5 Minute Refried Beans Recipe - Build Your Bite (2024)

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Refried beans recipe from scratch made in just 5 minutes! All you need is a handful of ingredients to make this delicious mexican favorite.

5 Minute Refried Beans Recipe - Build Your Bite (1)
Today I’m sharing with you my favorite 5 minute homemade refried beans recipe.

I have loved refried beans since I was a little girl.

I remember on several occasions eating them straight out of the can with chips…cold even!

I have found since I began to eat healthy that refried beans can be either 1) hard to find with clean ingredients or 2) expensive.

That’s when I decided to make them myself.

How do you make refried beans?

Partially drain a can of black beans or pinto beans.

The more liquid you leave, the runnier the beans will be. For super thick refried beans, drain most of the liquid.

If you want more runny beans, say for pouring over nachos, leave a little more liquid than normal

Use an immersion blender to puree the beans until smooth.

Do this step first while the beans are still room temperature. If the beans splatter, at least they will not be hot.

I have learned this the hard way! If you do not have an immersion blender, use a potato masher and mash them as much as possible

Once your beans are smooth, place them in a saucepan over medium heat and add the lime juice and spices.

Heat until warm (less than five minutes) and they are ready to serve!

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refried black beans

Refried beans are classically made with pinto beans, but you can also make them with black beans.

I personally love to make refried black beans!

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I’m a fan of all things mexican food wise, especially as a vegetarian/mostly vegan.

We eat mexican at least once a week, if not more.

It’s an easy and delicious way to get lots of protein and lots of flavor!

Uses For Refried Beans

  • A healthy bean dip – I love eating them dipped with tortilla chips!
  • Use as filling in tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, you can’t go wrong!
  • Drizzle these vegan refried beans over nachos for an extra protein and flavor punch

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These are so simple but really flavorful!

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Like I said above, I use black beans and pinto beans interchangeably in this recipe.

Whichever you have on hand will work!

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Ever since I got my immersion blender, it has been my best friend and this recipe is one of the main reasons why!

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I love these beans alone, or in pretty much anything.

I had a hard time photographing them because I kept dipping chips in to eat. The flavor is so addictive!

Refried beans recipe from scratch:

Ever since I discovered the immersion blender hack, I’ve been making my own homemade refried beans instead of buying them.

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I’m not one of those people that likes to make everything from scratch, but with as easy as this recipe is it takes no work at all!

These refried beans are perfect in my Simple Refried Bean Enchiladas!

If you love nachos, I also use them in my 30 Minute Sweet Potato Refried Bean Nachos!

Pin this refried beans recipe:

5 Minute Refried Beans Recipe - Build Your Bite (9)

Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a star rating below!

Are you making this recipe? I want to see! Be sure to tag me on instagram @buildyourbite and hashtag #buildyourbite with your recipe pictures!

5 Minute Refried Beans Recipe - Build Your Bite (10)

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Cook Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

5 minute homemade refried beans - use canned black beans and just a few spices to make a quick and delicious addition to dinner!

Ingredients

  • 1 can of black beans or pinto beans, partially drained (see notes)
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • squeeze of lime juice (I used around ½ small lime)

Instructions

  1. Partially drain beans and pour into a pan
  2. Using an immersion blender, blend beans in pan until they are a puree texture
  3. Add spices and lime juice and heat over medium heat until hot (around 3-5 minutes)
  4. Serve on burritos, nachos, tacos, or as a dip
  5. Enjoy!

Notes

Drain beans according to how thick you want the refried beans to be. I drained about half of the liquid from mine and it was spreadable but not extremely thick. It will thicken if stored in the fridge also.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 44Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 103mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 3gSugar: 0gProtein: 3g

Did you make this recipe?

Be sure to tag me on instagram @buildyourbite and hashtag #buildyourbite with your recipe creations!

Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a star rating below!

5 Minute Refried Beans Recipe - Build Your Bite (2024)

FAQs

Why are Mexican restaurant refried beans so good? ›

Why Do Restaurant Refried Beans Taste So Good? Most authentic Mexican restaurants use lard in their refried bean recipes which adds another layer of flavor and helps achieve the ideal creamy texture.

