. I’m much more cautious now and only added two to this recipe.
Pro Tip: Freeze the remaining Chipotles in portions using an ice cube tray (but not one you use to for making ice!) and store in an airtight container.
How to Cook Pinto Beans in an Instant Pot
There are so many ways to cook dried beans, they’re almost more convenient than opening a can. There’s the long or overnight soak technique, the quicker hot soak/oven method, and finally, the Instant Pot method.
And so, if you own an Instant Pot, you own one of the handiest kitchen appliances when it comes to preparing beans from scratch. Since this Pinto Bean Soup recipe is made entirely in the Instant Pot, we’re going to start cooking those dried pinto beans in this handy electric pressure cooker.
To begin, pick and rinse 1 cup dried pinto beans. Add them to your Instant Pot, then cover the beans with 4 cups of cold water. Add a few bay leaves for extra flavour if you like. Place the lid on the pressure cooker and close the pressure valve. Select High Pressure, then add one minute cooking time on the timer.
When the one-minute timer beeps, shut the Instant Pot off (or unplug it) and let the beans soak in the closed pot for 60 minutes. After the 1-hour soak is complete, drain the beans and set aside. Rinse out the Instant Pot insert.
How to Make Pinto Bean Soup
Now that the beans are ready to go, it’s time for veggie prep. Start by washing and preparing the vegetables. Peel and chop the onion in a small dice. Next, peel and finely mince the garlic. Lastly, de-seed and finely dice the jalapeño pepper. Lastly, small dice the poblano pepper, canned chipotle peppers, and tomatoes.
Next, let’s focus on building the soup’s flavour profile. Drizzle 4 tablespoons olive oil in the bottom of the Instant Pot. Remove the chorizo meat from one sausage casing, creating small rustic meatballs as you drop them into the oil. Repeat with other two chorizo sausages.
Turn the Instant Pot to sauté mode and cook the sausage, using a flipper to prise each meatball from the pot once it is well browned. It doesn’t need to be cooked through yet, but it should hold together and have some colour.
Once the sausage meatballs are browned on all sides, add the diced onions, poblano pepper, and jalapeño pepper. Sauté until the onion becomes soft and translucent, stirring frequently. Add the garlic, cumin powder, and oregano. Stir and sauté for one more minute.
Add the can of diced tomatoes with juice to the pot and stir, scraping the bottom of the pot. Add the halved fresh cocktail tomatoes, the chipotle peppers, and chicken broth or vegetable stock.
Wipe any oil splatters off the rim of the Instant Pot then lock the lid in place. Select High Pressure and add a 10-minute cook time. When the cook time ends, use the quick release to decrease the pressure rapidly.
Remove one cup of broth from the soup. Place the broth in a high-powered blender, along with half of the beans. Process until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy. Add the other half of the beans to the pot, then cook the soup on High Pressure for another 10 minutes. When the cook time ends, use the quick release.
Stir the blended bean mixture into the soup. Divide the soup into bowls and garnish with chopped cilantro and sliced avocado. Serve with a side of cooling sour cream.
Looking for more Pinto Bean recipes? Enjoy this classic Pinto Beans and Rice side dish on your next taco night or slow bake them with peaches for a fun twist on Chipotle Baked Beans.
If you make this Spicy Pinto Bean Soup recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Pinterest for my latest recipes. Also, if you do make this recipe, please tag me on Instagram, I’d love to see what you guys are making! Thank you so much for reading my blog.
Spicy Pinto Bean Soup
Spice things up with this fiery Mexican inspired Pinto Bean Soup made from scratch in the Instant Pot. This sensational soup recipe features creamy pinto beans, Mexican chorizo sausage, tomatoes, and a range of piquant peppers from Poblano to Chipotle. *Total cook time includes soaking time for dried beans.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (225 g) dried Pinto Beans (or a 19 oz. can of drained & rinsed pinto beans)*
- 4 cups Water
- 4 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 3 Mexican Chorizo Sausages
- 1 medium Onion; small diced
- 1 Poblano Pepper; small diced
- 2 Tablespoons Jalapeño Pepper; very finely diced
- 4 cloves Garlic; minced
- 2 teaspoons Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Oregano
- 1- 10 oz can diced Tomatoes with chilies
- 2 Chipotle Peppers in adobo; finely chopped
- 16-20 cocktail Tomatoes; halved and deseeded
- 6 cups Chicken or Vegetable Stock**
- Fresh chopped Cilantro (optional garnish)
- avocado (optional garnish)
- sour cream (optional)
Instructions
TO PREPARE THE BEANS
- Pick and rinse 1 cup dried pinto beans. Place them in an Instant Pot insert then add 4 cups of water.
