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Easy Refried Beans

Learn how to make the best Refried Beans from home cooked or canned with this recipe. It’s easy to add too much bean water, so we help with how much is enough. We’ll also share the details for spicing them up with different chiles. Get your bean masher ready, we’re doin this!

Want to cook your olla of beans from scratch? Check out my How to Cook Pinto Beans [Frijoles De La Olla] post.

How to Make Refried Beans recipe in a round bowl on wood surface with Mexican knit napkin, bolillo bread and tortillas behind it.

Ingredients

Grocery Quick List: whole cooked beans, bean water reserve, oil, salt (if cooked beans are unsalted).

Refried beans recipe ingredients, oil, salt, cooked beans, and broth on kitchen counter.
  • 2 cups whole cooked beans
  • 1 and 1/2 cup bean reserve water
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil / or manteca for indulgent
  • salt to taste 
  • optional spice – dried chile pepper

Ingredient Notes / Variations

  • Beans – This method can be used for the most frequented bean types such as: pinto beans, peruano beans, black beans, and flor de mayo beans [also known for me, as rosita beans].
  • Oil – I use olive oil for refrying beans. Other oils, like vegetable and canola oil can be used as a substitute. However, olive oil is my preferred choice when refrying delicious and creamy beans.
  • For more research on olive oil pertaining to health, please visit: Virgin Olive Oil and Health.
  • Salt or bouillon – Use the salt to taste. For this small batch I’d only say to use 1/2 to 3/4 tsp sea salt. If using a bit of your favorite bouillon, please reduce the amount of salt used. Bouillon often has sodium in it unless it’s your DIY spice blend. Please keep this in mind when salting.

Erika on Oil vs Manteca:

Lard and beans, or shortening and beans are a special indulgence. Many cultures have their traditional style and they are delicious. This recipe is for weekly frijolitos that are eaten at higher frequency using EVOO. To make frijol con manteca, swap oil with lard or shortening. Not both oil and lard.

How To Spice Up Refried Beans

Listed in order ranging from heat scale level of mild to spicy.

  • Jalapeño,
  • Serrano,
  • Chile de arbol, or
  • Chile Japones

Our go to pick is chile de arbol or serrano, but any of the above work well when you want to spice ’em up! If you’re in-between on deciding how much spice you want, then just add it as you go.

Try our go-to salsa verde recipe to complement your beans. Or a tasty pot of my traditional rice with dinner, it’s the best combo.

Step-By-Step Instructions

  1. Separate beans from liquid, keep the liquid in a bowl nearby.
  2. Heat sauté/sauce pan over medium/low heat, add 1 tablespoon oil. Let oil heat up for about 2-3 minutes.
  3. After the oil has heated do the following: If you’re spicing up the beans, carefully add, a washed and towel dried, fresh jalapeño or serrano into pan with oil before the beans.
    • You may add it whole or chop it up, I do whole (de-seed for less spice). Let the fresh chili pepper sauté in the oil for about 1-2 minute(s).
Whole cooked beans ingredient.
  1. Add 2 cups of drained beans to the pan followed by 1 cup of bean liquid (add additional 1/2 cup if you like creamy beans). Cover with lid. Let beans heat on medium for about 5-7 minutes.
    • [You will first hear the sound of the beans hit the pan and refry in the oil. Their aroma will give off as they simmer too]
  2. Now that beans have heated they will be soft enough for easy bean mashing. Set heat on low and mash beans for approximately 60 seconds until desired consistency.
    • The longer you mash, the creamier.
  3. Stir beans gently after mashing, and turn stove off. Be sure to sample your beans to make sure they have enough salt and enjoy!
Process of Mixing the beans after mashing in cooking pan.

Foods to Eat with Creamy Frijolitos

Wondering what to serve with your plated beans? A bean taco is a simple start to the possibilities. Here’s a couple more:

Ways to Flip Leftover [Refried Beans]

Leftover beans always gotta get used up. Here’s a few uses for refritos I can think of, specific to easy dinner ideas:

  • Easy Red Enchiladas (bean filling)
  • Bean and Veggie Tostadas or Sopes
  • Fried Tacos de Frijoles
  • Nachos
  • Bean, Cheese and Green Chile Burritos
  • Chimichangas

Storing

Refrigeration: Best enjoyed creamy fresh! Properly stored and covered beans will last 5-7 days in the refrigerator if fried from freshly opened/cooked beans. But honestly, they make it to day 2 or 3 before they’re all gone cause they’re hard to resist in this perfect small batch weekly staple.

