This Jamaican Instant Pot Rice and Beans recipe is generally called "rice and peas" on the island. It's made with red kidney beans, coconut milk, and added spices. Make it in your Instant Pot Pressure Cooker for perfect results.
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*This recipe has been updated to include stovetop directions as well.
Today I bring you another rice dish I grew up eating, Jamaican rice and peas. I’ve named it rice and beans for the blog because the dish is made with dark red kidney beans. Sometimes it’s made with what’s called “gungo peas” in place of the red kidney beans.
I love making rice side dishes in my Instant Pot, like this Copycat Rice a Roni. This rice side dish is no different. I can set the timer and step away from the Instant Pot while I prepare the rest of my dinner.
Try this with my oxtail or with my jerk chicken recipes.
How to make Jamaican Instant Pot Rice and Beans
Start by selecting Sauté button on your Instant Pot. Make sure you have selected the “more” option. Once your Instant Pot displays Hot, add your oil. Then add your chopped onion and stir until softened, about 3 minutes.
Add your minced garlic and green onions.
Then add your rinsed rice, coconut milk, water, all spice, salt, and black pepper and stir.
Next, place your springs of thyme on top and lay your beans on top of the rice. Do not stir the beans at this point.
Press “Cancel” on your Instant Pot and cover with the lid, making sure the valve is set to “seal”
Then, cook on High Pressure for 6 minutes. Once the timer is done, allow the pressure cooker to naturally release for 10 minutes. Open, and fluff the rice.
Enjoy 🙂
Substitutions for Jamaican Instant Pot Rice and Beans
- I do not recommend using dried beans in place of the canned beans in this recipe unless they have been cooked separately at first. Dried beans take much longer to cook than the 6 minutes allotted for in this recipe. Here’s a guide to cooking dried beans in the Instant Pot.
- Feel free to change it up with different canned bean variety.
- Most Jamaican rice and peas recipes include scotch bonnet pepper. I don’t put them in my rice and peas recipe. Feel free to modify this recipe by adding it in.
How to Make Jamaican Rice and Peas on the Stovetop:
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Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add yellow onion and stir until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and green onions and stir for about 30 more seconds.
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Add rice, undrained kidney beans, coconut milk, water, salt, allspice, and black pepper and stir until combined. Lay thyme on top. Bring mixture to a simmer.
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Cover with a lid and reduce heat to low. Allow to cook for 18 minutes over low heat, then remove from heat. Leave the lid on for an additional 5 minutes.
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Open the lid and remove the thyme. Fluff rice with fork. Enjoy.
Looking for more Jamaican recipes? Try these out:
Instant Pot Jamaican Jerk Chicken Soup
Jamaican Instant Pot Rice and Beans
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 green onions finely chopped
- 2 cups long grain white rice rinsed
- ¾ cup coconut milk
- ¾ cup water
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 15.5 oz can dark red kidney beans undrained
- 2 sprigs of thyme
Instructions
- Set Instant Pot to "Sauté." Once Hot, add olive oil. Then add yellow onion and stir until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and green onions and stir for about 30 more seconds.
- Press “Cancel” on the Instant Pot. Add rice, coconut milk, water, salt, allspice, and black pepper and stir.
- Pour undrained kidney beans on top of the rice mixture. Do not stir. Lay sprigs of thyme on top. Cover the Instant Pot, ensuring the valve is set to “Sealing.”
- Press “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” on the Instant Pot and set for High pressure for 6 minutes.
- Once the pressure cooking time is done, allow it to natural release for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure by moving valve to "Venting"
- Open lid and remove thyme sprigs. Fluff rice with fork and Enjoy!
Stove Top Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add yellow onion and stir until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and green onions and stir for about 30 more seconds.
- Add rice, undrained kidney beans, coconut milk, water, salt, allspice, and black pepper and stir until combined. Lay thyme on top. Bring mixture to a simmer.
- Cover with a lid and reduce heat to low. Allow to cook for 18 minutes over low heat, then remove from heat. Leave the lid on for an additional 5 minutes.
- Open the lid and remove the thyme. Fluff rice with fork. Enjoy.
Video
Notes
- Make sure there are no dry bits stuck to the bottom of the pot. This could result in that annoying "burn" signal some pressure cookers give off. Once you add your coconut milk and water, stir with a wooden spoon to ensure there is no food stuck to the bottom.
- This recipe was created in an Instant Pot Duo 6QT. If using a newer model, use the "Rice" button on your Instant Pot.
- White Basmati rice or Jasmine rice can be substituted for the long grain.
- I always rinse my rice under cold water before cooking..
- If subbing dry for fresh thyme springs, use about ½ tsp.
Amy says
My first attempt. It's a hit over here! I must confess I screwed up, luckily the recipe was forgiving. ? I put the whole can of coconut milk in there instead of 3/4 cup. I was a little worried, but it's killer good. (little higher in fat and calories, but the good kind! ?) Didn't have an onion, so went with shallots. No allspice so made it from scratch. Had a caribe pepper, so added one of those. Dried thyme since I didn't have fresh. Everyone loved the flavors. I warned them it was very different from the Mexican rice and beans we normally have. This will definitely go into the rotation. So glad I found you! Looking forward to exploring all your recipes.
