Authentic Mexican Refried Beans Recipe (Frijoles Refritos)

Mexican refried beans or frijoles refritos are a Mexican food staple that everyone should master. You’ll love this easy authentic refried beans recipe because it’s better than canned or restaurant refried beans. This recipe makes THE best refried beans!

Authentic Mexican Refried Beans Recipe
Authentic Mexican Refried Beans Recipe

Refried Beans

Mexican refried beans are a staple in Mexican cuisine. The ingredients are all basic and are also pantry staples.

I think you’re going to love this quick, easy, inexpensive and delicious homemade recipe. Best of all is that you will no longer have to rely on the canned stuff, and your wallet will thank you for it.

Homemade Frijoles Refritos

In a previous post, I shared my process for making a pot of Mexican beans from scratch, make sure to read that article and recipe. I highly suggest you start by making a pot of homemade beans and using them to make your frijoles refritos. The taste and texture is always better than canned.

Today we are going to turn them into the most delicious, smooth and creamy homemade refried beans!

My recipe just happens to be vegan and it’s suitable and loved by meat-eaters as well. I promise that you’ll find this recipe better than your favorite Mexican restaurant.

What Does Frijoles Refritos Mean

The Spanish name of frijoles refritos translates to refried beans.

But it’s a bit of a confusing translation because the beans aren’t actually re-fried or fried twice. How many of you were wondering why beans would need to be fried twice? Right, haha!

Let’s break it down frijoles means beans and refritos means well-fried. In English, the prefix “re” is used to express an action done twice, in Mexican-Spanish we commonly use it for emphasis.

So, frijoles refritos actually means very well-fried beans.

Spanish lesson aside just know that you won’t have to fry your beans twice. It’s a side dish recipe which uses simple ingredients and requires a simple process. Anyone can do it!

But please don’t ask me how or who invented frijoles refritos — I don’t know, all I know is that homemade refried beans will rock your world.

Ingredients used to make authentic Mexican beans.
Ingredients for Authentic Refried Beans

Homemade Refried Beans

When making refried beans, starting with freshly homemade beans is THE secret to perfect Mexican refried beans every time — just like our abuelas have been making for centuries.

I know many people like to use canned beans, but if you want the authentic Mexican taste skip the can and reach for the pot. (Learn how to with my recipe)

For those that just don’t have the time, I will include some tips for a canned version below.

Homemade and from Scratch Is Cheaper

One of the best benefits of homemade vs canned beans (both boiled and refried) it the money you’ll save.

Buying a bag of dried beans will always be cheaper than the convenience of the canned ones.

Dried beans are much cheaper than canned.

Ingredients for refried beans

Ingredients Used for Mexican Refried Beans

Just as I mentioned on my article and recipe for making pinto beans from scratch, the ingredients for frijoles refritos also vary. But below are the most basic ones.

  • Cooked Beans: The most common choices can be pinto beans or black beans, but bayos or flor de mayo beans are also a great choice. Any will do, it’s a matter of personal choice.
  • Cooked Bean Broth: Specially if starting with homemade boiled beans, make sure to save some of the bean water from boiling to help you get creamy refried beans.
  • Onions and Garlic: Onion is usually included and some people will also add garlic, again it’s a personal choice.
  • Chiles: Some people also like to add fresh or dried chiles to their beans.
  • Seasonings: Salt is a must, of course, and most people keep it that simple but others add spices or herbs too.
  • Fat: You’ll need a fat to help you fry the beans. See more on this below.

Fats Used for Refried Beans

Traditionally, the fat which gives Mexican refried beans its unique taste, is manteca de cerdo or pig lard.

Some people will use bacon fat or bacon grease to give their beans more flavor. I think this is more common with the Mexican-American community and younger generations of Mexicans, and less so with the older traditional cooks.

The use of lard or bacon fat is something to be aware of when you’re eating out, as the more traditional Mexican restaurants will use animal fats. Make sure to ask what fat was used to make their beans.

A solid fat, vegan alternative to lard is vegetable shortening. You can use that if you’d like, but know that it’s unhealthier than certain oils.

Oil

Many people, including myself, like to use oil instead.

Though untraditional, my personal preference is olive oil. I use this oil because of health reasons as some vegetable oils can cause inflammation. But you’re free to use any type of vegetable oil that you like.

