This vegan baked beans recipe with no added sugar is a tasty and healthy side dish for any BBQ, potluck, or grill out!
You all know I’m not a vegan, but I try to eat more plant-based foods more often. Well, one special meal I definitely don’t have often, but would probably not be able to swear off for good is BBQ. I love pulled pork, brisket, ribs, chicken – basically anything that’s been smoked. Well, if I’m going to treat myself to a meat-heavy meal, I definitely want to make sure I balance that out with some plant-based sides. That was the inspiration for this vegan baked beans recipe!
Table of contents
Why This Recipe Works
Nothing gets me more hyped than a pot of this baked beans recipe cooking up in the instant pot. Whether I am prepping for a family bbq, or meal prepping for the week, I know that they will be a definite highlight! Here are a few more reasons why I am lovin’ up on this recipe this week.
- Inexpensive to prepare
- Have no added sugar
- Packed with fiber, iron, and protein!
- Impossible to mess up (aka extremely easy to make)
Key Ingredients
Beans – Beans are by far my favourite plant-based protein because they are packed with fiber and plant-based protein. For this recipe we are using two varieties – navy beans and kidney beans. But you can totally mix and match and/or add in you fav.
Sweet Apples – To add a hit of essential sweetness without any added sugar, we are using apples to sweeten up this instant pot baked beans recipe. It also adds an extra hit fiber and nutrients, which we love.
Dates – Another nod to natural sweetness comes curtesy of dates, which is arguably my favourite way to naturally sweeten ANY recipe.
Spices – I like my baked beans to be a complete flavour bomb. So we are not holding back on the spices and flavour add ins. For this instant pot baked beans recipe we are flavouring things up with smoked paprika, garlic powder, vegan worcestershire sauce, chili powder, mustard, and tomato paste.
How To Make This Recipe
Step 1: Place all of the rinsed beans and water in the Instant Pot. Close the pot to SEALING, and set it to BEANS for 25 minutes.
Step 2: Vent, then drain the beans. Then return the insert into the Instant pot and add the olive oil to SAUTEE.
Step 3: Add in the onions and garlic and saute for 2 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients OMITTING the salt. Put the lid back on to SEALING, then set it to BEANS for 15 minutes.
Step 4: Vent, and allow to cool, then season with salt, pepper, and extra chili powder, to taste. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
It’s important to rinse the beans before cooking! Not only does rinsing help improve flavor, but it also helps remove excess starch and salt. We also want to make sure to pick sweet apples for this recipe. Some great examples of apples you could use include fuji, ambrosia, or gala apples.
Recipe FAQs
This vegan baked beans recipe is perfect for breakfast (a la standard English breakfast) or as a side dish to your summer BBQ favourites. You could even enjoy them as beans on toast.
Yes, this recipe is gluten-free! Just make sure to check the packaged foods to make sure there are no gluten-containing ingredients added.
These instant pot baked beans keep for about 3-4 days in the fridge. They are also freezer friendly and can keep for about 3-6 months in the freezer, making them a great option for batch cooking.
More Recipes You Might Like
If you’re looking for more delicious vegan side dishes like these instant pot baked beans, check out some of these recipes!
- VEGAN CORN SPOONBREAD
- OVEN ROASTED BALSAMIC BRUSSEL SPROUTS WITH GRAPES & FIGS
- EVERYTHING BAGEL GREEN BEAN FRIES
- ZA’ATAR HONEY ROASTED CARROTS WITH CREAMY HUMMUS SAUCE
- VEGAN RISOTTO WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH
What’s your favourite BBQ side dish? Have you tried making this vegan baked beans recipe?
Vegan Best Beans Recipe | Instant Pot Recipe + No Sugar Added
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb dried navy beans rinsed
- 1/2 lb dried kidney beans rinsed
- 6 cups water
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium sweet onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 sweet apples peeled and diced
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp vegan worcestershire sauce
- 1 1/2 tsp chili powder or more to taste
- 1/2 tsp pepper or more to taste
- 5.5 oz can of tomato paste
- 2 tbsp yellow mustard or whole grain or dijon
- 1 cup minced pitted dates
- 5 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups no salt added vegetable broth
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Place all of the rinsed beans and water in the Instant Pot. Close the pot to SEALING, and set it to BEANS for 25 minutes.
- Vent, then drain the beans.
- Return the insert into the Instant pot and add the olive oil on SAUTEE.
- Add in the onions and garlic and saute for 2 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients OMITTING the salt. Put the lid back on to SEALING, then set it to BEANS for 15 minutes.
- Vent, and allow to cool, then season with salt, pepper and extra chili powder, to taste. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Abbey Sharp is a Registered Dietitian (RD), regulated by the Ontario College of Dietitians. She is a mom, YouTuber, Blogger, award winning cookbook author, media coach specializing in food and nutrition influencers, and a frequent contributor to national publications like Healthline and on national broadcast TV shows.
Sandra says
This is an amazing recipe! You’d never guess that these beans have no sugar in them. I was trying to duplicate a favourite recipe that had lots of maple syrup in it, so I added a generous 1 tsp of simulated maple extract, which did add an extra something, but which is not really necessary. The flavour of these beans is wonderfully complex on its own.
I also added lots of finely chopped chard leaves so that it became a complete meal–probably better without them, but my husband loved that version. Great on toast.
Thanks Abbey!
Rehoboth says
Wonderful recipe
Ann says
If one doesn’t have an instant pot, what would be the cooking time for this in say a crock pot?
Abbey Sharp says
In a crockpot it would likely take 3-4 hours on high for soaked beans.
Regina Slaugh says
This recipe is spot on! I put my cup of dates in their soaking water and food processed them to a paste and used all pinto beans, no other changes. I couldn’t taste date or apple, just delicious beans. Perfect beans for me, a plant based person to eat at a meat eaters BBQ, where they served pulled pork.
Abbey Sharp says
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks Regina 🙂
Cedar says
I love that this has no added sugar! What smart alternatives – I love apples and dates!! Can’t wait to try!
Abbey Sharp says
Awesome! Enjoy!
Julie says
YUM!!! These sound SO good! Love that you can make this from dried beans so quickly in an instant pot.
Abbey Sharp says
Amazing right!
Emily @Sinful Nutrition says
Oh my gosh adding dates to baked beans is genius! I definitely need to give these a try this summer!
Abbey Sharp says
It’s so so good.
Leslie says
My mouth is watering just looking at this post! This one will definitely be on my list for the next cookout!
Abbey Sharp says
Aw amazing! Enjoy love
Kalee says
Baked beans are always one of my favorite foods in the Summer! I love how quick you can make these too! Yum!
Abbey Sharp says
So easy!
Amy Gorin says
Love the idea of vegan baked beans! Thee look delish!
Abbey Sharp says
Thanks Amy 🙂
Deborah Brooks says
I make my own baked beans as well. Never thought to add apples or dates. Sounds interesting!
Abbey Sharp says
Adds such a nice sweetness.
Margaret says
I don’t like things super sweet, so are these slightly sweet? Trying to figure out if I should cut some of the dates. Thanks.
Abbey Sharp says
It’s not super sweet but you can always decrease the amount of dates if you wish.