Shortcut Refried Beans

Making Mexican Refried Beans at home couldn't be easier. These fast and easy refried beans taste so much better than canned and are ready in less than twenty minutes. Serve them with some shrimp tacos or chicken tostadas for a meal that tastes like takeout.

Given that many of the restaurant versions are loaded with lard and a homemade version can take 8-10 hours to make, I wanted to find a quick way to create delicious refried beans at home!

This shortcut version doctors up canned beans with some onions, garlic, and jalapeno and then mashed to the perfect consistency. Personally, I like mine with some texture, but for a smoother version, just pop everything into a food processor or blender.

3 Ways to Use Refried Beans

• Bean dip: Use the refried beans as a delicious bean dip by adding a touch of cumin and either chili powder or cayenne powder. Top with pico de gallo, cilantro, and shredded cheese. Serve it with some baked tortilla chips.
• Enchiladas: Use your leftover refried beans to make enchiladas (the beans can be the filling) or enfrijoladas. Just thin the beans with vegetable broth.
• Nachos: Use refried beans to make hearty nachos with your favorite veggies, protein, and melted cheese.

What are refried beans?

Frijoles refritos is the Spanish name for refried beans and actually means "rehashed."

Traditionally, frijoles refritos were a way to use up leftover cooked beans, and the beans were "rehashed" into another use!

Ingredients for Refried Beans

Here’s a brief list of what you’ll need to make these shortcut refried beans:

• Canned pinto beans: Traditionally, refried beans are made with pinto beans since they have a creamy texture. If you don’t want to use canned, you can make pinto beans from scratch with this slow cooker pinto bean recipe!
• Veggies: Onion, garlic cloves, and a jalapeño pepper create the flavor base for these beans. If you prefer less heat, make sure to remove the seeds and membrane from the pepper!
• Vegetable or chicken broth: This helps thin out the bean mixture.

How to Make Quick Refried Beans

Here’s a step-by-step look of how to make this recipe:

Step One: Sauté the Veggies

Start by heating up a little oil in a skillet. Toss in the onion, garlic, and jalapeño if you like some heat, and let them cook until they soften.

Step Two: Add the Beans and Broth

Stir in your canned beans and some broth to keep things creamy. Let it all simmer together for a bit until everything's nice and warm.

Step Three: Mash It Up

Turn off the heat, season with salt and pepper, and start mashing! Use a wooden spoon or a potato masher for a chunkier texture, or blend it all if you like it smooth.

How to make pinto beans from scratch?

If you prefer using homemade beans instead of canned, here's how to cook the dried beans.

1. Wash and soak: Start by washing the dried pinto beans and removing any debris. If you have time, soak the dried beans in water overnight. Soaking the beans helps remove some of the phytic acid, which can make them easier to digest and cause less gas. Soaking also helps the beans cook more quickly and more evenly.
2. Stovetop: Add the dried beans to a pot and cover with at least 3 inches of water. Add chopped onion, garlic cloves, bay leaves, oregano, and a good sprinkling of salt. Bring to a boil and then turn down to a simmer. Cook for 2-3 hours until tender. Drain the beans.
3. Pressure cooker or instant pot: Add one pound of beans to the pressure cooker along with 8 cups of water, onion, garlic, bay leaves, oregano, and salt. Cover and cook for 35 minutes, and then let it naturally release. You can also make crockpot pinto beans.

Pro tip: Old beans will take longer to cook than new beans. If you find your beans aren't getting soft, add 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda to the pot or pressure cooker. Then cook for an additional 30 minutes on the stovetop or 10 minutes in the pressure cooker.

What to eat with refried beans?

There are endless options when it comes to how to eat refried beans, and around here, we eat everything from eggs to chips to all the tacos and burritos. With that said, here are some favorites:

• Quesadillas: Make quesadillas using refried beans in place of regular canned beans. This boosts the flavor of the quesadilla and helps it stay together since the refried beans act as a binder. You can also serve the refried beans on the side as a dip or spread them right on top of the quesadilla before serving.
• Tacos: Serve these alongside some tacos like these Easy Fish Tacos, Chicken Soft Tacos, or Steak Tacos.
• Burrito: Try making your own burrito with a layer of refried beans, cooked rice or quinoa, leftover cooked chicken, salsa, and cheese.
• Tostadas: Tostadas are basically crispy tortillas topped with refried beans and other toppings. Try making these Shrimp Tostadas for an easy, quick meal.
• Veggie wrap: For something unexpected, make a quick veggie wrap starting with a thin layer of refried beans. This adds protein and fiber to your wrap and also will help hold it together.

Recipe Ideas, Tips, and Easy Swaps

Here are some easy ways to customize this recipe, along with tips for the best refried beans!

• Beans: This recipe will work with black beans as well, but they won't mash quite as well, so you may need a little extra liquid. Other canned beans can also be used, but pinto beans are the creamiest refried beans.
• Less spice: If you don't want a spicy bean dish, then just leave out the jalapeno pepper. If you want a spicy option but don't have a jalapeno, you can add some chili powder, cayenne pepper, or canned adobo sauce from a can of chipotle peppers. For a smoky flavor, add some cumin.
• Dice: Make sure to dice the onions, garlic, and jalapeno nice and small and cook them completely. They should blend seamlessly into the beans.
• Cheese: My favorite way to serve these beans is with melted cheese and a few big spoonfuls of pico de Gallo. This is the perfect side dish, in my opinion.
• Flavor: To add more flavor, cook the beans in bacon fat or large instead of olive oil. This will give it a more traditional taste. Finish with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice.
• Make it creamy: If you prefer very creamy frijoles refritos, use an immersion blender until they reach your desired consistency, or use a blender.