Don’t Use Butter in Refried Beans

Under NO circumstances would I suggest using butter or margarine to make refried beans. Both have strong flavors which will overpower the bean taste.

How to Mash Whole Beans to Make Refried Beans
Mashing Whole Beans to Make Refried Beans

How to Season Refried Bean

Just as I mentioned in my recipe for making frijoles de olla, here too additional flavorings can vary greatly from one cook to another.

Frying the beans with the following vegetables helps build a great base of delicious flavors.

  • onion
  • garlic
  • dried or fresh chiles

Spices are also a great addition to refried beans. Just don’t go overboard on them otherwise you’ll mask the yummy bean flavors.

  • ground cumin gives a slight smokiness to beans
  • black pepper, though not too commonly used can give a slight spiciness to those that don’t want fresh or dried chile heat
  • salt of course is a must!

Chopped tomato or even veggie chorizo (soyrizo) can be used for an extra boost of flavor! If you cook them with soyrizo you can use the oil from the soyrizo for frying the beans. Or add more oil if desired.

If you have boiled the beans in just water and a bit of salt, I would highly suggest adding some extra flavorings to your refried beans. Experiment until you find the combination your family loves.

I personally like to leave in the onion, garlic, and epazote (epazote lends a nice earthy flavor), all of which are used to boil the beans. But I always remove the serrano peppers and instead use a couple dried chiles when I’m making refried beans. If you want a milder heat then try some jalapeño peppers instead.

Again, the seasoning is all up to your taste buds so you can create delicious refried beans for your next Mexican meal or countless Mexican dishes. You may find that refried pinto beans taste better a different way than do refried black beans. Just experiment and you’ll find what suits your taste buds best.

How to make the most delicious homemade refried beans.
Homemade Authentic Frijoles Refritos

How to Make Authentic Mexican Refried Beans

Once you have the cooked beans ready, the cooking process for frijoles refritos is quite easy and you’ll be making your own refried beans in no time and often too!

Start with drain beans, but make sure to reserve the cooking bean broth, set aside. Heat a large cast iron skillet, or large frying pan, then add the oil and allow to heat up.

Next add the chopped onion and sauté until it becomes golden brown and a tad crispy. Then add in the chilies and sauté for a couple of minutes.

Carefully added the cups of beans, a 1/4 cup of the bean broth, and with a potato masher begin to mash. Continue mashing until the beans have broken down. At this time add some salt and mix until well combined.

Simmer on low heat for about 8 minutes and stir often to prevent burning and the beans from drying out.

Continue to mash and add bean broth until you reach your desired consistency. Also carefully taste for salt.

If you wanted to add other seasonings, spices or herbs add them with the salt.

Refried Beans Recipe
Refried Beans Recipe | How to Make Mexican Refried Pinto Beans

What Texture Should Refried Beans Have

I like a bit of texture in my frijoles refritos, some like theirs smoother or creamier. It’s up to you to find your desired consistency.

My advice is to mash until you like the texture. Another aspect to the texture is the thinness or thickness of the beans. Some restaurants tend to serve their refried beans a bit runnier or thicker than you are accustomed to, but at home it’s up to you.

I think the consistency should be made according to what the beans will be used for.

For example, if you’ll be using the refried beans as a side or to enjoy with some corn tortilla chips, then maybe leave them with a thicker constancy. If they will be used to spread over a tostada then I would suggest a medium consistency to make spreading easier.

Again, this is just simple advice so feel free to cook until you like the consistency.

Tips for Refried Beans from Using Canned Beans

My biggest prejudice against canned beans is that I feel they impart a particular taste to the refried beans. You can drain and rinse them, but I find that taste lingers regardless.

However, if in a pinch you want to make refried beans from a can, it’s easy.

Start by with drained beans and then rinse them thoroughly. Then just follow the same instructions of my recipe below. You may want to add some vegetable broth or hot water when you’re mashing them, since in this case there is no cooking water from the homemade beans.

Following my recipe with the additional seasonings will make your frijoles taste much better than just mashing the rinsed canned beans.

How to Prevent Dry Refried Beans

Over cooking is the biggest cause of dry beans. But don’t worry this is easily fixed, I’ll share with you a little secret tip so you’ll always have perfectly smooth and delicious refried beans.

