Refried Beans

These homemade Refried Beans are simple, easy to make, and taste better than store-bought refried beans by a mile. Creamy, chunky pinto beans with a hint of onion, garlic, and a handful of spices make these refried beans so delicious. Finished with fresh cilantro and lime juice, you’ll never go back to settling for canned refried beans ever again.

Perfect for Mexican or Southwestern-inspired meals at all times of the day, these delicious refried beans couldn’t be easier to make or easier to eat! They pair well with almost anything and they take only 25 minutes from start to finish. You can also adjust them to your preferences (see notes below!).

Why You'll Love this Refried Beans Recipe

• They’re incredibly simple. These homemade refried beans can be made with less than 10 ingredients, and most of them are grocery staples that you probably already have on hand.
• Classic Mexican flavors. These homemade refried beans has all the classic flavors of Mexican cuisine including cumin, paprika, lime juice, and cilantro. It’s just like the kind you’d devour at dinner at your favorite Mexican restaurant!
• So versatile. Refried beans go well with so many dishes, and they can be served as a dip, a side, a foundational ingredient, or as a garnish or topping. This one recipe can be used a dozen different ways!
• Easy to make. Refried beans are a staple food that don’t require any special culinary prowess, just a few minutes and a little bit of effort. Prep the ingredients, heat things up, and then mash and combine — that’s really all you need to do.
• Vegan and gluten-free. Not many dips can boast vegan and gluten-free status. These refried beans are perfect for all diets — vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, you name it!

Ingredient Notes

To make these delicious Refried Beans, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

• avocado oil - olive oil or vegetable oil will also work.
• onion - white onions, yellow onions, or even shallots are best, but you can use whatever type of onions you have on hand at the moment.
• garlic - fresh garlic is best flavor-wise, but you can use pre-minced garlic to save time and effort if needed. Use 1 teaspoon per clove.
• pinto beans - navy beans or black beans make excellent swaps for the pintos if you need a substitute. We used canned pinto beans to make this recipe quick and easy but you can also use dried beans that will need to be soaked overnight. Use 1 ½ cup uncooked dried beans.
• cumin - if you don’t have cumin, try taco seasoning, coriander, or chili powder.
• paprika - chili powder can be used in place of the paprika if necessary.
• lime juice - fresh squeezed is best, but you can also try concentrated lime juice.
• cilantro - you can swap the cilantro with any soft herb like dill or basil, but it will alter the taste slightly.
• salt and pepper

You will also need measuring cups and spoons and a large skillet.

How to Make the Best Refried Beans

1. Cook ingredients. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the hot oil sizzles, about 1 minute. Add onion and garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add pinto beans, water, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix well and cook until beans are heated through and softened, about 5 minutes.

2. Mash. Turn heat to low and mash up the beans using a potato masher or a fork. Stir constantly and adjust the consistency by adding water, ¼ cup at a time, if needed. For a smoother consistency, transfer the beans to a food process and puree until smooth.

3. Serve. Stir in lime juice and cilantro.

How to Serve

Serve these Refried Beans as-is for an easy side, or spread them on tortillas for wraps, burritos and tacos! You can also use them as a topping for burrito bowls and salads. Some of our favorite dishes to serve with refried beans are:

• Tacos. Serve it with Ground Beef Mexican Tacos, Carne Asada Tacos, Chicken Tacos, or Cauliflower Tacos.
• Quesadillas. Try it as a filling in our Cheese Quesadilla or a side for our Vegetarian Quesadillas or Baked Chicken Quesadillas.
• Burritos. Include it in a Beef and Bean Burrito.
• Bowls and salads. Add some refried beans in a Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl or salads like this Beef Taco Salad or Southwest Quinoa Salad.
• Breakfast. Serve refried beans on the side of a plate of Huevos Rancheros or Chilaquiles Verdes.

Storing and Freezing Instructions

How to Store

Once the refried beans cool completely, you can transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 4 days.

How to Reheat

Reheat them over medium-low heat on the stovetop until warmed through or cover them and microwave on high in 30-second intervals.

How to Freeze

Transfer to an airtight container or freezer bag, separating into serving sizes as needed, and remove as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat straight from frozen as directed above or allow the beans to defrost in the refrigerator overnight before use.

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