Refried beans are cooked and mashed beans that are a staple in Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine that can be served as a side dish, condiment, dip or as an ingredient in other recipes. The name is a bit of a misnomer since the ‘re’ means ‘well’ so they are actually ‘well fried beans’ rather than ‘twice fried beans’. At their base refried beans are simply beans, often pinto beans, that are cooked, fried and mashed but you can add extras like onions, garlic, chili powder, cumin, etc. to taste. The beans are traditionally fried in lard which adds flavour but you could also substitute bacon grease or butter for a different flavour or even oil if you want something a little healthier or without too much flavour. I like to make refried beans in one of two ways, the quick and easy pantry friendly way with canned beans and the slow cooker way with dried beans and both methods are super easy and taste way better than canned!
Refried beans are great as a snack with tortilla chips for dipping!
Add some ooey gooey melted cheese and it are even better!
Just look at all of that stringy melted cheese!
Refried Beans (Frijoles Refritos)
Prep Time:5 minutes Cook Time:10 minutes Total Time:15 minutes Servings: 6
Quick, easy, healthy and pantry friendly homemade refried beans.
ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 small onion, diced (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped (optional)
- 2 (15 ounce) cans pinto beans (or other bean), drained and rinsed (or 3 cups cooked beans, from 1/ cup dry)
- 2 teaspoons chili powder (optional)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
- * water (optional)
- salt to taste
directions
- Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat, add the onion and cook until tender, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the garlic, chili powder and cumin and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add the beans, cook until warm, mash and add water to get the beans to the consistency that you desire before seasoning with salt to taste.
Option: Lard is more traditional than oil and adds more flavour, bacon drippings and butter also work well and if you use one of these feel free to use more than 2 tablespoons for even more flavour!
Option: Add a touch of chipotle chili powder for smokiness.
Option: Instead of using water to thin the beans use broth or the water that you cooked the beans in, if you cooked dry beans, for more flavour.
Option: Add a touch of chipotle chili powder for smokiness.
Option: Instead of using water to thin the beans use broth or the water that you cooked the beans in, if you cooked dry beans, for more flavour.
Nutrition Facts: Calories 172, Fat 5g (Saturated 0.5g, Trans 0), Cholesterol 0, Sodium 338mg, Carbs 28g (Fiber 7g, Sugars 0.7g), Protein 9g
Nutrition by: 
Slow Cooker Refried Beans
Prep Time:5 minutes Cook Time:8 hours Total Time:8 hours 5 minutes Servings: 6
Easy slow cooker refried beans that are healthy and pantry friendly.
ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups dried pinto beans, picked over
- 1 small onion, small dice (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped (optional)
- 2 teaspoons chili powder (optional)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
- 4 cups water
- salt to taste
directions
- Place the beans, onion, garlic, chili powder, cumim and water in the slow cooker and cook on high for 8 hours.
- Drain the liquid, reserving it, mash the beans and add as much of the cooking liquid as desired to get the consistency that you want before seasoning with salt to taste.
Option: Use black beans, or other bean.
Option: Add a touch of chipotle chili powder for smokiness.
Option: Fry the mashed beans in lard, bacon grease, butter or vegetable oil.
Option: Mix in and/or top with shredded cheese!
Option: Add a touch of chipotle chili powder for smokiness.
Option: Fry the mashed beans in lard, bacon grease, butter or vegetable oil.
Option: Mix in and/or top with shredded cheese!
Nutrition Facts: Calories 167, Fat 0.5g (Saturated 0, Trans 0), Cholesterol 0, Sodium 12mg, Carbs 30g (Fiber 7g, Sugars 1g), Protein 10g
Nutrition by:
Use in:
7 Layer Dip
Quesadilla Huevos Rancheros
Burritos
Jalapeno Cornbread Grilled Cheese with Chipotle Caramelized Onions, Refried Black Beans and Guacamole
Hot Cheesy Bean Dip
Huevos Rancheros
Huevos Motulenos
Seven Layer Dip Cornmeal Pancakes
Butternut Squash and Chorizo Tostadas
Chorizo Scrambled Eggs Breakfast Tacos
Taco Quesadilla Pizzas
Chipotle Tuna 7 Layer Dip
Huevos Rancheros Breakfast Sandwich
7 Layer Dip
Quesadilla Huevos Rancheros
Burritos
Jalapeno Cornbread Grilled Cheese with Chipotle Caramelized Onions, Refried Black Beans and Guacamole
Hot Cheesy Bean Dip
Huevos Rancheros
Huevos Motulenos
Seven Layer Dip Cornmeal Pancakes
Butternut Squash and Chorizo Tostadas
Chorizo Scrambled Eggs Breakfast Tacos
Taco Quesadilla Pizzas
Chipotle Tuna 7 Layer Dip
Huevos Rancheros Breakfast Sandwich
Kevin,
I’m jealous, I love refried beans!! 🙂
Margot
First time hearing about refried beans :O
i remember i had my best beans in a small resto in montreal when we went there for our summer vacation.. i forgot the name though.. never knew its possible to refry them!
I’m a bacon grease fan, so I usually save mine and put it in the fridge for when I need it. That way, I always have some on hand!
yes, I had asked myself that question too, thank you for the good explaination. The burrito looked gorgeous!
The beans are 're'fried because they are well cooked. "Re" being used as a Spanish prefix to denote 'quite' or 'well' or 'very'. It has nothing to do with the beans being fried twice, which of course you knew. So your explanation is fairly sound, although without perhaps knowing why.
Well this explains alot…I was opening a can of pinto beans and mashing them, then microwaving. I can't wait to start making them this way instead. Thanks!
This looks great and so simple! I had frijoles so many times when I lived in Mexico, but never learned how to cook it myself. I'm going to make this and try one of your dips tonight:)
Love the Vine of this cheesy dish Kevin. I wish this were on my table tonight.
I love how thick and cheesy that dip is. Yum.