Easy Homemade Refried Beans
by Marissa 12 Comments
Until recently, I’d never considered making homemade refried beans. Now I doubt I’ll ever do otherwise.
They are so easy to make and the flavor and texture is far superior to what you’ll eat from a can.
Most of the recipes I looked at for making refried beans called for you to mash them with a potato masher and that’s a perfectly great method. But if you lean toward lazy **ahem**, toss them in the food processor and zizz them to just the consistency you’re after. Just a few pulses and you’ll have lots of little bean chunks, or continue pulsing until the beans are creamy.
I had some fat that I’d skimmed from making slow cooker carnitas and some of the cooking liquid as well which infused these beans with fabulous flavor. But stock or bean cooking liquid and non-hydrogenated lard or bacon fat will work just as well. (Almost.)
- 2 tablespoons bacon fat, non-hydrogenated lard, or olive oil
- ½ small onion, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups cooked pinto beans (freshly cooked or 1 15.5 ounce can, drained)
- ⅓ cup stock, bean cooking liquid, or leftover liquid from slow cooker carnitas
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Heat fat or oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until softened and nearly translucent, about 3 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant. Add beans and stock or other liquid. Cook and stir until beans are heated through.
- Mash beans with potato masher or transfer to food processor and pulse until beans reach desired consistency and return to pan.
- Cook and stir beans until they start to thicken, adding liquid a little at a time if they're too dry. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper and serve.
Comments
You make homemade refried beans sound so easy! I don’t buy the canned stuff- but I could eat your version with a shovel!!
haha! 😉 Thank, Shashi!!
I love, love, love homemade refried beans. They are SO much more flavorful than canned! And Marissa – extra credit for using the word ‘zizz’. You rock my sistah! Pinned!
You crack me up, Kristi. Zizz is what it sounds like, don’t you think? 😉
I haven’t tried refried beans yet. However this recipe of yours sounds so quick and easy – exactly the kinda snack I like. Yum!
Thanks, Cris! Definitely a satisfying snack…
I’ve never thought to make my own but it would be so much better. Thanks Marissa! 😀
Me either until recently – what a difference!
I’m always so excited to see people getting into homemade refried beans! So easy and so worth it. I’ve never used anything beyond a simple wooden spoon to mash mine — pinto beans pretty much dissolve on contact anyway!
That’s a great tip Eileen! I don’t own a potato masher – but wooden spoons, I have a drawer full!
Mmmmmm I love refried beans!! They’re my favourite part (along with avocado!) of tex mex food!
I’ve never made my own, and now I’m smacking myself in the forehead with an aha! moment! Need to make it!
Thanks, Teffy. I think you’ll love them!