Homemade Refried Beans are cooked and softened pinto beans that are mashed and fried with bacon fat and seasonings. Add the beans to tacos, burritos, enchiladas, taco pizza, Huevos Ranchos, or enjoy as a dip for tortilla chips, and more! Once you see how easy and inexpensive these beans are to make at home, you will want to have them on hand more than just on Taco Tuesdays!

A bowl of refried beans, near a plate of tortillas, queso fresco cheese, green onions, a towel and a serving spoon. Healthy Food, Real Food, Real Food Recipes, Healthy Food Recipes, Wholesome food, Wholesome food recipes, Whole Food, Whole Food Recipes, Realgood food, Realfooddaily Eat real, Good Real Food, Goodrealfood, refried beans, homemade refried beans, beans, bean recipes, pinto beans, fresh refried beans, how to make beans from scratch, from scratch cooking,

Homemade Refried Beans

When people see the word refried in refried beans, they sometimes think that means that the beans are deep-fried. However, that is not the case. The beans are actually boiled and then added to a pan of bacon grease (or lard) and mashed. Making your own refried beans is a lot healthier than buying a can of them at the store; you know exactly what you are adding to the beans without unwanted preservatives.

Why Soak Dried Beans?

Soaking dried beans overnight is important when cooking them. It reduces cook time and helps the beans cook more evenly. Soaking beans also makes the beans easier to digest, which is a good thing since beans are considered a superfood! They are a plant-based protein and have lots of fiber to help keep you full longer. When it comes to pinto beans, specifically, check out some health benefits they have to offer when added to your diet.

Specialty Ingredients

Cotija Cheese

Cotija cheese is a wonderful topping for refried beans. It is a Hispanic-style cheese named after the town of Cotija in the Mexican state of Michoacán. It is a hard, crumbly, and slightly salty cheese made mainly from cow’s milk. If you can’t find Cotija Cheese, you can use queso fresco or feta cheese as a substitute.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Soaking Beans 8 hours
Total Time 10 hours 10 minutes

Nutritional Information

per serving

Calories 441kcal
Fat 19g
Carbs 52g
Protein 17g

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and can vary based on the products used as well as changes made to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.

A bowl of refried beans with a serving spoon, near a plate of tortillas, queso fresco cheese, green onions, and a towel. Healthy Food, Real Food, Real Food Recipes, Healthy Food Recipes, Wholesome food, Wholesome food recipes, Whole Food, Whole Food Recipes, Realgood food, Realfooddaily Eat real, Good Real Food, Goodrealfood, refried beans, homemade refried beans, beans, bean recipes, pinto beans, fresh refried beans, how to make beans from scratch, from scratch cooking,

Homemade Refried Beans

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Soaking Beans 8 hours
Total Time 10 hours 10 minutes
Homemade Refried Beans are cooked and softened beans that are mashed and fried with bacon fat and seasonings.
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Ingredients

  • 1 pound dry pinto beans, soaked overnight and drained
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 10 cups cold water
  • ½ cup bacon grease, or lard
  • 1½ cups diced yellow onion
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 medium jalapeño pepper, minced
  • 1 teaspoon chipotle pepper powder
  • green onion, for garnish
  • cotija cheese, for garnish

Instructions

  • In a large pot, soak beans overnight, covered with several inches of water.
  • When ready, drain beans into a colander, then return to the pot, adding garlic, oregano, and 10 cups of water. Bring to a boil over high heat; stir and reduce heat to low, allowing the beans to simmer uncovered for 1½ to 2 hours, until soft.
    Boiled pinto with garlic and oregano in a large pot with a bowl of water, off to the side. Healthy Food, Real Food, Real Food Recipes, Healthy Food Recipes, Wholesome food, Wholesome food recipes, Whole Food, Whole Food Recipes, Realgood food, Realfooddaily Eat real, Good Real Food, Goodrealfood, refried beans, homemade refried beans, beans, bean recipes, pinto beans, fresh refried beans, how to make beans from scratch, from scratch cooking,
  • Drain the beans in a colander over a large bowl, reserving all the cooking liquid.
  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt bacon grease. Add onions and salt, cooking for about 10 minutes, until onions begin to brown.
    A large pot on a hot plate filled with bacon grease, onions, and kosher salt. Healthy Food, Real Food, Real Food Recipes, Healthy Food Recipes, Wholesome food, Wholesome food recipes, Whole Food, Whole Food Recipes, Realgood food, Realfooddaily Eat real, Good Real Food, Goodrealfood, refried beans, homemade refried beans, beans, bean recipes, pinto beans, fresh refried beans, how to make beans from scratch, from scratch cooking,
  • Add jalapeños and chipotle pepper powder; cook for 1 minute.
    A large pot on a hot plate, filled with cooked onion mixture, jalapeños, and chipotle powder. Healthy Food, Real Food, Real Food Recipes, Healthy Food Recipes, Wholesome food, Wholesome food recipes, Whole Food, Whole Food Recipes, Realgood food, Realfooddaily Eat real, Good Real Food, Goodrealfood, refried beans, homemade refried beans, beans, bean recipes, pinto beans, fresh refried beans, how to make beans from scratch, from scratch cooking,
  • Add the drained beans to the skillet, mashing half of them with a potato masher or the back of a spoon. Add ½ of the bean cooking liquid to the skillet, mashing and stirring the beans. Continue adding cooking liquid, mashing, and stirring the beans until they reach your desired consistency and texture.
  • Serve hot or cold, garnished with cotija cheese.
    A bowl of refried beans with a serving spoon, near a plate of tortillas, queso fresco cheese, green onions, and a towel. Healthy Food, Real Food, Real Food Recipes, Healthy Food Recipes, Wholesome food, Wholesome food recipes, Whole Food, Whole Food Recipes, Realgood food, Realfooddaily Eat real, Good Real Food, Goodrealfood, refried beans, homemade refried beans, beans, bean recipes, pinto beans, fresh refried beans, how to make beans from scratch, from scratch cooking,

Nutrition

Serving: 6people | Calories: 441kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 683mg | Potassium: 1123mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 3g
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
Keyword: Homemade Refried Beans
Servings: 6
Calories: 441

Leftovers?

How to Store

Store refried beans in the refrigerator, covered, for 4-5 days. You can also freeze the beans for up to 12 months. To freeze, first, let the beans cool completely. Then, store in freezer-safe bags or containers.

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