- Place the lid on the pressure cooker and close the pressure valve. Select High Pressure, then put one minute on the timer.
- When the one-minute timer beeps, shut the Instant Pot off (or unplug) and let beans soak in the pot for 60 minutes.
- After the 1-hour soak is complete, drain the beans and set aside. Rinse out the Instant Pot insert.
FOR THE SOUP
- Wash and prepare the vegetables. First peel and chop the onion. Next, peel and finely mince the garlic. Lastly, deseed and dice the jalapeño pepper, poblano pepper, canned chipotle peppers, and tomatoes.
- Drizzle 4 tablespoons olive oil in the bottom of the Instant Pot and remove chorizo from one sausage casing, creating small rustic meatballs as you drop them into the oil. Repeat with other two chorizo sausages.
- Turn the Instant Pot to 'sauté' mode and cook the sausage, using a flipper to prise each meatball from the pot once it is well browned.
- Once the sausage meatballs are browned on all sides, add the diced onions, poblano pepper, and jalapeño pepper. Sauté until the onion becomes soft and translucent, stirring constantly. Add the garlic, cumin powder, and oregano. Stir and sauté for one more minute.
- Add the can of diced tomatoes with juice to the pot and stir, scraping the bottom of the pot. Add the halved fresh cocktail tomatoes, the chipotle peppers, and chicken or vegetable stock.
- Lock the Instant Pot lid in place. Select High Pressure and a 10-minute cook time. When the cook time ends, use the quick release to decrease the pressure rapidly.
- Remove one cup broth from the soup. Place the broth in a high-powered blender (or immersion blender), along with half of the beans. Process until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy.
- Add the other half of the beans to the pot, then cook the soup on High Pressure for another 10 minutes. When the cook time ends, use the quick release.
- Stir the blended bean mixture into the soup. Divide the soup into bowls and garnish with chopped cilantro, sliced avocado, and sour cream before serving.
Notes
*Total cook time includes soaking time for dried beans. If using canned beans add 1- 19 oz (540 ml) can (drained & rinsed) pinto beans and the soup is done in 20 minutes.
**Add salt if needed. Keep in mind that many stocks are quite high in sodium and will season the soup adequately.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 902Total Fat: 42gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 28gCholesterol: 146mgSodium: 558mgCarbohydrates: 73gFiber: 26gSugar: 6gProtein: 60g
Nutritional calculation was provided by Nutritionix and is an estimation only. For special diets or medical issues please use your preferred calculator.
My cousin came home with chorizo, and I didn’t know what to do with it. I’m glad I found your recipe! This soup was so tasty and I’m really looking forward to leftovers (for once!).
I’m glad you found it too and thanks so much for letting me know how much you loved the soup Erin.
This soup was so full of flavor especially for a bean soup. I will be making this in my instant pot all winter long!
That’s the cool thing about beans…they really soak up all those great flavours.
This soup was delicious! So much flavor from the chorizo and perfect amount of heat from the chipotle and poblano.
Great to hear from another spice lover. Thanks for trying out this Pinto Bean Soup recipe Veronika.
I love this bean soup recipe. It is so easy and it really delicious!
My husband loves it so much!
Thank you!
This is so great to hear Amy. Thank you for letting me know it’s a keeper!
This recipe is amazing! I loved the spicy flavor of the soup, it’s perfect for a cold winter evening 😉
Yes…we have another polar vortex here this week so this soup is happening again.
We loved how hearty and flavorful this bean soup is! The spiciness was just perfect and I even doubled the batch so I could have one handy in the freezer. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
That is an excellent idea. It freezes really well!
I love that you can make the beans and make the soup all in the Instant pot! Sometimes I make extra beans to use as a side dish and then on go on to make this delicious soup!
That’s a great idea. The are delicious in wraps and as dips too.
