Pinto beans have been around all my life, but I didn’t pay much attention to them after a few average Mexican restaurant meals. But recently I’ve discovered their full glory. They’re creamy and rich, and mix in beautifully with scrambled eggs, soup, rice and more.
Pinto beans make the best refried beans, since they’re so buttery. I recently mixed my refried black beans recipe with my pinto beer beans recipe (both are in my cookbook), and the result is these ridiculously tasty refried beans.
Fresh cilantro livens up these refried beans, and a squeeze of lime juice makes them taste more complex. Besides being tasty, these refried beans are a good source of fiber and plant-based protein (12 grams of each per serving). You can read up on pinto bean nutrition here.
Plus, it’s really simple to make this recipe. I used good canned beans to make it quickly. I tried home-cooked beans and couldn’t tell enough difference to bother doing it again. If you prefer to cook your own beans, though, you certainly can.
It takes less than 25 minutes to make refried beans. First, cook an onion in olive oil. Then, add spices and beans. This recipe is far superior to store-bought refried beans, and it’s become a staple in my kitchen. I hope it becomes a staple in yours, too.
Refried beans are a versatile ingredient that can be used in many delicious ways beyond just a side dish. Their creamy, smooth texture and flavor make them an amazing addition to tons of recipes. If you have a can of refried beans sitting in your pantry, don’t limit yourself to just scooping some onto a plate. Get creative with these 15 unique ways to use refried beans in appetizers, main dishes, snacks and more!
Quesadillas
Sprinkle refried beans over a tortilla, add shredded cheese and fold in half to make a quick and easy quesadilla. The beans add a boost of protein and creaminess inside the melted cheese. Heat in a skillet until the cheese is gooey. Cut into wedges and serve with salsa guacamole or sour cream for dipping.
Nachos
Pile tortilla chips onto a baking sheet and top with dollops of refried beans. Sprinkle with shredded Mexican-blend cheese and bake until melted. Finish with all your favorite nacho toppings like olives, jalapeños pico de gallo, avocado and cilantro. The refried beans act as the perfect hearty base.
Tacos
Smear some refried beans onto hard or soft taco shells before adding your fillings. The beans help hold all the toppings in place and provide extra flavor. Mix in a little cheese or diced onions into the beans for more texture. Top with meat, lettuce, tomatoes and more.
Burritos
Add a scoop of refried beans into a flour tortilla along with rice, meat and veggies. The beans make the burritos extra hearty and satisfying. Roll up and enjoy! For breakfast burritos, add scrambled eggs and cheese.
Enchiladas
In place of a sauce, spread refried beans over corn tortillas, roll up and place seam-side down in a baking dish. Pour your favorite enchilada sauce over top and sprinkle with cheese. Bake until hot and melted. The creamy beans pair perfectly with the rich sauce.
Empanadas
Stuff discs of empanada dough with refried beans mixed with cheese, roasted veggies or cooked ground meat. Seal the edges with a fork and bake until golden. The refried beans make a flavorful filling alongside other ingredients.
Flatbread Pizzas
Spread refried beans over flatbread or naan in place of pizza sauce. Top with shredded cheese, salsa, peppers and other toppings and bake until the cheese melts. The beans give you plenty of flavor without an acidic sauce.
Quesadillas
Add a layer of refried beans to grilled cheese sandwiches for an extra boost of protein. Use good melty cheese like cheddar or Oaxaca. You can also add sliced avocado or bacon. The beans make basic grilled cheese far more hearty and delicious.
Breakfast Tacos
Scrambled eggs get even better wrapped up with refried beans in a warm tortilla. Cook the eggs, warm the beans, assemble in a tortilla with cheese and salsa for an easy protein-packed breakfast.
Nacho Dip
Blend together refried beans with Mexican crema, salsa, cumin and cayenne for a quick bean dip. Top with shredded cheese and bake until hot and bubbly. Scoop up with tortilla chips for a yummy snack.
Taquitos
Roll up shredded chicken or beef with refried beans in small tortillas. Brush the outside with oil and bake until crispy. Let cool and serve with avocado crema for dipping. The beans add extra flavor and nutrition.
Tostadas
Spread refried beans over crunchy tostada shells. Top with lettuce, tomato, cheese, onion and pickled jalapeños for loaded tostadas. The beans act as the perfect creamy base under all the toppings.
Burgers
In place of traditional condiments, top your burger patties with refried beans. Add a slice of cheese and serve on buns. The beans add a tasty twist to basic burgers.
Egg Scrambles
Add a spoonful of refried beans into whisked eggs before scrambling. Cook up the eggy bean mixture and serve wrapped in a warm tortilla with salsa. An easy protein boost to basic scrambled eggs.
