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!
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5 Minute Homemade Refried Beans
Joy Shull
5 minute homemade refried beans - use canned black beans and just a few spices to make a quick and delicious addition to dinner!
Prep Time 2 minutes mins
Cook Time 3 minutes mins
Total Time 5 minutes mins
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 6 servings
Calories 44 kcal
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!
Video
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.
Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 44kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 3gSodium: 103mgFiber: 3g
Tried this recipe? Tag me on instagram @buildyourbite and hashtag #buildyourbite!Let us know how it was!
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 taste good? ›
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.
What can I use to thicken beans? ›
You can also make a slurry of 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and about a cup or so of cool water, or some of the bean liquid. If you use the bean liquid, remove it first and set it aside to cool slightly.
What do Mexican restaurants put in their refried beans? ›
Fat and Oil: Refried beans are traditionally cooked with fat or oil to create a creamy and flavorful texture. Restaurants may use ingredients like lard, bacon fat, or vegetable oil to a.
How to jazz up refried beans? ›
Add a bit of fat
You can use olive oil, lard, bacon, beef bones, sausage, or a fatty piece of meat such as a ham hock or steak to rev up the flavor of your beans. While there are many tips for cooking beans, the addition of fat gives your refried beans a luxurious taste.
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.
Should I drain canned beans for refried beans? ›
If you're trying to limit your salt intake, draining and rinsing your canned beans before using them is never a bad idea. If you're a purist like me–who wants to be in control of the amount of added salt (while skipping the glossy film) in your dish–then yes, drain and rinse those beans first.
How to pimp refried beans? ›
Add toppings like melted cheese, jalapeños, sour cream, and salsa. You can also serve cold and make a 7-Layer Bean Dip. Tostadas: Spread refried beans on crisp tortillas and add toppings like lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, and salsa for a tasty tostada.
Can you add anything to refried beans? ›
How to Season Refried Beans. These homemade refried beans are flavored with fresh garlic, ground cumin, ground chili powder, salt, and fresh lime juice.
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.
Do refried beans thicken as they cool? ›
The beans thicken as they cool, so if you'd like to thin them out, add a bit of water or vegetable broth.
How do you make beans a little thicker? ›
After cooking, try mashing a small portion of the beans and stir them back into the whole beans. With re-fried beans almost all of the beans are mashed. If you don't want to smash any of the beans, you might stir in some small amounts of instant potato flakes until you reach the desired thickness.
How long does it take for beans to thicken? ›
If your beans aren't thickening the way you want, simmer them uncovered for a little while. I usually let mine simmer for about 45 minutes with the lid off. After they reduce is when you can taste and decide if you need to add any seasoning. But not before then.
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? ›
She told me that adding milk to the canned beans was her mom's secret, and that works, too. I have to say, though that adding sour cream is even better! It gives them just a slight tang with a smooth creaminess to them.
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.
Are refried beans from a restaurant healthy? ›
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.