Excellent! This was so easy in the instant pot…who knew a bean soup could be so good?! The cilantro is a must at the end, just adds that extra touch 🙂
Oh cool! I’m so glad you love your Instant Pot as much as I do. Thanks for trying out the soup recipe Jessica.
A great soup for the winter. I will be making this again.
Thank you Sean…stay cozy!
We loved all of the flavors in this pinto bean soup. It was the first time I made it, but I’ll definitely be making it again and again.
So great to hear you loved this soup Lauren, thanks for letting me know.
I love pinto beans and this soup looks delicious! I can’t wait to try it!
Me too! They are so versatile and soak up all those great flavours.
This spicy Pinto bean soup is good good. It really hit the spot on a cold day. It was full of flavor , my husband has already requested it again.
I love hearing when my recipes make a reader’s ‘make again’ list! Thanks for letting me know Debbie.
This soup was hearty, tasty, and just amazing. My husband and I had it two days in a row. Really loved the flavors and the simplicity of the making process. Making it again soon!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this soup Laura. Thank you for letting me know.
super tasty spicy pinto bean soup. i love the spiciness! the extra kick really made it irresistable!
Thanks Nancy! I love hearing from fellow spice heads!
This is a fantastic soup that is so easy to put together. The flavor is wonderful and it tastes so good! I didn’t have chorizo but it turned out delicious and super healthy. Thanks for sharing!
Mexican style chorizo is sometimes difficult to source. I recommend adding pulled chicken or increasing the beans for a more substantial hit of protein.
Such an amazing recipe with incredible depth of flavor! I’m making this again this week because we devoured the last batch!
That’s so great to hear Lori, I’m so glad my soup has made your ‘make again’ list.
This soup is so very good. Hearty enough for a one plate meal especially if you have seconds like we did! The spice level was perfect and I loved the creaminess blending some of the beans adds!
Yes, my husband and I often enjoy a large bowl for dinner. It is so filling!
I really enjoyed this soup. The flavours were so complex, but the recipe is straight forward. Loved the slightly smoky flavour you get from the chipotles, it’s not super overpowering, just perfect! We didn’t have chorizo on hand so we through in pulled chicken instead and it was still amazing!
Great substitute! I would totally use pulled chicken in this recipe.
This spicy pinto soup turned out so amazing, I used vegan sausages and veg stock for a vegan version. Cosy, filling and delicious.
Excellent idea! I’m so glad you liked it Hayley.
Oh, this sounds delicious!
Thanks for stopping by Megan!
Perfect one pot meal. Nutritious and healthy combination. This Bowl is perfect for a yummy Dinner.
Thank you Veena, that is exactly how we ate it… with a little side of cheesetoast.
This is a delicious soup with just the right amount of spicy heat. It was easy to make in my Instapot and I liked your tip to mash some of the pinto beans. That step make the soup extra creamy. Tasty recipe!!
Thank you Melinda. Just don’t forget to reserve some of the beans or you’ll have have to dig them out. Bean there, done that!
This is a perfect recipe to warm up on a cold winter day! I love all the aromatics in there! A hearty soup with a spicy kick! Yum!
Thank you! Those beans really soak up all those amazing flavours.
My husband loves soup like this! He was very excited when I showed him and we added it to our meal plan immediately.
Excellent! I know you’ll both enjoy this soup Vanessa.
I could eat this every day and never tire of it. So hearty and flavorsome.
That’s why I always make a double batch! Thank you for trying this soup recipe Megane.
This soup is so flavorful and warming! We loved it!
That’s so great to hear Elizabeth. Thanks for letting me know.
Hearty, delicious, and spicy! This soup has everything we love in a good bowl of soup. This is perfect for winter dinners and it is so easy to make as well.
awww thank you so much Sandhya. I’m so glad you loved this soup!
This soup totally hit the spot! The chorizo gave it the perfect spice kick, and I love how hearty it was. Perfect for a cold January night.
Thank you so much for letting me know how much you loved this soup Amanda. I love the chorizo too!
this pinto soup is so bomb! I love that i can make it in the IP and forget about it toO!
Yep, doing beans in the IP is so slick!
I am someone who LOVES spicy food, so this bean soup is perfect. Love that it’s also packed with flavor.
Then this soup is for you Tina! Thanks for stopping by.