Refried Beans
Introducing our crowd-pleasing refried beans recipe! Made completely from scratch with just 5 simple ingredients, these beans are creamy, hearty, and satisfying. Pair this versatile dish with a variety of Mexican and Mexican-inspired dishes, like tortilla chips, sopes, tostadas, and quesadillas.
❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe
- Versatile: Refried beans can be stuffed inside burritos, quesadillas, and other main dishes. Alternatively, you can serve them as a high-protein appetizer or side dish.
- Easy to make: You only need a few ingredients to make homemade refried beans. Plus, everything comes together in a few easy steps.
- Customizable: Add your favorite spices and seasonings to make this recipe your own!
- Budget-friendly: All of the listed ingredients are affordable, making this a dish you can always have on hand.
If you love creamy side dishes like refried beans, you should really check out our homemade hummus, baba ganoush, and vegan tzatziki.
🫘 What are refried beans?
Refried beans are a traditional Mexican dish made from cooked and mashed beans. They’ve been a staple in Mexican cuisine for centuries, dating back to the Aztec and Mayan civilizations.
The name comes from the Spanish word “refrito,” meaning “well-fried” in reference to the technique of frying the beans in oil. This recipe works well with all types of beans, but we’ve opted for black beans in this recipe.
Each bite is savory and slightly earthy with a smooth, creamy texture. The beans are usually cooked with onion and garlic and flavored with hearty seasonings, like cumin, chile powder, or paprika.
To make this recipe, simply sauté onions and garlic, then add the beans with their cooking liquid, mashing them to your preferred consistency. You can serve homemade refried beans as a side dish, or incorporate them into recipes like sopes, quesadillas, tacos, and molletes.
🌱 Are refried beans vegan?
You may be surprised to find out that many Mexican recipes and store-bought options contain lard or bacon grease to add more flavor. Of course, it’s entirely possible to make refried beans without these ingredients, which you’ll soon find out from this recipe.
You can use extra oil or vegetable lard to add extra fat that emulates pork-based lard. Either way, this recipe is vegan-friendly as written!
🛒 Ingredients & substitutions
- Oil: Provides a base for sautéing the onions and garlic. You can use olive oil, avocado oil, or any other mild-flavored vegetable oil.
- Onion: Adds savory flavors and depth of flavor. Yellow or white onions work best for refried beans, but red onions can be used for a slight change in taste.
- Garlic: In addition to onion, garlic brings an ultra-savory element and enhances the overall flavor of the dish. Garlic powder works in a pinch.
- Beans: Bayo, pinto, or black beans are the typical choices, but feel free to experiment with other types of beans.
- Bean water: The liquid to cook the beans helps achieve the perfect refried beans texture. You can also use vegetable broth for added flavor.
- Sea salt: Balances and enhances the flavors in the dish. If you’re using store-bought canned beans, taste them before adding salt since they usually come pre-salted.
For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.
📝 How to make refried beans
Step 1: Cook your beans
Cook your black beans from scratch, making sure to save some cooking water. You can also use canned beans if you want to save more time, but the texture is so much better when you cook your own!
Step 2: Sauté the veggies
Heat some neutral oil in a frying pan over medium-low, then sauté the diced onions and garlic until the onions are translucent. Add in any optional seasonings you want at this point. Some of our favorites include diced jalapeños, cumin, smoked paprika, adobo, and Mexican oregano.
Step 3: Add the beans
Stir in the cooked beans along with some reserved cooking water and salt. For a more rustic texture, mash the beans directly in the pan using a potato masher.
If you prefer a smoother consistency, transfer them to a blender or food processor and pulse them together until they reach your preferred texture.
Step 4: Simmer the beans
Add more oil to the pan if it looks dry, then transfer the beans back in and cook them for a few more minutes until they’re thickened to your liking. Taste and adjust the salt or other seasonings to your preference. Serve refried beans immediately in your favorite recipes. Happy eating!
If you have questions about these homemade refried beans, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!
🌯 How to use refried beans
Refried beans are a versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a creamy side dish or as a filling in a variety of dishes. Here are some of our favorite ideas:
- Tacos dorados
- Burritos
- Enchiladas rojas
- Totopos
- Sopes
- Tostadas
- Nachos
- Chilaquiles
🌡️ Storage & reheating
Properly storing and reheating refried beans will help you make the most of your recipe and reduce waste. Here are some easy tips to keep them fresh:
- Fridge: Let the beans cool to room temperature, then store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Keep in mind they will thicken as they sit in the fridge.
- Freezer: Freeze homemade refried beans in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 5-6 months. You can freeze them in single-serving portions for easier reheating.
- Reheating: Reheat the beans in a saucepan over low heat, adding a little water or vegetable broth until the mixture reaches your desired consistency.
- Prep ahead: To speed up the prep work, you can cook the beans in advance and store them in the fridge until you’re ready to make refried beans.
