How do restaurants make 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 .

What is the secret of refried beans?

If you want a thicker refried bean, then use less water . If you want thinner beans, then you will use more broth. Save the leftover bean broth and use it to stir into your leftover beans. As they sit in the refrigerator and chill, they will thicken.

How to make canned beans taste like restaurant?

I like to sprinkle in some taco seasoning , but you could add whatever spices you like — garlic powder, cumin, and chili powder are all good calls. Then, you mash the beans up directly in the pan and add just a little bit of vinegar at the end to really make the beans sing.

Why are restaurant beans so good?

While specific recipes and methods may vary, here are some common factors that can contribute to the flavorful taste of restaurant-style refried beans: Fat and seasoning : Refried beans typically start with cooking beans in fat, such as lard, bacon fat, or vegetable oil. This fat adds richness and flavor to the beans.

Restaurant Style Refried Beans recipe (2024)

This Restaurant Style Refried Beans recipe is made in a crockpot, and you don’t need to soak the beans! As a result, the recipe is easy, and the beans come out creamy.

This recipe serves 12 and costs $2.13 to make. That’s just 18¢ per serving!

For more homemade bean recipes, try my Crock Pot Green Chile Pinto Beans Recipe, Instant Pot Refried Beans, and Slow Cooker Boston Baked Beans Recipe.

Restaurant Style Refried Beans recipe (1)

Careful: this Homemade Refried Beans Recipe is going to change your life!

Warning: Once you make my Restaurant Style Refried Beans Recipe, you’ll never go back to canned beans because this is an easy, delicious Mexican refried beans recipe!

I have been tinkering with this easy refried beans recipe for a couple of months. I am happy to report that I’ve SO nailed it!

They’re straightforward to make and so tasty. Not to mention these beans cost a fraction of the cost of canned refried beans.

And who knew refried beans and healthy belong in the same sentence?! Because they definitely could with this recipe!

I always have a few, or ten pounds, of pinto beans in my pantry (thanks, Costco!). My kids love these homemade refried beans, and I mean LOVE! They shovel them in by the spoonful.

What are refried beans?

Refried beans are 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.

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The beans are made with raw pinto beans. They can be cooked when dry or soaked overnight, stewed, drained of most of the remaining liquid, and converted into a paste with a masher.

Refried Bean Recipe ingredients & cost

Per Serving Cost: $0.18

Recipe Cost: $2.13

3 cups dried pinto beans –$1.11
7 cups water –$0.00
2 chicken bouillon cubes –$0.16
1 medium white onion –$0.70
2 teaspoons garlic powder –$0.06
2 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin –$0.09
salt and pepper to taste –$0.01

NOTE: I calculate the recipe prices by using name-brand grocery prices on grocery store websites.

Refried Bean Recipe variations

*** If you use Chicken broth instead of the chicken bouillon granules, you will need 6 cups of broth and 1 cup of water!
To make this recipe, you’ll need an immersion blender. You can use a standard blender and run small batches through it, but it will take a while. (Also, if you go this route, you’ll need to hold the lid to the blender on SUPER tight!) The immersion blender that I use will run you about $40. I use it all the time, especially for soups!
When rinsing the beans, throw out any that float or are discolored. Also, keep an eye out for small stones, especially if you buy cheaper pinto beans.

How to make Crockpot Refried Beans

First, place all of your ingredients, minus the salt and pepper, into your slow cooker.
Next, cook the beans on high for 9 hours. Yes, 9 hours, please don’t cook them for less than that!
Finally, using an immersion blender, puree the beans until smooth. Add water as needed and season with salt and pepper to taste. If you’re feeling decadent, add up to a stick of butter to the beans!

***For complete recipe instructions see the recipe card below!

How to serve Crockpot Refried Beans

SERVE:You can keep these out for about two hours before they need to be refrigerated.

Refried Bean Recipe storage

How long do refried beans last in the fridge?

Cover and store the beans in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

Can you freeze refried beans?

You can freeze these beans in Ziploc bags in small batches. They will keep in the freezer for up to 4 months.

THAW: Thaw the frozen packets of beans overnight in the refrigerator.

REHEAT: Heat the beans in a saucepan over medium heat until heated through.You may need to loosen the beans with a couple of tablespoons of water when reheating them.

Crock Pot Refried Beans rave reviews from readers

“Made this last night. Truly amazing and so easy!! Walking in the door after work, the house smelled yummy. Thank you so much!”
“Classic recipe I love refried beans! Can’t wait to make this again it was great”
“This recipe is as good as it gets for refried pinto beans; period (for what its worth, I am likely a refried pinto bean addict). Easy, inexpensive, reasonably “healthy”, and always nails.”

