Best Refried Beans Recipes

FRIJOLES REFRITOS (REFRIED BEANS)

Steps:

• Combine water, pinto beans, and garlic into a large pot and cover; Cook over low heat for 5 1/2 hours; stir salt into beans and continue cooking until beans are very soft, about 30 minutes more.
• Heat canola oil in a skillet over high heat. Spoon the beans into the skillet without draining excess water; mash beans using a potato masher until they begin to lose their shape, about 3 minutes.

EASY NACHOS WITH REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine refried beans, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin in a bowl; mix well.
• Pour tortilla chips onto a baking sheet in one layer. Spoon bean mixture over tortilla chips. Top with Colby-Monterey Jack cheese and jalapenos.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.

BEST REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• Put the pinto beans in a bowl and cover with 2 inches of water. Soak for 8 hours to overnight.
• Transfer the beans to a medium saucepan and cover with water by about 1 inch. Add onion, garlic, chili powder, cumin, celery seed, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let cook for 1 1/2 hours.
• Use a colander to separate the liquid from the solids. Transfer the solids to a food processor with diced tomatoes, hot sauce, oregano, and cayenne. Blend to desired consistency.

REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and chili powder and cook for 1 minute more. Stir in the beans and chicken broth and cook until the beans are warmed through, about 5 minutes. Mash the beans coarsely with the back of a wooden spoon, adding more chicken broth to moisten, if needed. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in the cilantro.

REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• Rinse the beans thoroughly, then place them in a large pot with the bacon. Pour water over the top. Use enough water to cover the beans by 1 or 2 inches. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low and cover. Simmer for 2 to 3 hours. If the liquid seems to evaporate too quickly, add more water during the cooking process. The beans are done when they're fork tender, without much bite.
• Add the chili powder, salt and pepper. Stir and taste, adjusting the seasoning as necessary. Add in other seasonings as desired.
• Heat the fat in a large skillet and cook the onions until translucent. Add the beans to the skillet and mash them until they're the consistency you want. Stir and cook them until heated, then add the grated cheese. Top with the jalapenos.

FRIJOLES REFRITOS (CLASSIC MEXICAN REFRIED BEANS)

Steps:

• Mash the beans in a bowl.
• In a medium skillet, heat the oil over medium heat.
• Add the onion and the garlic; cook and stir until onion is deep golden, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in the mashed beans and cook for about one minute.
• Add salt to taste.
• Makes about one pint.

REFRIED BEANS: FRIJOLES REFRITOS

Steps:

• In a large stockpot, bring the beans to a boil in 8 cups water. Let boil for 15 minutes and skim off any scum that rises to the surface. Drain beans in a colander and rinse. Wash out the pot and return the beans to the pot with 8 cups fresh water. Bring to a simmer, cover and let cook until tender, about 2 hours over low heat.
• In a large saute pan, heat oil over medium-high heat until it begins to shimmer. Add onion and garlic and saute until the onion turns translucent. Add chili powder, salt, and pepper, and cook for a few minutes to allow flavors to integrate. Drain beans and add to pan, mashing the ingredients together. Heat through and serve with minced cilantro or minced parsley sprinkled on top.

AUTHENTIC REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• Put beans and water into Dutch oven.
• Soak at least six hours.
• Pour beans into colander and rinse thoroughly.
• Add two cups water back into the Dutch oven, along with bacon grease, garlic powder, bouillon and chili powder.
• Bring to a boil.
• Cover and reduce heat, simmering for about four to six hours.
• Stir occasionally.
• You'll know when the frijoles are done because they'll be very tender.
• Mash until about only half are left whole.

SPICY CHEESY REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir onion and garlic until onion becomes translucent, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Cook and stir refried beans into onion mixture until heated through, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir cream cheese into bean mixture. Spread mixture into a pie plate; top with Cheddar cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 20 minutes.

REFRIED BLACK BEANS (FRIJOLES NEGROS REFRITOS)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium pan over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until it's soft and browned at the edges, about 5 minutes. Add the beans, garlic, and chile powder.
• Let the beans come to a brisk simmer, then lower the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook, stirring and mashing often until the beans resemble a very coarse puree and have thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. When you tip the pan, the beans should creep forward like lava. The beans will thicken a little more once they cool. Add salt to taste. Use warm or at room temperature.

CHORIZO REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• Heat a medium saute pan on medium heat. Add the chorizo and cook until golden in color, about 6 minutes. Remove the chorizo to a drain on a plate lined with some paper towels. Add the onions to the pan with the chorizo fat. Saute until the onions are translucent, about 4 minutes. Return the chorizo to the pan. Add the refried beans to the mixture. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes. Turn the heat off and reserve for tostadas and burritos.

CHICKEN NACHOS WITH REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Pour tortilla chips onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread refried beans over the chips. Layer on chicken and jalapenos. Top with Cheddar cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 6 minutes.

SALSA-MARINATED SKIRT STEAK SOFT TACOS WITH REFRIED WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• MARINATE THE STEAK: Combine 1 cup of the salsa, the garlic, 2 tablespoons of the oil, the Worcestershire, and lime juice in a resealable plastic bag and add the steak. Shake to evenly disperse and marinate for at least 30 minutes at room temperature or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator.
• SET UP: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Wrap the tortillas in aluminum foil and keep warm in the oven.
• SEAR THE STEAKS: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Remove the steaks from the bag, allowing the large salsa bits and extra marinade to drip off, and pat with paper towels to dry slightly. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and a couple turns of pepper. Pour the remaining 2 tablespoons oil into the skillet and cook the steaks on one side until browned, about 4 minutes. Flip and cook until charred and medium-rare, about 3 more minutes. Let rest on a cutting board before slicing.
• MASH THE BEANS: Add the beans with their liquid to the same skillet and cook until the liquid has reduced by half, 4 to 6 minutes. Mash with a potato masher until smooth.
• ASSEMBLE THE TACOS: Slice the steak against the grain into 2- to 3-inch-long pieces. Spread the center of each tortilla with 1 tablespoon of the beans. Arrange a few slices of steak on top of each with some of the remaining salsa and some cilantro. Serve the extra beans on the side.