If your beans begin drying out then add some of the boiling broth or a little bit of warm water to bring back to the consistency you want. If the beans are too watery just cook down to thicken up.

How to Store Leftovers

Leftovers should be removed from the stove and allowed to come to room temperature. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze them for up to a few months. Defrost in the fridge the night before using.

How to Reheat Refried Beans

You can reheat leftovers on the stove top or in the microwave.

Mexican Refried Beans Recipe

Making your own refried beans at home is so incredibly easy. It’s great if you can start with homemade boiled beans. Then cook them like in my recipe below.

This refried beans recipe is one of those authentic recipes to master for all of your Mexican cooking needs.

Authentic Mexican refried beans inside a small yellow bowl.

Authentic Mexican Refried Beans Recipe (Frijoles Refritos)

Nancy Lopez & MexicanMadeMeatless.com
Mexican refried beans or frijoles refritos are a Mexican food staple that everyone should master. You’ll love this easy authentic refried beans recipe because it’s better than canned or restaurant refried beans. This recipe makes THE best refried beans!
5 from 66 votes
Save Recipe Pin Recipe Leave a Review
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine Mexican, vegan
Servings 4 servings
Calories 222 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups homemade pinto beans (include some cooking liquid or boiling broth too)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil of choice
  • cup of finely chopped white onion
  • 2 to 3 whole dried chiles de arbol or dried/fresh chile of choice
  • large pinch sea salt adjust to taste (kosher salt may also be used)

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oil in a large frying pan, once it's hot add the onion and cook until browned and crispy (this gives it a great taste, or you can just sauté until tender.) Next add the dried or fresh chiles and cook just until they brown or begin to blister — this happens quickly so be ready to proceed.
    Ingredients used to make authentic Mexican beans.
  • Next add the boiled beans — be careful because it will splash, allow to fry for about 3 minutes. Next add about ¼ cup of the broth and then begin mashing the beans until you achieve the desired texture. The broth will help with the mashing and you'll need to add a little bit of the broth to help you achieve the texture you desire.
    Mashing whole beans to make refried beans.
  • Continue to "fry" for about 5-8 minutes or until they have the consistency you want. Remember to adjust the consistency to your needs by cooking longer to thicken or adding more broth/water to thin out. Taste and add salt as desired.
    Refried Beans Recipe

Video

Notes

If you’ve started with my homemade boiled pinto beans, reserve the broth. If you’d like you can remove the onion, garlic, epazote and chile used to boil the beans, I like to keep the epazote, onion and garlic.
 
•You could also add mince garlic with the chile.
•veggie chorizo can be added for extra flavor if desired. First cook the chorizo through, in the same pan and without discarding the oil cook the onion (if using) and then mash the beans.
•Spices such as ground black pepper, ground cumin, achiote, oregano may also be used. Add them as you’re mashing the beans.

Nutrition

Serving: 4servingsCalories: 222kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 8gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 402mgFiber: 8gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 133IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 43mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Leave me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and tag me on social media @MexicanMadeMeatless or tag #mexicamademeatless!
Authentic Refried Beans Recipe
Delicious and Homemade Frijoles Refritos

Congratulations, you’ve now made refried beans like a Mexican!

How to Serve

Now you are ready to serve them alongside some tacos or enchiladas, on tostadas or tortas or you can blend leftover refried or boiled beans to make a sauce for enfrijoladas. Serve them as a side dish to your meals or breakfasts like huevos rancheros or migas. You could also serve them as a bean dip or on homemade flour tortillas to make burritos!

However you choose to eat your refried beans, I hope you enjoy them. Buen provecho! 

How to Make Vegan Beans

Ingredients used in this recipe. (Purchases through these Amazon links help support this blog. Thank you!)

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65 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Once again great article,I think you’ve explained the process of bean frying very well, I like the dact that you pretty much leave it to the cook to choose their consistancy and flavours and not just stick with on particular way of doing it. I thinks every recipy should give you some play room I always have a hard time following a recipy to a t ,so this is great. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge with all of us..
    P.S PLEASE ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SOMBRERO SO WEKNOW YOU’RE A TRUE MEXICAN :-!!!!!!! 🙂 love you

    1. Oh, for sure I don’t ever leave home with out mi sombrero! Lol!:) Thank you I’m glad you enjoyed the articles and recipe. I think cooking is a very personal thing and making the processes and results our own is one of the best things about being in the kitchen. Love you!

