Go Back
Top view of refried beans in a bowl garnished with crumbled queso fresco and finely chopped serrano chiles.

Refried Beans

Homemade refried beans made with pinto beans, onion, cooking oil, and salt. Creamy, flavorful, and perfect as a Mexican side dish or dip for tortilla chips, tacos, burritos, and more.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups cooked pinto beans and 3/4 cups of their cooking liquid or water if no cooking liquid is available
  • 1/2 white onion finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp avocado, vegetable, or canola oil
  • Salt to taste

Method
 

  1. Puree beans and their cooking liquid or water in a blender to a medium consistency.
  2. Heat oil or pork lard over medium heat in a large pan.
  3. Add finely chopped onion and sauté for about 5 minutes or until they're translucent and start to brown around the edges.
  4. Add the pureed beans into the pan and let simmer for about 10 minutes at a medium or medium low heat, stirring occasionally. The beans will thicken to a pasty consistency and will get infused with the onion and fat.
  5. Add more salt to taste if needed.
  6. Serve and top with crumbled queso fresco, cotija cheese, shredded Chihuahua, or shredded Monterey Jack cheese.

Notes

    1. You can use canned beans if you don't have any home cooked beans.
    2. Any variety of beans will work with this recipe. Some common varieties for refried beans are pinto, black, and bayo beans.
    3. Cook the beans to your preferred consistency. If you prefer a thicker consistency, let the beans cook a little longer and they will thicken a little more. If you prefer a more thin or smooth consistency, cook them for less time.
    4. You can also use a potato masher to mash or puree the beans in the pan while they cook instead of using a blender. This usually produces more of a coarse bean puree when compared to blending, which produces a smoother puree.
    5. If using a potato masher to puree the beans, add the beans and their cooking liquid or water to the pan. Mash the beans as they cook until they are well pureed.
    6. For a spicy flavor, garnish with finely chopped or sliced  serrano or jalapeño chiles.
  1.  
  1.  
  1.  
  1.