Casserole
Layer corn tortillas, refried beans, enchilada sauce and cheese for an easy casserole. Bake until hot and bubbly and top with avocado, cilantro or green onion. The beans add extra flavor between the layers.
So instead of just side-dishes, put those cans of refried beans to creative use in tons of Mexican-inspired recipes! Their creamy texture takes quesadillas, nachos, tacos and more to the next level.
Uses for Refried Beans
Refried beans are a healthy side dish to serve along with any Mexican meal. They’re so good that I like to eat them with tortilla chips as a bean dip.
You can also use these protein-rich, vegan refried beans inside tacos, enchiladas and burritos. Spread them on the inside of a quesadilla or on top of a tostada. You can’t go wrong!.
Watch How to Make Refried Beans
Chop the onions very small and be sure to cook them until tender. This is key to achieving a creamy texture. If the onions are too large or undercooked, they will be distracting and crunchy. No thanks!.
Mash the beans as much as you’d like. If you want perfectly creamy refried beans, you can mash them all the way through. I usually stop when the beans are half to three quarters mashed. (You’ll get even smoother results if you blend these beans in a food processor. I don’t recommend trying the blender since they are so thick. ).
Use black beans if you prefer. Black beans aren’t as easily blended as pinto beans, so they’ll probably be a little more chunky. If you love black beans, you’ll love this version!.
Add peppers for even more flavor. If you want the beans to taste and feel better, you can add a finely chopped bell pepper of any color or jalapeño pepper(s). If you want to make the beans more spicy, I suggest taking out the seeds and membranes of the jalapeños first. This way, you can control how spicy they are.
Please let me know in the comments how these refried beans turn out for you. Your comments keep me going, and the stars you give the recipe encourage other people to try it. I’ll be back soon with more Mexican recipes, and you can view my Mexican recipe archive here.
- Author: Cookie and Kate
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star
4.9 from 460 reviews
These refried beans are delicious and so easy to make. If you use canned beans, this refried bean recipe is also quick—it only takes 25 minutes! These beans are also healthy, vegan, and gluten free. Recipe yields 2 ½ cups refried beans (21 ounces), enough for 5 servings.
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup chopped yellow or white onion (about 1/3 of a small onion)
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- Two 15-ounce cans of rinsed and drained pinto beans, or three cups of cooked pinto beans
- ½ cup water
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 tablespoon lime juice (about ½ medium lime), to taste
- Warm the olive oil in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-low heat until it shimmers. Add the onions and salt. It will take about 5 to 8 minutes of stirring every now and then until the onions are soft and clear.
- Add the garlic, chili powder and cumin. Cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in the drained beans and water. Stir, cover and cook for 5 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low and remove the lid. Mash up at least half of the beans with a potato masher or the back of a fork until you get the consistency you want. Cover the beans and cook for three more minutes, stirring them often.
- Take the pan off the heat and add the lime juice and cilantro. Taste, and add more salt and lime juice if necessary. Add a little water to the beans and stir to mix if they look dry. Cover until you’re ready to serve.
Change it up: Substitute black beans for the pinto beans.
4 Ingredients to Enhance Canned Refried Beans (How to make canned refried beans taste better)!
FAQ
How to jazz up refried beans?
What are refried beans good with?
Why is refried beans unhealthy?
What to do with leftover beans from a can?
What can you do with canned refried beans?
Here are 23 recipes using canned refried beans to help you put together an amazing appetizer or meal. These canned refried bean recipes ranch from dips, to casseroles, even a breakfast meal.
What can I make with homemade refried beans?
For this recipe, you can use homemade refried beans, or easily grab a can from the cupboard. The refried beans are rolled in corn tortillas with sauteed mushrooms and onions. Bake your rolled enchiladas covered in enchilada sauce and Mexican cheese. It’s bubbly, cheesy, and so easy! 3. Cheesy Refried Beans Casserole
What to eat with refried beans?
Refried beans mixed with salsa make a great “sauce” for a Tex-Mex pizza! Pile on other fun ingredients like pico de gallo, lettuce, cilantro, and sour cream. Get Ree’s recipe. Warm up refried beans with shredded cheese and use as a filling for burritos. Ree adds ground beef, too, but you can also add veggies, avocado, or whatever you like!
What to do with leftover refried beans?
Whether you are using leftover refried beans or straight from a can, this soup will taste delicious either way! It’s incredibly easy to make as well and all you need to do is add broth, beans, tomatoes, chilies, salsa, and corn to a slow cooker and let the appliance do all the cooking.