Restaurant Style Refried Beans recipe (4)

How to make Refried Beans FAQs

Are refried beans vegetarian?

Many popular refried bean recipes contain lard. Using lard in the recipe makes the beans not vegetarian. However, my recipe does not call for lard. Thismethod also helps to make the recipe a little more healthy than other refried bean recipes.
To make them vegan, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.

What do you eat with refried beans?

I love them on a tortilla or with some tortilla chips. Add some salsa with the chips and tortillas, and you’re golden!
This Mexican Rice also goes great with the beans. You could even serve the beans alongside this Mexican Lasagna, and you’d have such a great meal.

What makes refried beans refried?

In America, we might first think refried beans mean the beans have been fried twice. However, the word refried comes from the Spanish name frijoles refritos. The translation for this phrase means well fried. Therefore, they are not cooked twice but rather cooked well until soft enough to mash into the creamy beans that we all love.

Do Mexican restaurants use lard in refried beans?

Most restaurants do use lard in their refried beans. That is one reason I prefer to make them at home. I can get the same great taste from the seasonings without adding in the extra fat.

What kind of beans do Mexican restaurants use?

The two most popular types of beans found in Mexican restaurants are pinto and black beans. Pinto beans are, of course, used to make refried beans, while black beans are served as a side dish in soups, salsas, or enchiladas. I have an excellent recipe for Restaurant-Style Black Bean Soup that is delicious!

How to season refried beans?

Here are some tips on how to season refried beans:
– Add aromatics:Adding chopped onions will give the beans a slightly more complex flavor.
– Add spices:Cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper are commonly used to season refried beans.
– Add fat:A few tablespoons of butter or a dollop of sour cream can add richness and creaminess to refried beans. For a cheesy and gooey texture, you can also add cheese, such as cheddar, Monterey Jack, or cotija.
– Add herbs:Adding fresh herbs, such as cilantro, can give refried beans a fresh and flavorful boost.

What can I add to refried beans to make them creamy?

There are a few things you can add to refried beans to make them creamy:
– Fat:Adding fat to refried beans will also help to make them creamier. You can use butter, shortening, lard, or even olive oil.
– Dairy:Adding dairy products to refried beans is a great way to make them creamy and rich. You can use sour cream, Greek yogurt, or cream cheese.
– Avocado:Avocado is a great way to add creaminess and healthy fats to refried beans. Mash it up and stir it into the beans.
– Cheese:Cheese is another great way to add creaminess and flavor to refried beans. You can use shredded cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, or queso fresco cheese.

Restaurant Style Refried Beans recipe (5)

More Mexican inspired recipes

Beef Enchiladas
Best Guacamole
Easy Mexican Rice
Best Mexican Sweet Corn Cake
Carne Asada Street Tacos
Cheesy Green Chile Cornbread
Easy Stovetop Chicken Fajitas
Mexican Spinach Dip
Mexican Street Corn Flatbread Pizza
New Mexico Style Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas
One Pot Chicken Burrito Bowls
Pantry Chicken Taco Soup
Picadillo Tacos

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4.71 from 79 votes

Homemade Refried Beans Recipe (Crockpot)

Author Jillian, Food Folks and Fun

Recipe Cost $ $2.13

Serving Cost $ $0.18

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 9 hours hours

Total Time 9 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

12 people

This Restaurant Style Refried Beans recipe is made in a slow cooker, and no bean soaking is required!

Equipment

slow cooker
cutting board
chef's knife
immersion blender

Ingredients

▢ 3 cups dried pinto beans rinsed and picked over
▢ 7 cups water
▢ 2 Tablespoons chicken bouillon granules (or 2 bouillon cubes)
▢ 1 medium white onion diced (or 1 Tablespoon onion powder)
▢ 2 teaspoons garlic powder
▢ 2 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
▢ salt and pepper to taste

GARNISHES:

▢ Shredded Mexican cheese blend optional
▢ unsalted butter optional

Instructions

Add all of the ingredients, except for the salt and pepper to the crock-pot.
Cook on high for 9 hours. At this point, the beans will be tender and a bunch of them will have popped open.
Use an immersion blender to puree the beans until smooth.
Add more water as needed, or if you're feeling decadent, add up to 8 tablespoons of unsalted butter to make creamy, out-of-this-world beans.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with shredded Mexican cheese (optional).

Video

Notes

This recipe makes about 6 cups of beans.
Some readers have not cooked the beans for the full hours and they end up with watery beans. You must cook the beans for the entire 9 hours, I cannot express the importance of this enough!

Nutrition

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This post first appeared on FFF on August 15, 2015. I have since updated the pictures and added a recipe video.

Restaurant Style Refried Beans recipe (7)

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