CROCK POT FRIJOLES REFRITOS (REFRIED BEANS)

Steps:

• Sort & rinse beans. Place in crockpot, cover with water and soak 8 hours or overnight.
• Drain water from beans & rinse again. Remove water from the crockpot and rinse again.
• Place back in crock pot and add water & salt. Cover and cook on low 10 hours.
• Reserving liquid, drain beans & place in bowl.
• Heat oil in skillet & saute onions and garlic over medium heat until tender. Transfer to blender.
• Add chilies, cumin, and jalepenos, and blend until smooth.
• Add cooked beans (in batches---there's too much to do all at once) to blender and blend until smooth. Pour into crock pot.
• Stir well and gradually add reserved liquid until beans reach desired consistency.
• Cook on high 20-30 minutes.

CHORIZO REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• Finely chop the chorizo into small dice. In a heavy-bottomed pot add olive oil and chorizo. Put the pot over low heat and slowly bring the heat up to medium. Fry the chorizo for a few minutes to infuse the olive oil. Using a slotted spoon remove about 1/4 cup of chorizo, for garnish, and set aside. To the remaining chorizo in the pot add the onion and garlic and fry until both are cooked, about 2 minutes. Add the beans with their liquid and stock and simmer to allow the flavors to come together about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Use a potato masher to mash the beans into a coarse puree. Alternatively, you could let the beans cool for about 5 minutes and carefully puree in a food processor until smooth. Transfer to a serving bowl.

TACO RICE WITH BEEF AND REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• In large saucepan, mix together the first 5 ingredients plus half the taco seasoning. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Stir in rice, cover and let stand 5 minutes, then add tomato sauce.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook ground beef over med-high heat until browned. Drain off the grease. Mix the remaining taco seasoning with the beef.
• In a 13x9" baking dish coated with cooking spray, spread half of the rice mixture. Spread the refried beans evenly over the top. Then spread the beef mixture and top with 1/2 the cheese. Spread remaining rice mixture, and top with the remaining cheese.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, or until cheese melts.

REFRIED BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Drain the soaked beans and add to a pot. Cover with 2 inches cold water and add the garlic, onions, cumin, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Leave to a simmer until the beans are tender and the liquid has turned into a thick sauce, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Melt the butter in a skillet and pour in the beans. Mash the beans (leave some texture) and cook over a medium heat, 3 or 4 minutes.

REFRIED BEANS (CROCK POT)

Steps:

• Sort and rinse dried beans; place in crockpot and cover with water (by several inches) and soak overnight.
• In the morning, drain and rinse beans (discarding soaking water).
• Return beans to crock pot, and add 6 cups water and the salt.
• Cover and cook on low for 10-12 hours or until beans are nice and tender.
• Drain cooked beans, reserving cooking liquid.
• Mash beans and return to crock (or may mash in the crock pot).
• In a small skillet, saute onion and garlic in lard or butter until tender and lightly golden; add to crock pot.
• Stir in chopped green chillies and ground cumin, adding some of the reserved cooking liquid to adjust the consistency as desired.
• Cover crock, and cook on high for 15-30 minutes or until heated through nicely, stirring occasionallly (may add additional liquid if needed).
• Adjust salt, if necessary, before serving.
• Garnish with cheese or chopped onion, if desired.

SPICY REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute the onion, jalapeno and garlic in oil for 2-3 minutes or until tender. Stir in the beans, water, hot pepper sauce, cumin, chili powder and cayenne. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until heated through. Transfer to a serving bowl; sprinkle with cheese.

FRIJOLES DE FIESTA (FIESTA REFRIED BEANS)

Steps:

• Place pinto beans in a large pot and cover with 14 cups water. Add the onion and set over high heat. Once it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, skim off any foam that may have risen to the top, partly cover with a lid and cook for 1 hour.
• Remove the lid, stir in salt, partly cover with the lid, and cook for another 15 to 30 more minutes, until beans are completely cooked through and tender and the liquid is tinted from the pinto beans.
• Meanwhile, place the dried chiles in a small saucepan, cover with water and set over high heat. Once the liquid comes to a boil, reduce heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes, until chiles have rehydrated, softened and plumped up.
• Remove the lid on the beans, and, using a slotted spoon or a pair of tongs, discard the onion.
• Working in batches if needed, add the cooked beans along with 2 cups of their cooking liquid, the dried chiles, the chipotle chiles and the adobo sauce to a blender or food processor, and pulse until the mixture forms a coarse purée.
• Heat the oil in a large, heavy casserole or sauté pan set over medium. Once hot but not smoking, carefully add the bean purée, as it will strongly sizzle and splatter. Stir well, incorporating the hot oil into the bean mixture. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring often and scraping the bottom and sides of the pan as the refried beans continuously attempt to create a crust, until the mixture thickens.
• Stir in the grated cheese, and continue to cook for another 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently and scraping the bottom and the sides, until the mixture thickens to a thick purée that holds its shape, and a clear trail can be traced in the bottom of the pan.
• When ready to serve, scrape into a bowl and garnish with the crumbled Cotija. Beans will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Reheat them in a saucepan or skillet with a couple tablespoons of water over medium and mash as they warm up, since they have a tendency to thicken once chilled.