♻️ Variations
- Spicy: Add minced jalapeños or chipotle peppers for a fresh, smoky kick.
- Cheesy: Stir in your favorite meltable vegan cheese for a creamier addition.
- Refried bean dip: Mix in salsa roja and dairy-free sour cream for a delicious party appetizer.
- Tex-Mex: Stir in diced tomatoes and canned green chilies for extra flavor and a chunky texture.
- Vegetables: Incorporate vegetables, like sautéed bell peppers, corn, or zucchini, for more flavor and nutrients.
- Herbed: Stir in fresh cilantro, parsley, or oregano for an herbaceous finish.
- Creamy: Add a dollop of vegan Mexican crema or vegan heavy cream to create an even creamier texture.
- Other beans: Use pinto beans, bayo beans, or Peruvian beans for unique tastes and textures.
🧑🍳 Top tips
- Cook from scratch: For the best results, cook your beans from scratch. Canned beans are more convenient, but they don’t compare in both taste and texture.
- Save the bean water: Save some of the bean cooking water to adjust the consistency of the refried beans without diluting their flavor.
- Add seasonings: Make this recipe your own by adding or adjusting the seasonings to your personal preference.
- Adjust the texture: Mash the beans to your desired texture. You can make them slightly chunky or ultra-smooth depending on what you like.
- Use different tools: Use a potato masher, food processor, or blender to achieve your final result — whatever you have on hand!
- Taste and adjust: Adjust the salt and consistency to your liking by tasting as you go.
- Serve the beans warm: Serve refried beans warm for the best flavor and texture.
💬 FAQ
Yes, you can use canned beans if you’re in a rush. Make sure to drain and rinse them thoroughly, and reserve some of the liquid. Just note that the taste and texture won’t compare to freshly cooked beans.
You can sauté the onions and garlic in a bit of water or vegetable broth for an oil-free version. The final result won’t be quite as rich in flavor, but it is a healthier option!
Yes, these homemade refried beans are gluten-free. Always double-check the labels of the individual seasonings you add that they don’t contain any gluten-based ingredients.
Yes, other than the options listed in the ingredients and variations sections, you can try kidney beans, Lima beans, or navy beans.
🍴 More side dishes
If you enjoyed this refried beans recipe, take a peek at some more flavor-packed and healthy side dishes like these:
- Calabacitas: A Mexican side dish that’s simple to make, light, and healthy.
- Sweet Potato Salad: Featuring sweet potatoes, black beans, and zesty dressing.
- Cactus Salad: A tangy and refreshing salad made with prickly pear cactus paddles.
- Tomato Cucumber Salad: Fresh vegetables tossed in a herbaceous dressing.
Easy Refried Beans
Equipment
- Large skillet
- Potato masher
- Chef's knife
- Cutting board
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked beans (black or pinto)
- ⅔ – ¾ cup bean water
- 3 tablespoons neutral vegetable oil (olive, avocado, canola, etc.)
- ½ medium white onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- Sea salt to taste
Instructions
- Cook the black beans from scratch, making sure to save some cooking water. You can also use canned beans, but drain and rinse them well.
- Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-low, then sauté the diced onions for 3 minutes, or until translucent. Add the garlic and any optional seasonings, cooking for another 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in the cooked beans along with ⅔ cup reserved cooking water and a pinch of salt. For a rustic texture, mash the beans directly in the pan using a potato masher. For a smoother consistency, transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor and pulse together until your preferred texture is achieved.
- Add more oil to the pan if it looks dry, then transfer the bean mixture back in and cook for 4-5 more minutes, or until it's thickened to your liking. Add more reserved bean water as necessary.
- Taste and adjust the salt or other seasonings to your preference. Serve refried beans immediately while warm. Happy eating!
Video
Notes
- Cook from scratch: For the best results, cook your beans from scratch. Canned beans are more convenient, but they don’t compare in both taste and texture.
- Save the bean water: Save some of the bean cooking water to adjust the consistency of the refried beans without diluting their flavor.
- Add seasonings: Make this recipe your own by adding or adjusting the seasonings to your personal preference.
- Adjust the texture: Mash the beans to your desired texture. You can make them slightly chunky or ultra-smooth depending on what you like.
- Use different tools: Use a potato masher, food processor, or blender to achieve your final result — whatever you have on hand!
- Taste and adjust: Adjust the salt and consistency to your liking by tasting as you go.
- Serve the beans warm: Serve refried beans warm for the best flavor and texture.
- Nutritional information is a rough estimate and should not be taken as health advice.
Nutrition
Note: We’ve updated this post to include new information and helpful tips about the recipe.
Justine Drosdovech is a food writer, photographer, and one of the founders of Broke Bank Vegan. She is a self-taught plant-based chef but uses her healthcare background to craft dishes that are both delicious and nourishing.