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Refried beans recipe from scratch made in just 5 minutes! All you need is a handful of ingredients to make this delicious mexican favorite.
Today I’m sharing with you my favorite 5 minute homemade refried beans recipe.
I have loved refried beans since I was a little girl.
I remember on several occasions eating them straight out of the can with chips…cold even!
I have found since I began to eat healthy that refried beans can be either 1) hard to find with clean ingredients or 2) expensive.
That’s when I decided to make them myself.
How do you make refried beans?
Partially drain a can of black beans or pinto beans.
The more liquid you leave, the runnier the beans will be. For super thick refried beans, drain most of the liquid.
If you want more runny beans, say for pouring over nachos, leave a little more liquid than normal
Use an immersion blender to puree the beans until smooth.
Do this step first while the beans are still room temperature. If the beans splatter, at least they will not be hot.
I have learned this the hard way! If you do not have an immersion blender, use a potato masher and mash them as much as possible
Once your beans are smooth, place them in a saucepan over medium heat and add the lime juice and spices.
Heat until warm (less than five minutes) and they are ready to serve!
refried black beans
Refried beans are classically made with pinto beans, but you can also make them with black beans.
I personally love to make refried black beans!
I’m a fan of all things mexican food wise, especially as a vegetarian/mostly vegan.
We eat mexican at least once a week, if not more.
It’s an easy and delicious way to get lots of protein and lots of flavor!
Uses For Refried Beans
- A healthy bean dip – I love eating them dipped with tortilla chips!
- Use as filling in tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, you can’t go wrong!
- Drizzle these vegan refried beans over nachos for an extra protein and flavor punch
These are so simple but really flavorful!
Like I said above, I use black beans and pinto beans interchangeably in this recipe.
Whichever you have on hand will work!
Ever since I got my immersion blender, it has been my best friend and this recipe is one of the main reasons why!
I love these beans alone, or in pretty much anything.
I had a hard time photographing them because I kept dipping chips in to eat. The flavor is so addictive!
Refried beans recipe from scratch:
Ever since I discovered the immersion blender hack, I’ve been making my own homemade refried beans instead of buying them.
I’m not one of those people that likes to make everything from scratch, but with as easy as this recipe is it takes no work at all!
These refried beans are perfect in my Simple Refried Bean Enchiladas!
If you love nachos, I also use them in my 30 Minute Sweet Potato Refried Bean Nachos!
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Ingredients
- 1 can of black beans or pinto beans, partially drained (see notes)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- squeeze of lime juice (I used around ½ small lime)
Instructions
- Partially drain beans and pour into a pan
- Using an immersion blender, blend beans in pan until they are a puree texture
- Add spices and lime juice and heat over medium heat until hot (around 3-5 minutes)
- Serve on burritos, nachos, tacos, or as a dip
- Enjoy!
Notes
Drain beans according to how thick you want the refried beans to be. I drained about half of the liquid from mine and it was spreadable but not extremely thick. It will thicken if stored in the fridge also.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 44Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 103mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 3gSugar: 0gProtein: 3g
Did you make this recipe?
Be sure to tag me on instagram @buildyourbite and hashtag #buildyourbite with your recipe creations!
Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a star rating below!
FAQs
If you're wondering what is the secret ingredient for restaurant-quality refried beans, the answer is fat. Restaurant-made refried beans honor traditional Mexican culinary practices by adding a hearty helping of lard or bacon fat drippings to their recipe.
What thickens refried beans? ›
If you prefer thicker beans, there's a simple solution to boost flavor, add moisture, and thicken refried beans. Cream cheese is the not-so-secret weapon for making refried beans a yummy side dish to accompany rice, or a versatile taco or nacho topping.
How to make refried beans from a can better? ›
How to make canned refried beans better
- Melt two tablespoons of unsalted butter in a frying pan.
- Add 1/4 cup minced white or yellow onion and cook until golden brown.
- Add the refried beans to the skillet and mash with a fork to combine with the onion.
- Add a pinch or two of salt, garlic powder, cumin, and chile powder.
