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.
Why is refried beans unhealthy? ›
Yet, since refried beans often contain added fat and salt, they may be higher in calories, saturated fat, and sodium than other beans. These factors may impair your weight loss goals, raise your risk of heart disease, and increase your blood pressure levels.
What to add to canned refried beans to make them better? ›
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.
Are refried beans good for muscle gain? ›
Beans are a great source of plant protein. Protein is important for repairing tissue, building muscle, and keeping you full.
What does milk do to refried beans? ›
You'll see in the recipe below that I add milk, not water, to my refried beans. It's just enough to give them a creamier texture and a richer flavor. If you prefer non-dairy, just swap out the milk for water or even chicken or vegetable broth.
How do Mexicans eat refried beans? ›
Stewed over a few hours, pinto beans can be served whole and fried (frijoles chinos) or mashed and refried (frijoles refritos). Frijoles are eaten with almost every main course alongside arroz. In many Mexican restaurants in America, refried beans are served with a layer of melty, gooey, shredded cheese on top.
Why do refried beans make me sick? ›
perfringens is an entertoxin-secreting bacteria most often found in inadequately heated or reheated meats, meat pies, stews, gravy, sauces, and refried beans. The incubation period averages 8-12 hours, after which diarrhea and abdominal cramps begin. C. perfringens symptoms usually persist for one day.
Are refried beans anti-inflammatory? ›
2. Beans & Legumes. These foods combat inflammation because they're loaded with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, fiber, and protein.
Why are refried beans hard to digest? ›
Beans contain raffinose and other oligosaccharides (a type of carbohydrate) that our digestive system can't break down because we lack the enzyme alpha-galactosidase. This can increase gassiness.
How do you upgrade a can of refried beans? ›
Add olive oil or a bit of lard, some diced onion, cumin, chili powder and cayenne. And some cut up peppers if you want. You can also mix it some different beans as well, but beans are expensive where I am so I usually don't.
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. The dairy in cream cheese not only thickens refried beans to a creamier consistency — cream is in the name — but it also incorporates the rich, silky flavor of dairy.
Do you rinse canned refried beans? ›
It is recommended to rinse the beans before consumption to remove the starchy, salty liquid. Despite their name, refried beans are not fried twice but are perfectly cooked during the canning process.
Which bean is best for building muscle? ›
Beans. Many different types of beans can be part of a diet for lean muscle gain. Popular varieties like black , pinto , and kidney beans contain around 15 g of protein per cup (about 172 g) of cooked beans.
What are the side effects of refried beans? ›
What are the risks of eating refried beans? While refried beans can be a decent weight-loss option, they pose a few risks. Many people fry refried beans in butter, bacon fat, or lard. These foods can contain high amounts of trans fat, which increases your risk of developing heart disease.
Why do bodybuilders eat beans? ›
Beans and other legumes are valuable for muscle building nutrition. They've got fiber, complex carbohydrates, protein, and minerals. The great thing about beans is that there are so many different varieties, so it's hard to get bored.
Why are refried beans so tasty? ›
Authentic refried beans call for lard, which makes them absolutely delicious. Bacon fat, butter, and oil are also good options. Onion and garlic: I can't help but add some extra onion and garlic to the skillet when cooking the beans. They add a little texture and flavor.
What kind of cheese do you put on top of refried beans? ›
If you're looking for a restaurant-quality refried beans recipe, you trust us when you say you have found it. We love to serve the beans right out of the skillet, garnish with crumbled Cojita cheese, or shredded mozzarella.
What makes beans taste so good? ›
Salt, spices, and aromatics are the keys to flavorful beans.
What is a substitute for lard in refried beans? ›
Vegetable Shortening – This will replace the usual lard. It adds a nice fatty richness to the beans.
