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–+ servings
Homemade refried beans in a bowl topped with fresh cilantro and red onion

Refried Beans

5 from 1 vote
Creamy, flavorful homemade refried beans made from scratch with dried or canned beans. Way better than store-bought—perfect for tacos, burritos, or as a side dish.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Soak Time 4 hours
Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 8
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-Mex
Calories: 160
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Bean Base:
  • 2 cups Dried pinto beans - or 4 cups cooked beans
  • 1 medium Yellow onion - chopped (plus 1 chunk for simmering)
  • 3 cloves Garlic - minced
  • 3 tablespoon Vegetable oil - or lard, bacon fat, or butter
  • 1 teaspoon Salt - adjust to taste
  • 6 cups Water or chicken broth - for cooking beans
Flavor Boosters (Optional):
  • 1 teaspoon Ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon Chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon Black pepper
  • 1–2 leaves Bay leaves - remove after cooking
  • 1 whole Jalapeño - chopped, optional heat
Optional Garnishes:
  • Cheese - cheddar, Monterey Jack, or queso fresco
  • Fresh cilantro - chopped
  • Lime juice - fresh squeezed
  • Hot sauce - to taste

Equipment

  • Large pot (for simmering beans)
  • Heavy skillet (for mashing beans)
  • Potato masher or wooden spoon (to mash to desired texture)
  • Cutting board & knife (for onion, garlic, jalapeño)

Method
 

  1. Rinse pinto beans, remove any debris, and soak overnight in plenty of water.
  2. Drain beans, cover with fresh water, add onion and bay leaves, then simmer 1–2 hours until tender. Reserve some cooking liquid. (If using canned beans, skip to Sauté.)
  3. Heat oil in a skillet, cook onion until golden, then add garlic and spices and cook briefly until fragrant.
  4. Add beans and a little cooking liquid to the skillet, mash with a masher or spoon, adding more liquid as needed until creamy but slightly chunky.
  5. Season with salt and pepper, adjust texture, and serve warm with optional toppings or store for later use.

Nutrition

Serving: 120gCalories: 160kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 9gFat: 3.5gSaturated Fat: 0.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 300mgPotassium: 600mgFiber: 8gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 20IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients used and portion sizes.Feel free to add more of your favorite toppings.

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