Pro Tips / Receta Notes

Recipe yield: 2 cups refried beans

When freshly cooked beans are still in their warm soft state, you wont need the wait time of STEP #4. Instead, after a couple minutes you can mash the beans until bean consistency of your preference is reached.

Are homemade refried beans better than canned? Homemade refried beans beat canned beans but even when I’m limited on cook time from a long day, canned whole beans come in for the save!

Canned beans to refried reminder – Remember to save bean liquid and wait until mashing is completed before adding any salt to avoid over salting.

What if I added too much bean water? It’s OK! Just leave the beans on low heat, the liquid will reduce by 8-10 minutes. Be sure to give the beans a stir to prevent any burning of beans.

refried beans with Mexican Breakfast eggs plate.
Refried Beans in glass bowl centered on dark wood surface with knit kitchen towel with Mexican Pink colored flower on it.

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How to make Refried Beans post.

Easy Homemade Refried Beans

5 from 3 votes

DESCRIPTION

Make homestyle Refried Beans Recipe with home cooked or canned beans. Three ingredients and the steps and tips you gotta have for that weekly batch. Slather these delicious beans onto your favorite tostaditas, bolillos, and more.
prep: 5 minutes
cook: 0 minutes
Heating Time: 15 minutes
total: 20 minutes
servings: 4 servings
calories: 101
category: Main Course
cuisine: Mexican
keyword: Homemade refried beans, Mexican refried beans, Pinto beans, Refried bean, Refried bean recipe, Refried beans

Equipment

  • Saute Pan
  • Bean Masher
  • Spatula
  • Bowl

Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole cooked beans
  • 1-1/2 bean reserve water
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • salt if beans are unsalted

Optional

  • Chili pepper or dried chile, see options below

Instructions 

  • Separate beans from liquid, keep the liquid in a bowl nearby.
  • Heat sauté pan on medium heat, add 1 tablespoon oil. Let oil heat up for about 2-3 minutes.
  • After the oil has heated do the following: If you're spicing up the beans, carefully add, a washed and towel dried, fresh jalapeño or serrano into the oil before the beans. You may add it whole or chop it up, I do whole (de-seed for less spice). Let the fresh chili pepper sauté in the oil for about 1-2 minute(s).
  • Carefully and quickly, add 2 cups of drained beans to the pan followed by 1 cup of bean liquid (add additional 1/2 cup if you like creamy beans). Cover with lid. Let the beans heat on medium/low for about 7-10 minutes. [You will first hear the sound of the beans hit the pan and refry in the oil, and then smell their yummy-savory aroma as they heat up!]
  • Now that beans have heated they will be soft enough for easy bean mashing. Begin mashing for approximately 45-60 seconds for creamy and delicious pinto beans.
  • Stir beans gently after mashing, and turn stove off. Be sure to sample your beans to make sure they have enough salt and enjoy!

Notes

  • Yield: 2 cups refried beans, 4 servings
  • Storage: Keep covered in proper food storage and refrigerate. Beans taste best if consumed within 6 days.
  • When freshly cooked beans are still in their warm soft state, you wont need the wait time of STEP #4. Instead, after a couple minutes you can mash the beans until bean consistency of your preference is reached.
  • Canned beans to refried reminder – Remember to save bean liquid and wait until mashing is completed before adding any salt to avoid over salting.
  • Are homemade refried beans better than canned? refried beans made at home beat canned beans in our opinion. But on days with limited on cook time from a long day, canned whole beans come in for the save and this is ok. 🙂

Visit the full post at Latinas Que Comen recipe blog for more great recipes, ways to flip leftovers, and tips!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Easy Homemade Refried Beans
Serving Size
 
0.5 cup
Amount per Serving
Calories
101
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
4
g
6
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
3
g
Sodium
 
229
mg
10
%
Potassium
 
236
mg
7
%
Carbohydrates
 
13
g
4
%
Fiber
 
4
g
17
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
4
g
8
%
Vitamin C
 
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
40
mg
4
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition Facts
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Equipment

  • Bowl
  • Sauté pan
  • Spatula
  • Bean masher / potato masher

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