Beans, lentils, and peas are generally a great source of protein and fiber, but they can cause IBS symptoms. They contain compounds called oligosaccharides that are resistant to digestion by intestinal enzymes. While beans can increase bulk in stool to help constipation, they also increase IBS symptoms.
What is the secret to good refried beans? ›
Lard – Here's where the secret ingredient comes in. Use lard to add a rich, savory thickness to the beans, or, use bacon fat like I do. Leftover bacon fat is extremely rich in salty, savory goodness, and it adds an entirely new depth of flavor to these Mexican refried beans — I can't recommend it enough!
Are refried beans really unhealthy? ›
Beans are high in minerals and fiber that may boost your digestive health and reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Yet, since refried beans often contain added fat and salt, they may be higher in calories, saturated fat, and sodium than other beans.
What can I add to refried beans for more flavor? ›
If you don't like bacon flavor in your refried beans (which I don't, but some do), you can simply add chili powder, garlic powder, cumin and some oregano to those beans. An alternate addition is adding a bit of your favorite salsa to them.
Why do people add milk to refried beans? ›
Milk makes refried beans creamy
This liquid can help make your beans smoother and taste richer. Once the beans are tender, it's time to fry them. Garlic is cooked in the oil and then the beans are added. The beans are mashed, and this is where the milk comes in.
What kind of cheese goes on refried beans? ›
Ingredients for a creamy refried bean dip typically include refried beans, sour cream, cheese (such as cheddar or Monterey jack), and seasonings (such as garlic powder, cumin, and chili powder). Optional ingredients may include diced tomatoes, green onions, and cilantro.
Should I drain canned beans for refried beans? ›
For that reason, most of our Test Kitchen recipes call for draining and rinsing canned beans, which can also help remove the metallic flavor sometimes found in cans. It's an added step that takes less than a minute but improves the flavor and texture of your finished dish.
But then — fun trick — if you stir an extra pat of cold butter into the refried beans at the very end, it will make them extra silky and add a rich hint of buttery flavor. It's a great way to achieve some of the flavor and feel of traditional lard-based refried beans without the lard.
What do you add to refried beans to make them creamy? ›
Add anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 a cup of dairy, depending on how thick or how creamy you'd like your beans and then just heat through, stirring often, until all is warm. Some brands of refried beans are thicker or thinner to start with, so use your judgment.
Are refried beans a laxative? ›
Just about any type of bean, from black bean to pinto, will help you in the constipation department. They are fiber powerhouses with over seven grams per serving. Beans contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, keeping things moving through your digestive tract.
Do refried beans Constipate you? ›
It Can Cause Constipation
Typically, the fiber in beans is meant to help prevent constipation by moving food through your intestines. However, the flip side to this is that if you do not drink enough liquids after consuming beans, it can actually constipate you.
Why do refried beans hurt my stomach? ›
Beans cause gas because they contain a type of sugar, called oligosaccharide, that the body cannot break down. Gas can cause pain and discomfort, but beans are good for your digestive tract, so trying strategies to reduce or prevent gas may be the best solution.
Why are Mexican restaurant beans so good? ›
Fat and seasoning: Refried beans typically start with cooking beans in fat, such as lard, bacon fat, or vegetable oil. This fat adds richness and flavor to the beans.
How to make canned beans taste like Mexican restaurant? ›
Add A Topping – Top these restaurant-style refried beans with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and a dash of hot sauce. They will taste like they came from your favorite Mexican restaurant. Bacon Beans – Cook and crumble a few strips of bacon to mix into the refried beans.
How do Mexican restaurants make their beans so good? ›
The secret to creating beans that taste like they're from a restaurant is a long simmering time. This softens the beans and brings out all the flavor as well as marries the flavor from the add-ins into the beans. Mixing with a hand mixer softens the beans and gives them an authentic texture.
How to make canned beans taste like restaurant? ›
I like to sprinkle in some taco seasoning, but you could add whatever spices you like — garlic powder, cumin, and chili powder are all good calls. Then, you mash the beans up directly in the pan and add just a little bit of vinegar at the end to really make the beans sing.