Why is refried beans unhealthy? ›

Yet, since refried beans often contain added fat and salt, they may be higher in calories, saturated fat, and sodium than other beans. These factors may impair your weight loss goals, raise your risk of heart disease, and increase your blood pressure levels.

What do restaurants do to make the refried beans taste so good? ›

If you're wondering what is the secret ingredient for restaurant-quality refried beans, the answer is fat. Restaurant-made refried beans honor traditional Mexican culinary practices by adding a hearty helping of lard or bacon fat drippings to their recipe.

Are refried beans good for muscle gain? ›

Even prepared beans, such as baked and refried, can be bodybuilding friendly. Check labels on canned and prepared beans–some types can be loaded with unhealthy fats and salt, and you generally want to avoid canned beans that include bacon.

Do most Mexican restaurants use lard in refried beans? ›

Most Mexican restaurants buy their refried beans already canned, so it's likely they contain lard. It's very easy to buy canned refried beans without lard, but you have to do it on purpose. If you are concerned about lard or no lard, you will have to ask the server at the restaurant.

Why do people add milk to refried beans? ›

Milk makes refried beans creamy

This liquid can help make your beans smoother and taste richer. Once the beans are tender, it's time to fry them. Garlic is cooked in the oil and then the beans are added. The beans are mashed, and this is where the milk comes in.

What can I add to refried beans for more flavor? ›

Bacon fat, butter, and oil are also good options. Onion and garlic: I can't help but add some extra onion and garlic to the skillet when cooking the beans. They add a little texture and flavor. Spices: I use cumin, cayenne pepper, and salt to keep the seasoning simple.

What is a substitute for lard in refried beans? ›

Vegetable Shortening – This will replace the usual lard. It adds a nice fatty richness to the beans.

How do Mexicans eat refried beans? ›

Stewed over a few hours, pinto beans can be served whole and fried (frijoles chinos) or mashed and refried (frijoles refritos). Frijoles are eaten with almost every main course alongside arroz. In many Mexican restaurants in America, refried beans are served with a layer of melty, gooey, shredded cheese on top.

Are refried beans anti-inflammatory? ›

2. Beans & Legumes. These foods combat inflammation because they're loaded with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, fiber, and protein.

Which bean is best for building muscle? ›

Soy beans

If your goal is building lean, green muscle, soybeans are your most dependable option. Unlike other vegetarian sources of protein, those little legumes contain all nine essential amino acids, making them an essential vegan muscle food.

Do refried beans cause gas? ›

Beans are a nutritious food packed with essential nutrients, but they can also cause gas and bloating due to their high fiber content. In addition, beans contain oligosaccharides, which are not easily digested in the small intestine and are fermented by bacteria in the large intestine, producing gas.

Are refried beans at a Mexican restaurant healthy? ›

Refried beans are healthy because they are high in protein, fiber, minerals, and other nutrients and they may help you lose weight. Refried beans are a delicious and versatile dish that appears on the menus of many Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants. You can also easily make this meal at home or buy it in a can.

What kind of beans do Mexican restaurants use? ›

Types of Beans in Mexican Cooking
  • Pinto Beans (Frijoles Pintos): With a creamy texture and earthy flavor, pinto beans are a staple in Mexican cuisine. ...
  • Black Beans (Frijoles Negros): Hailing from coastal areas like Veracruz, black beans are cherished for their robust flavor.
Jun 14, 2023

Are refried beans traditionally Mexican? ›

Refried beans (from Spanish: frijoles refritos, lit. 'rehashed or warmed-over beans') is a dish of cooked and mashed beans that is a traditional staple of Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine, although each cuisine has a different approach when making the dish.

Why are they called refried beans if they're not fried? ›

"Refried" doesn't mean the beans have been fried twice. The word comes from the Spanish name for the dish—frijoles refritos. In Spanish "refritos" means "well fried". To make the beans you have to cook them in water first to soften them.

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