It’s so easy to make this delicious restaurant style homemade Refried Beans Recipe from scratch using canned beans. Canned beans are a huge time saver and you can have a pot full of creamy restaurant style refried beans on the table in less than 25 minutes.
Whip up a batch of these refried beans to serve with your favorite taco or burrito recipes. Try them as a dip, use them to top your nachos and even more. You’ll think you’re eating refried beans from your favorite Mexican restaurant!
Homemade Refried Beans (Restaurant Style)
Using canned beans cut down on the amount of time that it takes to make refried beans. You can use your favorite type of beans including pinto beans, black beans and kidney beans or even a combination of them.
I like using a combination of pinto beans and dark red kidney beans. You can easily swap out the can of kidney beans and replace it with another can of pinto beans. These beans will still be delicious no matter which beans you use.
Ingredients for Homemade Refried Beans:
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil – you’ll need a bit of oil to make this recipe. Go with olive oil or your favorite neutral flavored oil. Want to bump up the flavor even more? Try using bacon fat in place of the oil. It adds great flavor to the beans.
- Yellow Onion – adding onion gives the beans delicious flavor. You’ll want to mince the onion unless you don’t mind pieces of onions in your beans. We like it like this but I know some people prefer to not find bits of onion in their beans.
- Garlic Cloves – use fresh cloves or go with jarred minced garlic
- Pinto Beans – drain the liquid from the beans and give them a good rinse.
- Red Kidney Beans – use red kidney beans or replace it with another can of pinto beans. Drain the liquid from the canned beans and rinse them.
- Sour Cream – This makes the beans nice and creamy. It’s one of the secrets to restaurant style refried beans being so creamy.
- Milk – we use whole milk but you can replace it with whatever milk you have on hand.
- Seasonings – you’ll need ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt and black pepper for this recipe.
Optional ingredients:
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes – these add a bit of heat to the beans.
- Fresh Cilantro – sprinkle the cilantro over the top of the beans when served.
- Shredded Cheese – we like to use shredded cheddar cheese or even a bit of crumbled Cotija cheese.
How to make Homemade Refried Beans:
Step 1: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and translucent, approximately 4-5 minutes.
Step 2: Reduce the heat to medium and add the beans, ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, and crushed red pepper flakes, if using. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are heated through and start to break apart slightly, approximately 4-5 minutes.
Step 3: Use the back of a spoon to begin to mash the beans in the pot. Stir in the milk. Continue to cook until heated through and the beans are softened about another 4 to 5 minutes.
Step 4: Remove from the heat and puree the beans with an immersion blender or use a potato masher to mash the beans until almost smooth. Stir in the sour cream.
Serve topped with fresh cilantro, if desired. Enjoy!
How to store leftover refried beans:
Place any leftover refried beans into an air tight storage container and store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Can leftover refried beans be frozen?
Yes you can freeze leftover refried beans. Allow the beans to cool before placing them in an air-tight freezer container or a freezer bag. Store in the freezer for 3 to 6 months.
Don’t forget to label your containers or freezer bag with the name of the recipe and the date you froze it. There’s nothing worse then finding a mystery container in the freezer that you have to guess what it is and how long it’s been in there.
How to reheat leftover refried beans:
You can easily reheat leftover refried beans on the stove or in the microwave.
If reheating in the microwave place the beans in a microwave safe bowl. Add a tablespoon of milk or sour cream and stir it in. The length of time to microwave the beans will depend upon the amount you are reheating.
Try microwaving it for 1 minutes at full power. Stir well and if it needs to be hotter reheat in 30 to 45 second intervals until hot. You don’t want to over heat them as the beans will begin to dry out. If they do get a bit dry then stir in an additional tablespoon of milk or sour cream.
To reheat leftover refried beans on the stove: Pour the refried beans into a pot. Add a tablespoon of milk or sour cream and stir it in. Heat them on low heat. Reheat the refried beans for 5-6 minutes, stirring frequently until piping hot.
What to serve with the refried beans:
On tostadas or over nachos – Simply spread some refried beans on top of a tostada or over tortilla chips and top with your favorite toppings including taco meat, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, avocado or guacamole, freshly made Pico de Gallo or even some spicy salsa.
Inside tacos – refried beans taste delicious when used to fill a taco shell along with your favorite taco fillings. Use the beans with beef tacos, chicken tacos, carnita tacos, fish or shrimp tacos or even vegetarian tacos.
Burritos or burrito bowls – You can’t go wrong with including some refried beans with your burritos or in a burrito bowl. Include cilantro lime rice, shredded lettuce, ground beef or chicken, diced tomatoes, salsa and any of your other favorite fillings.
Eat them with eggs – Make huevos rancheros (corn tortillas topped with refried beans, fried eggs, and warmed salsa) or add some refried beans to some breakfast tacos.
Serve as a side dish to fajitas – refried beans make a great side dish to your fajitas.
Use refried beans to make a dip – you can thin down the refried beans by adding some additional milk. This will make it more like a dip. Layer the refried beans into a pan or dish, top with a bit of salsa or pico de gallo, shredded cheese and some sliced olives. Serve with tortilla chips to scoop up the dip.
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Homemade Refried Beans Recipe Using Canned Beans (Restaurant Style)
Equipment
- Medium sauce pan
- Mixing spoon
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
- 1/2 medium Yellow Onion finely diced
- 2 cloves Garlic minced
- 2 cans pinto beans 16 ounces cans, drained, rinsed
- 1 can Red Kidney Beans 16 ounce can, drained, rinsed
- 1/3 cup Sour Cream
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon Ground Cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Optional ingredients:
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and translucent, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the beans, ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, and crushed red pepper flakes, if using. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are heated through and start to break apart slightly, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Use the back of a spoon to begin to mash the beans in the pot. Stir in the milk. Continue to cook until heated through and the beans are softened about another 4 to 5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and puree the beans with an immersion blender or use a potato masher to mash the beans until almost smooth. Stir in the sour cream.
- Serve topped with fresh cilantro, if desired. Enjoy!
Nutrition
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