How to make Easy Refried Beans just like your favorite Mexican restaurant, but even better! Includes stovetop, slow cooker and canned beans instructions.
I love refried beans, especially when they’re homemade. They’re healthy, full of fiber and are made with my favorite type of bean, the humble little pinto bean.
Pinto beans are actually the one ingredients that my parents always have in the house. And when I say always, I mean always. Growing up, we’d have huge sacks of dried pinto beans in the kitchen pantry that would last a few months each. Each sack would weigh 50-100 pounds!
As corny as it sounds, that is a tradition that I want to keep alive. So on the agenda for today is learning how to cook pinto beans and transform them into refried beans!
What type of beans are used to make refried beans?
Mexican refried beans are traditionally made from mashed pinto beans and seasoned with some spices and herbs. However, this recipe also works with black beans or white navy beans.
Are refried beans fried…twice?!
Refried comes from the translation of refrito, meaning to ‘fry well,’ so while the term refried is in the name, the beans aren’t actually fried twice – just once.
Stovetop or slow cooker method
The first step is to actually cook the beans. There’s two ways I prefer – on the stovetop or in the slow cooker.
To cook the beans on the stovetop, you’ll need to fill up a large pot with water and bring the beans and other ingredients to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to simmer, cover and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours until the beans are tender.
To cook the beans in the slow cooker, add all the same ingredients into the slow cooker, fill it up with water, cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until the beans are tender.
Short on time? Use canned beans!
If you don’t have time to cook dried beans, you can substitute cooked canned beans instead!
I recommend using 2 15-ounce cans. Just strain the beans and continue with the next step.
Once you’ve got your cooked beans, saute some garlic and diced jalapenos in olive oil. Then add the beans, fry them a bit and mash them using a bean/potato masher or an immersion blender for a creamier consistency.
At this time, I also like to add in a little of the “bean broth” to add in some moisture to the beans. If they’re too soupy for you liking, heat them on medium heat until they thicken to your liking.
Way to serve refried beans
Want to put these refried beans to good use? Here are some ideas on what to eat them with to make a complete and satisfying meal.
- As a side dish to Red Chicken Enchiladas, Mexican Carnitas or Carne Asada
- As a filling for Gorditas or Bean and Cheese Taquitos
- As a topping on Tostadas or Sopes
INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 pound dried pinto beans (about 1 cup dried)
- 1/2 large yellow onion, cut into large chunks
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
- water, enough to cover the beans at least 2 inches
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 4 cloves)
- 1 jalapeno, diced
- 1 tablespoon lime juice (about the juice of 1/2 lime)
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
INSTRUCTIONS
To cook the beans on the stovetop
- In a large pot, add in the dried beans, onions, oregano, salt and black pepper. Add in enough water to cover the beans at least two inches or more.
- On high heat, bring contents to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook until beans are tender, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Taste and season with more salt if necessary.
- Drain beans, reserving the bean water. You should have about 3 cups of cooked beans. Continue to the pan fry instructions.
To cook the beans in the slow cooker
- Add dried beans, onions, oregano, salt and black pepper into the slow cooker. Add in enough water to cover the beans at least two inches or more, cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until the beans are tender.
- Drain beans, reserving the bean water. You should have about 3 cups of cooked beans. Continue to the pan fry instructions.
To use canned cooked beans
- Open 2 15-ounce cans of cooked pinto beans and drain water. Continue to the pan fry instructions.
To pan fry the beans
- In a pot or a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic, jalapenos and cook, stirring occasionally, until jalapenos begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
- Add in beans and cook for 2 more minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the reserved bean water (or chicken/vegetable stock if using canned beans) and mash the beans to form a chunky paste using a bean/potato masher. If you want your beans smoother and creamier, use an immersion blender to puree until it’s the consistency you want.
- Reduce heat to medium and lime juice and smoked paprika. Stir and cook, until beans are heated through. Add more water one tablespoon at a time if the beans are too thick.
- Taste, season with salt if necessary and serve.
Cindy says
Have you made the beans in the instant pot?
Isabel says
Yes! Here’s a recipe for Instant Pot Pinto Beans and Instant Pot Black Beans.
Kasey says
Wow! Just made these during stay at home, and it’s ruined us for canned refried beans forever! We didn’t have a fresh jalapeño, so I substituted some minced chipotles in adobo, adn left out the smoked paprika. Soooooooo good! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe.
Isabel says
You’re so welcome! I’m glad you liked it!
Linda says
I used canned beans, so sauteed finely chopped onion and some oregano with the jalapeno. I don’t really like smoked paprika, but I have some, so I used it. Thought I might have made a mistake as I liked them better before adding the paprika. BUT, I served them with your Fish Tacos with Chipotle Lime Crema. (With homemade corn tortillas.) Used kohlrabi and sweet red peppers and lettuce as topping. It all worked well together.
Justine Janney says
So good, and easy. Loved it and am now spoiled.
Isabel says
Haha, good! So glad you liked it!
Jan says
I chopped the onion and just mashed in with the beans. Added nice flavor. My very picky son loved them. Shhhh…he won’t eats onions 😊
Isabel says
Haha, sometimes you just gotta hide those veggies in whenever you can! So happy you liked them 🙂
Malea Penix says
I made these for the first time today, and they were soooo good! Even my very picky granddaughter liked them! She said that they were delicious! I opted to use a can of roasted green chiles instead of jalpenos though, I like them tangy, but not too spicy! 🙂 Thank you!
Isabel says
Great! I love that you used the green chiles instead. That’s perfect.
Diane says
LOVE this recipe.Thank you.
I finely chop some of the onions and add when I mash. This is definitely our new family fave!!
Isabel says
I’m so happy you like it, Diane. Yay!
April L Meleski says
I’m out of oil. Would butter work?
Isabel says
Yes! Butter will work for sure. It’ll give it a slightly different flavor, but butter is delicious so that shouldn’t be a problem. 🙂
Don says
People should soak the beans overnight and save energy, less global warming, less animal habit. destruction, and you save money.
Lynne says
Go elsewhere with your politics! Delicious!
Denise says
Do you soak the beans overnight?
Isabel says
No, I do not.
Jennifer says
Omgosh these are so good made them with red beans instead of pinto beans, started to mash them with a potato masher but wasn’t happening quick enough so opted for the blender, but saved some of the potato masher beans to mix in with them. YUMMMMMMMMMMM
Rachel C. says
These beans are delicious! My beans were always way too dry and I would try to make them better with oil (it never worked). This recipe makes perfect refried beans. They also freeze really well. I used them in my weekly frozen burrito batch for work lunches.
Betsy says
I’m making these right now! Can the finished beans be frozen?
Isabel says
Hi Betsy, I haven’t frozen refried beans before so I’m not sure what it will do to the texture or flavor. I don’t think it’s a bad idea to try it though!
Jessica M says
I freeze them and they turn out great! Quick to dethaw when you decide you need some last minute!
Chris says
I have a question. What do you do with the chunks of onions when the whole beans are done cooking? The recipe doesn’t specifically say what to do with them. Please advise.
Isabel says
Hi Chris, sorry about that! I actually kept the onions with the beans and just mashed everything together. I think keeping the onions in there gives everything a nice flavor. But feel free to remove them if you’d like. Either way, the cooking liquid has a lot of the onion flavor in it already, so both ways will work.