Sabrina says
Followed this recipe exactly and I got a “burn” message on my instapot. This recipe definitely needs more water that what’s written here. I was able to move the rice to a pan on the stovetop and finished cooking it there. Rice was very good but very annoying dealing with all the rice that burned at the bottom of the pan.
Tanya says
Hi Sabrina, sorry to hear about the burn signal. I've never received a burn signal in any of my Instant Pots. I believe a lot of the newer models, especially the 8qts, are more likely to give off the signal. Are you using an 8qt? That may be the issue as well. In case you need it, here's a great article on Instant Pot burn signals and how to fix them. https://www.paintthekitchenred.com/instant-pot-burn-message/
Janie says
I made this tonight and it was perfect.
Question- I need to increase the recipe to serve a crowd, is it necessary to increase the time at all?
Thank you
Tanya says
Hi Janie, Thanks for the comment 🙂 It's not necessary to increase the time if you increase the recipe ingredients.
Amy says
Do you rinse and drain the kidney beans. Do you rinse and drain the rice?
Tanya says
Hi Amy, I do not rinse and drain the kidney beans for this recipe. I do rinse and drain the rice.
Melissa says
I’ve made this twice and it’s just not right either time. The first time I did the timed setting and the rice was hard. The second time I used the rice setting and now it’s burned to the bottom. At least the second round is more edible than the first. It’s so tasty I want it to be perfect and I’m not sure how to make it work better.
Tanya says
Hi Melissa, I'm not sure what went wrong. I've made this recipe in my Instant Pot Duo and Instant Pot Lux (The Pioneer Woman) edition and it's always been perfect. Different variables (altitude, machine, type of rice, etc) may effect the results. What kind/brand of rice have you been using?
Hilary Johnson says
There is no flavor to the rice. I made it exactly as the recipe stated. The 5 star reviews are from people saying they want to try it. I brought it to a potluck and was embarrassed by the lack of taste.
Tanya says
Hi Hilary, sad to hear you didn't like it. I'd like to clarify that all the reviews are not from people saying that they'd like to try it. Also, taste is of personal preference. You should adjust seasoning to your personal preference if you feel a dish is too bland.
Kayla McCluskey says
@Hilary Johnson, we usually add some cajun seasoning before cooking, and then a bit more to our bowls for personal spice taste. This is one of our favorite meals. I always add more allspice too, about double what it calls for. You can also add peppers and veggies to this as we sometimes do.
Catherine I Mann says
I seethe instructions, but no ingredient with amounts. Am I missing something?
Tanya says
Hi Catherine, it's in the recipe card above.
Paulette Campbell says
Made this today and it was delish.I did add a scotch bonnet pepper and a bit of all purpose seasoning.Will do it again.I did try the rice setting and it kind of stuck to the bottom
though.Next time I'll do just the pressure cooker time.Thanks for.the yummy recipe.
Tammy says
I can't wait to try this recipe. Do you drain the canned beans before putting them in the instant pot?
Tanya says
Hi Tammy, I did not. Usually I drain beans to get rid of the extra salt but in this case, I felt the rice tasted better with the beans undrained. If you are worried about the salt content I'd go with low sodium beans.
Olivia says
It's in my pot now as I type this. But after reading the comments I hope it comes out ok since I drained the beans. Argh! No instructions listed on that step. D'oh! Fingers crossed
Tanya says
Hi Olivia, it should still be fine. The amount of liquid in undrained beans is minimal. I only leave the liquid in because I think it makes it taste better. You just may need to add a wee bit more salt.
Nandanie says
This recipe is amazing, I have an Instapot and I've been trying to find more recipes for it. I asked my husband last week what he wanted for dinner, and he said, rice and red beans and potato salad. I scoured the internet, and came across this recipe for the rice. I'm Guyanese, so this recipe was super easy to follow, and I had most of the ingredients in my pantry (except for allspice). My mom always made this for us growing up and she never added allspice, so this was new for me. I did add more garlic and added a finely chopped scotch bonnet pepper to this and it came out so good. So good, that my husband asked me to double the batch next time. Thank you!!!
Andrea Metlika says
I've had other versions of peas and rice but none with kidney beans. I'm really excited to try this.
Amanda says
I love making rice in the Instant Pot, and this looks like a great recipe! I love all the flavors going on here. Can't wait to try it!
Sharon says
This rice and beans recipe made in the instant pot looks delicious! So easy and the perfect side dish for busy weeknights.
Lisa Bryan says
I love learning about new dishes that I've never had - especially ones from beautiful places like Jamaica! It sounds delicious!
Tristin Rieken says
Yum!! I'm always looking for new things to cook in my instant pot and this recipe is a winner!! I make it without the scotchbonnet (or usually jalapeno) for the whole family then serve some on the side for my husband and I. So good!!