  2. 5 stars
    I like to add a little bacon to my refried beans and all the bacon drippings. Not so much bacon as to over power the taste but enough to let one know that it is there. I cut the bacon into very small pieces and it adds some texture to final product. I agree that making beans from scratch is the only way to go.

  3. 5 stars
    I like my frijolitos with a spicy kick. I fry chopped fresh jalapeños with my frijoles. For a milder spice, mi mami uses banana peppers. Both are delicious with chips and queso fresco. Provecho!

  4. 5 stars
    Yum! I love love love refried beans. And, yes, I use lard to cook them. Gives such a special flavor. Does that make me more Mexican than you? Maybe we should ask your small time lady reader? ;=) Actually, I did read somewhere that lard is not as bad for you as people say, but to each his own. Who could say no to olive oil? Not me, of course!

    1. Haha, for sure Frank you are more Mexican than me.:) We love using olive oil for it’s anti-inflammatory properties otherwise I lard would have been a once in a while ingredient in my kitchen. Gracias amigo!

  5. 5 stars
    Love this post Nancy! Here in New Mexico you get frijoles refritos made thick and thin and most always with lard. I do always eat them when they come on the plate because I love them. However, at home, I’d rather not use lard so thanks for all of the great information on how to make these at home, but more healthy! Gotta love those people who write and tell you you’re doing something wrong. 🙂 I always find it rather amusing because it’s like there is one and only one way to make a dish! NOT!

  6. 5 stars
    As much as I love Mexican food, I’ve never made refried beans. Your recipe looks so simple and delicious! I’m drooling now for Mexican food. Great post, Nancy!

  7. 5 stars
    “Side story for you: I once received hate mail from a self described “small town American woman with some knowledge of Mexican food” basically calling me a fake Mexican because I don’t use lard in any of my cooking. Since she obviously knows more about being Mexican than I do, next time I won’t forget to carry a packet of lard along with my sombrero, tequila bottle, leaf blower and burrito as I’m running and yelling “arriba, arriba!!”. ”

    LOL OMG, girl. People be CRAZY. I have ZERO problem with people sharing their traditions and their version of something but not in a dogmatic, unyielding manner. Different strokes for different folks, right? 🙂 Thanks for sharing the story; I needed a good laugh. 🙂

  8. 5 stars
    Your comments about Lard hit a nerve. I grew up in the Southwest amidst some of the most delicious Mexican food one could ever consume. Later I traveled and worked around the world always anxious about where my next Mexican meal would be found, and that was almost always when I traveled back to the southwest. When posted back to California for a large company, my wife and me traveled to Mexico City to visit good friends. I was utterly surprised at the different flavors there, delicious, but so different from the Sonoran Cuisine I was used to. I’ve grown used to all the different flavors from all the regions of Mexico and with it the love of variations in cooking to bring out every imaginative flavor possible. Thank you, your website is incredibly creative.

  9. One thing I learned from living with my mother. “Mexican” is about as different from family to family as Maine and Calofornia. I have come to realize that it is more of a family to family thing. And I started using lard again. I don’t think it is as bad as people say. I was trying to be healthy and use olive oil but some things just don’t work; like tortillas. So I am not afraid of a little lard in the recipe. I learned how to make bread from my mother in law and it uses way more crisco AND oil than the little lard I put on tortillas or use for frying.

    1. Hi John!

      In Mexico every region has a preferred bean for making this. I grew up eating pintos but where I live now, in the Yucatan Penninsula, black beans are more popular. It doesn’t matter which one you choose, beans are all yummy. Thanks 🙂

  10. 5 stars
    Thank you for this recipe. I have made your frijoles refritos so many times. I very much appreciate both your recipe and your thorough description. And my family-in-law was very impressed by this as a side today – thanks to you.

  11. 5 stars
    I saw your post on Instagram and had to try your beans this weekend. They were so full of flavor. My family lived them. Gracias

    1. Hi Diane,
      The chiles aren’t meant to “melt” into the beans. They add a smoky and slightly spicy flavor to the beans. You could of course omit them or use fresh chiles if you’d like.

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