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Homemade Refried Beans (Stove Top, Instant Pot, Crock Pot)

Name: Homemade Refried Beans (3 Ways)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 180 min
Ingredients: 1 pound pinto beans (about 2 cups); 14 cups pure water (divided, may sub part bone broth); 1 onion (peeled and sliced); 3 cloves garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper; 2 teaspoon ground cumin; 3 teaspoon sea salt; 1 teaspoon ground black pepper; 2 tablespoons lard (or bacon drippings)

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Take Mexican flavors over-the-top with homemade refried beans made on the stove top, Crock Pot, or Instant Pot! The perfect easy, healthy dip or side dish!

Taco night is LIFE in our house.

Typically, we eat homemade Mexican food at least once per week.

And if I really want to take the flavors over-the-top?

I put in a little extra effort and make homemade garlic-y blender salsa with these fantastic homemade refried beans. They taste SO much better than store-bought!

The best part?

You can make them any way you like — there are 3 different easy methods! I’ve got instructions for stove-top, slow cooker, or Instant Pot.

Whatever method you choose, be sure to soak the pinto beans first for at least 8 hours to reduce phytic acid and make them easier to digest. Here are detailed instructions on soaking and cooking beans before proceeding with this recipe.

I’m also adding lots of yummy flavors to these beans to make them the tastiest refried beans you’ve ever eaten! With onion, garlic, cayenne, cumin, and lard, these beans are sure to be a staple side dish on your family’s Mexican night menu.

Are refried beans healthy?

Yes! As long as they are prepared correctly by soaking the beans first.

Properly prepared pinto beans, for example, are a great source of B vitamins, magnesium, calcium, and iron. There are plenty of good complex carbs in refried beans, along with plant protein.

They’re also naturally gluten-free and can even be made vegetarian or vegan using olive or avocado oil. But if you want to make refried beans with tons of flavor, the right way…

Use LARD! Traditional refried beans include this wonderful traditional fat which is a source of fat-soluble vitamins.

Learn how to render lard yourself in the Instant Pot!

How To Make Refried Beans The Traditional Way (Stove-Top)

You might be wondering, “What are refried beans, exactly?”

Honestly, I never understood why beans are actually re-fried or why this is beneficial for flavor. While researching, I found the answer in the traditional Mexican method of cooking.

First, pinto beans are boiled slowly. Then, a good helping of lard is heated in a skillet.

The beans are fried in the hot lard before mashing. This process imparts an incredible flavor to the beans.

I don’t know about you, but I love using shortcuts like these 10 healthy eating kitchen hacks whenever I can to save time. Especially if I’m making multiple things at once like taco seasoning, taco meat, salsa, Mexican rice, etc.

So today, instead of re-frying the beans, I’m simply adding bacon grease or lard during the mashing step. You get the yummy flavor with less work and less mess.

Feel free to re-fry your beans the traditional way if that’s what you prefer!

The Crock Pot Method

This recipe is so easy to make in the slow cooker. Just soak the beans 8 hours or overnight in warm water.

When you’re ready to cook, drain the beans and add all the ingredients to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 8 hours until beans are soft.

Next, drain the bean liquid and reserve. Add the lard or bacon grease, then blend with a stick immersion blender or mash the beans with a potato masher.

Add bean liquid as you mash until beans reach your desired consistency.

The Instant Pot Method

The instructions for Instant Pot are basically the same as the slow cooker instructions, except for cooking time variations. These refried beans are done in just 20 minutes cooking time!

I love that if I forget to cook my beans all afternoon for Mexican night, I can still make refried beans in the IP while I’m prepping all the other dinner elements.

I cook mine for 20 minutes on manual high pressure. You can do a natural pressure release to reduce splattering, or do a quick release if you’re short on time.

Recipe Variations

Here are some different ways to change up this recipe if you so choose:

Add more cayenne for spice, or even a whole jalapeño!
Increase the garlic and onion to your liking.
Add a squeeze of fresh lime and some cilantro for additional flavor.
During cooking, you may substitute part or all of the water with chicken or vegetable broth to add flavor and nutrition.
Dried pinto beans are typically used in this recipe. But feel free to experiment with other varieties of beans — refried black beans are delicious!

How To Serve Homemade Refried Beans

There are so many yummy ways to use these refried beans! Here are our favorites:

The perfect side dish for classic tacos
Make quesadillas with melted cheese inside these authentic corn tortillas
As a topping for taco salad
The ultimate base for bean bowls with avocado
As a tasty filling for homemade burritos
Topping for nachos
Use inside this chicken enchilada casserole (pictured above)
Stirred into your favorite homemade chili
Create a refried bean dip by topping with cheese and sour cream

enameled cast iron skillet of refried beans topped with shredded cheddar cheese and fresh cilantro

4.5 from 4 votes

Homemade Refried Beans (3 Ways)

Take Mexican flavors over-the-top with homemade refried beans made on the stove top, Crock Pot, or Instant Pot! The perfect easy, healthy dip or side dish!

Course Dips & Spreads, Side Dish

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 3 hours

Soaking Time 8 hours

Servings 12 servings

Calories 62 kcal

Author Mary Harp

Ingredients

1 pound pinto beans about 2 cups
14 cups pure water divided, may sub part bone broth
1 onion peeled and sliced
3 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
2 teaspoon ground cumin
3 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons lard or bacon drippings

Instructions

Place beans in a pot or large jar and cover with 6 cups water. The beans will absorb water and expand over time, so there needs to be enough water that they stay covered.
Soak beans for a minimum of 8 hours, or up to 24.
When ready to cook, drain and rinse.
Add beans, 8 cups water (or broth), and all other ingredients except lard to a large stock pot.
Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer around 3 hours or until beans are soft and fully cooked.
Drain beans, reserving bean liquid (aquafaba) for later.
To re-fry, heat lard in a large skillet.
Add cooked beans and fry for several minutes to infuse flavor into beans.
Blend with a stick immersion blender or mash the beans with a potato masher, adding bean liquid until beans reach your desired consistency.

Recipe Notes

Refried beans in the Crock Pot:

Soak beans for a minimum of 8 hours.
When ready to cook, drain and rinse.
Add beans, 8 cups water (or broth), and all other ingredients except lard to slow cooker.
Cook on low for 8 hours.
Drain the bean liquid and reserve.
Add the lard or bacon grease, then blend with a stick immersion blender or mash the beans with a potato masher.
Add bean liquid until beans reach your desired consistency.

Refried beans in the Instant Pot:

Soak beans for a minimum of 8 hours.
When ready to cook, drain and rinse.
Add beans, 8 cups water (or broth), and all other ingredients except lard to Instant Pot.
Cover the pot, checking the seal and components to make sure all is well.
Cook on high pressure for 20 minutes.
Once cycle is complete, allow to naturally release pressure, or do a quick release and open lid after pin drops down.
Drain the bean liquid and reserve.
Add the lard or bacon grease, then blend with a stick immersion blender or mash the beans with a potato masher.
Add bean liquid until beans reach your desired consistency.

Nutrition Facts

Homemade Refried Beans (3 Ways)

Amount Per Serving (0.5 Cup)

Calories 62 Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Fat 1g2%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Sodium 598mg26%

Potassium 196mg6%

Carbohydrates 11g4%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 197IU4%

Vitamin C 2mg2%

Calcium 38mg4%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

How do you like to serve your refried beans? Do you make healthy, homemade refried beans?