Easy Homemade Refried Beans

5 from 3 votes

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 Time5

Cook Time0

Heating Time15

Total Time20

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Diet: Gluten Free

Keyword: easy refried beans recipe, Homemade refried beans, Mexican refried beans, Pinto beans, Refried bean, Refried bean recipe, Refried beans

Servings: servings

Calories: 101kcal

Author: Erika Garibay - LQC Recipes

Cost: $2

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

1 piece Chili pepper or dried chile, see options below

Instructions

To make the refried beans

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 LatinasQueComen recipe blog for more great recipes, ways to flip leftover ingredients, and tips!

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