This is how I usually cook pinto beans. It works for cranberry beans as well, which happen to look sort of like pinto beans especially if you're in a hurry and forget to read the label on the package. Put in pot: 1 lb dry pinto beans 1/2 medium onion 2 cloves garlic 1 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp vegetable broth base Enough water to cover by 1 inch for an instant pot or 2 inches for the stove Cook beans Add: 1 tsp chipotle in adobo (Buy a can of it and freeze leftovers in 1 tsp portions for future beans) 1/2 cup diced tomatoes or 1 Tbsp tomato paste 1 Tbsp cumin 1 Tbsp chili powder