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!

5 Minute Refried Beans Recipe - Build Your Bite (2)

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!

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? ›

While canned refried beans are convenient, they're no match for the creamy and flavorful refried beans served at your local Mexican restaurant. If you're wondering what is the secret ingredient for restaurant-quality refried beans, the answer is fat.

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.

How do you elevate canned refried beans? ›

Adding fresh ingredients like chopped onions, diced jalapenos, or minced garlic can elevate the flavor of canned refried beans. You can also mix in fresh cilantro or diced tomatoes for added freshness and texture.

Are refried beans good for muscle gain? ›

You've got a wide variety of kinds from which to choose though, all chock full of healthy nutrients and protein, in addition to fiber. Even prepared beans, such as baked and refried, can be bodybuilding friendly.

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.

What do Mexicans eat refried beans with? ›

If you are a frequent consumer of Mexican cuisine, I'm sure you have had refried beans many times before. It is very commonly included in meals as a side, along with rice and some fresh lettuce. Refried beans are traditionally cooked in lard in order to get that signature, delicious refried bean taste.

Which is healthier refried beans or rice? ›

Authentic refried beans have plentiful amounts of lard in them, making Mexican rice a healthier alternative. I also like a little carb-on-carb action. That is, rice scooped up on a tortilla chip.

Why do refried beans make me sick? ›

perfringens is an entertoxin-secreting bacteria most often found in inadequately heated or reheated meats, meat pies, stews, gravy, sauces, and refried beans. The incubation period averages 8-12 hours, after which diarrhea and abdominal cramps begin. C. perfringens symptoms usually persist for one day.

Can a diabetic eat refried beans? ›

Controlled Blood Sugar

Just like pinto beans, refried beans can be used to help manage your blood sugar levels. Because beans contain magnesium, consuming them as part of your diet can prevent your blood sugar from rising, also preventing type 2 diabetes.

How to jazz up canned beans? ›

You can add crushed whole seeds (coriander, cumin, fennel, mustard, etc.), woodsy herbs (thyme, oregano, rosemary, sage), red pepper flakes, crushed garlic cloves, and of course salt and pepper.

What thickens refried beans? ›

To thicken the juice of the beans take 2 tablespoons of flour in cold water and stir until its smooth. Then pour it in the pot while the water is hot.

What kind of cheese do you put on top of refried beans? ›

If you're looking for a restaurant-quality refried beans recipe, you trust us when you say you have found it. We love to serve the beans right out of the skillet, garnish with crumbled Cojita cheese, or shredded mozzarella.

Is it OK to eat refried beans everyday? ›

Refried beans are a nutrient rich food! They provide plenty of fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. People who are at higher risk for heart disease may want to watch for the saturated fat content, but the average person can fit them into an overall healthy diet with minimal problem.

What are the best beans for body building? ›

Beans. Many different types of beans can be part of a diet for lean muscle gain. Popular varieties like black , pinto , and kidney beans contain around 15 g of protein per cup (about 172 g) of cooked beans.

Do refried beans make you sleepy? ›

Beans. Beans may not exactly be NyQuil, but they're high in fiber -- and new research shows that there's a link between fiber intake and getting restorative sleep, which is clearly better than non-restorative sleep. The study found that participants who ate meals with more fiber spent longer periods in deep sleep.

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? ›

Typically, pinto beans are stewed with onion, garlic, and bacon. You can find many versions of these beans often with added meats like sausage, pork, and chorizo to make it into a more filling dish. This dish is usually served warm as a soup or stew and is incredibly popular in Mexican restaurants.

What makes refried beans taste good? ›

Try bacon grease, chili powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, chicken broth, chili pepper, lime juice, cream cheese, taco seasoning, and more to make the best refried beans to serve with your next Mexican meal.

Why do restaurant black beans taste so good? ›

It's just the liquid the beans were cooked in. To complete, a glug of extra virgin olive oil is poured over the beans. Since beans are pretty much fat-free, the olive oil lends necessary fat and a luxe mouthfeel that's rarely found in dishes made with canned beans.

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