Refried Beans
Refried beans are one of those staple recipes of Mexican cooking, consisting of cooked and mashed pinto beans with added seasonings and spices. They're a regular component on our weekly meal rotation for quesadillas, burrito bowls, quick tacos, and more.
They're extremely versatile and so easy to make - this recipe uses canned beans so it's ready in under 25 minutes!
Being a vegetarian household, bean-focused recipes are a staple of our weekly meals. My Mexican pinto beans recipe is one of the most popular recipes on this site because it's quick, easy, and delicious - and these easy refried beans are no different. They're quick to make, taste delicious, and can be used in so many recipes; as a dip with tortilla chips, in a quesadilla with cheese, on top of burrito bowls or loaded nachos, and so much more.
For more bean recipes, make sure you try these Mexican black beans (black beans also work in this refried bean recipe!), or my simple creamy butter beans recipe.
Ingredient Notes
The exact quantities of the ingredients you need for this recipe are included in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here, I've added a few notes on the ingredients you need, plus a few potential substitutions you could make if you can't eat/find a certain ingredient.
- White Onion: Use a small white onion in this recipe, and dice it as finely as possible to avoid chunks of onion in your refried beans. Red onion would also work!
- Garlic Cloves: Fresh garlic is a must for this recipe! I use about three large cloves, but feel free to adjust this element based on your preferences.
- Pinto Beans: This recipe uses two cans of pinto beans, which are drained and rinsed. This is because it is so much more convenient than using dried pinto beans, making this recipe doable in less than 25 minutes. You could use dried beans, but be aware that you'll need to soak and cook them first. Some readers do say that you can't beat the taste of dried beans cooked from scratch, so it depends if you'd prefer convenience or maximum flavor!
- Seasoning & Spices: In this recipe, we use paprika, cumin, onion powder, cayenne chili powder, and salt and pepper to taste. I tend to make my refried beans on the milder side because I'm cooking our family of all ages (I'll just add jalapenos to my plate for more spice!), but feel free to add more chili powder or stir some diced jalapenos into the beans if you prefer.
- Lime: Finally, a squeeze of lime juice adds a nice element of zing and freshness to the beans.
Variations & Substitutions
If you don't have pinto beans, black beans also work perfectly in this recipe! Simply substitute the canned pinto beans for canned black beans. You could also consider using kidney beans.
How To Make This Refried Beans Recipe
Again, the exact step-by-step instructions and ingredient quantities will be in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
Below is an overview of making this recipe, plus some process shots to help you visualize how this recipe should turn out.
Step 1) Cook The Onion & Garlic
Heat your oil in a pan, then saute the diced onion and garlic for seven to nine minutes until soft and translucent.
Step 2) Add Spices & Beans
Tip in the spices followed by the drained pinto beans, then cook the mixture while mashing about two-thirds of the beans to get a chunky "mash" consistency.
Step 3) Add Lime & Adjust Seasonings
Squeeze over your lime juice, stir it in, then taste your refried beans and adjust the seasonings according to your tastes.
Top Tips \ Chef's Notes
I make this recipe on a weekly basis - now that we've got a great homemade refried beans recipe, I never feel the need to buy a store-bought brand anymore. Here are a few tips on making the best refried beans:
- I would strongly advise you to finely dice your onion for this recipe - big chunks of onion have no place in refried beans! If you notice your onions look too big, you could opt to blend two-thirds of the beans with a handheld blender to get rid of the onion, too.
- Sauté the onions and garlic before adding the beans and mashing. This helps you really get the most flavor out of the aromatics for the beans.
- Likewise, adding spices to the onion mixture before you add the beans let's the spices bloom so they taste even better.
- Your beans should have a chunky mashed consistency - if you leave too many of the beans whole, you'll have a dish closer to these Mexican pinto beans than refried beans! Some people prefer to have their refried beans completely smooth, so you could mash all of the pinto beans if you prefer.
Storage
Store any leftover beans in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. To reheat, you could either microwave them, or reheat on the hob - possibly adding a small splash of water to loosen up the bean mixture.
You could also freeze your refried beans in an airtight container - defrost them fully in the fridge before reheating and serving.
How To Serve
Refried beans are one of my go-to recipes because they're so versatile! Here are a few ways you could serve them:
- In a simple quesadilla or crispy taco with cheese, and perhaps a creamy jalapeno dip to serve
- Over nachos, with pico de gallo and guacamole!
- In burrito bowls, like this baked tofu burrito bowl
- In burritos, you could swap out the black beans in these black bean burritos
- Add protein and flavor to tacos, such as in these potato tacos
- Alongside some Mexican potatoes
FAQs
How spicy are refried beans?
These refried beans have a mild spice because I am often cooking for my family. If you want spicier refried beans, add another teaspoon of chili powder or some diced jalapenos.
What are refried beans made of?
Refried beans are made from beans (often pinto beans but sometimes black beans), aromatics such as onion and garlic, and seasonings such as paprika, cumin, and chili powder. The beans are cooked and then mashed.
Are refried beans healthy?
Yes, refried beans are a healthy dish to make - they're high in protein and fiber and low in calories.
Refried Beans
Ingredients
- 1 white onion finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 800 g canned pinto beans drained and rinsed
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
- 0.25 teaspoon cayenne chili pepper optional
- 1 lime
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 120 ml water
- Salt and pepper to taste
Method
- Heat your oil in a pan over medium heat, then add the diced white onion and garlic. Saute for 7 - 9 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions are translucent and have softened.1 white onion, 3 garlic cloves, 2 tablespoon olive oil
- Add the seasonings, stir for another minute, then tip in your pinto beans and the water.1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon cumin, 0.5 teaspoon onion powder, 0.25 teaspoon cayenne chili pepper, 120 ml water, Salt and pepper to taste
- Stir the beans into the spice and onion mixture, then cook for 10 minutes, using the back of your spoon or a potato masher to mash about two-thirds of the beans, retaining a slightly chunky consistency (if you prefer completely smooth refried beans, mash them all!).800 g canned pinto beans
- Cook for another 5 minutes or so until the beans have thickened, then squeeze over the lime juice. Taste your beans and adjust your seasoning accordingly.1 lime
Nutrition
Notes
- I would strongly advise you to finely dice your onion for this recipe - big chunks of onion have no place in refried beans! If you notice your onions look too big, you could opt to blend two-thirds of the beans with a handheld blender to get rid of the onion, too.
- Sauté the onions and garlic before adding the beans and mashing. This helps you really get the most flavor out of the aromatics for the beans.
- Likewise, adding spices to the onion mixture before you add the beans lets the spices bloom so they taste even better.
- Your beans should have a chunky mashed consistency - if you leave too many of the beans whole, you'll have a dish closer to these Mexican pinto beans than refried beans! Some people prefer to have their refried beans completely smooth, so you could mash all of the pinto beans if you prefer.
We use this recipe all the time! Thank you