Easy Refried Beans Recipe: How to Make Refried Beans

Refried beans, or frijoles refritos in Spanish, consist of cooked beans that you then mash or blend before mixing with other various seasonings and flavorings. It is a traditional dish in Mexican food and Tex-Mex cuisine, so it appears often on menus in Mexican restaurants. Refried beans are also eaten in other parts of Latin America.

While the most common type of bean in refried beans is pinto beans, you can also use black beans or red beans. Additionally, you can use either canned beans or dried beans, although you need to soak dried beans to soften them before you can mash them.

There are plenty of options for store-bought refried beans, while homemade refried beans allow you to customize the beans to your preferences. Here are where store-bought and homemade refried beans differ:

• Consistency: When you buy refried beans at the store, you’re locked into whatever consistency the factory produced, often one that emphasizes the liquid content. When you make your own refried beans recipe, you can leave the beans chunky, create a thick or thin consistency, or load them up with diced vegetables like white onion or jalapeno.
• Cost: Dry beans are more cost-effective and come in a variety of sizes. A homemade recipe can also yield more than a can or premade refried beans.
• Freshness: While canned goods have come a long way, the metal can affect the taste of the food. If you use dried beans, you won’t get any of that metal flavor and the taste will be fresher.
• Shelf life: Once opened, a can of refried beans will last up to four days. The homemade variety will last you up to five days. The best way to store both store-bought and homemade refried beans is in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Pinto beans are the most common refried beans; however, it’s possible to use other types of beans in a refried beans recipe. Here are four types of beans you can use:

1. 1. Black beans: When cooked, black beans mash easily with something like a potato masher or in a food processor. Their flavor is mild and will complement dishes like loaded burritos, enchiladas, or layered bean dips well.
2. 2. Peruano beans: Also known as canary beans or Peruvian beans, these are a great option for refried beans due to their creamy interior. They are mild in taste, which means they don’t overpower the other ingredients in a refried beans dish.
3. 3. Pinto beans: Pinto beans are frequently used in refried beans recipes because they have a creamy texture and retain their structure even after they’re cooked. They mash well and don’t have an overpowering bean flavor, so they can be mixed with other spices and veggies.
4. 4. Red kidney beans: These beans have a slightly sweet taste and a firm texture, which is perfect if you want chunkier refried beans that can take on additional spices.

Refried beans can be as easy or as complicated as you want them to be. Below are tips for making homemade refried beans.

1. 1. Soak dried beans overnight. If you’re using dried beans, especially red kidney beans, it is important to soak them overnight to soften their hard exterior so they can cook fully in the boiling water. If you’re using a slow cooker, soaking is less important but still recommended. Cooking dried beans in a pressure cooker presents an exception to the soaking rule, as it isn’t necessary in those cases.
2. 2. Amp up the flavor. For flavorful refried beans, you’ll need to add other ingredients beyond just the beans. Mexican oregano, chopped onion, black pepper, cayenne pepper, a cooking liquid like chicken broth, or fresh cilantro will add flavor to the refried beans without drowning out the flavor of the beans themselves. You can also experiment with spices like chili powder or cumin.
3. 3. Add fat. The addition of fat is in part how refried beans develop their amazing texture and flavor. You can use olive oil, but lard or even bacon fat go further in turning an easy refried beans recipe into something special.

Here are three suggestions for how to serve your refried beans, whether they will be the main dish or complementary to the meal.

• As a side dish. You can eat refried beans as a side to dishes like tacos, tostadas, and quesadillas. You can eat them with a fork or a spoon, or mingle them with other dishes on your plate.
• As a dip. Refried beans are a common addition to layer dip recipes, but refried beans can also be a dip themselves. Add a little lime juice and top them with cotija cheese or queso fresco and then serve the dip with fresh vegetables or tortilla chips for dipping.
• As a spread. Much like you can serve refried beans on the side of dishes like tacos, quesadillas, and tostadas, the flavored bean puree can also be used in the dishes themselves. Spread refried beans on the bottom of your crisped tostada tortilla or on your quesadillas before you put down the cheese.