Authentic Homemade Refried Beans
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This Authentic Homemade Refried Bean recipe is so delicious and smooth and can be cooked an Instant Pot or slow cooker, perfect with any Mexican dish.
Classic refried beans are a Mexican staple side dish. When made correctly, they are smooth and delicious. I am NOT a fan of refried beans from a can, if you have every had authentic homemade refried beans you will never go back to store bought.
They are actually surprisingly easy to make, and quick if you have an Instant Pot. You can also cook your beans in a slow cooker too, I do both. If you don’t have an Instant Pot I highly recommend this one!
Add 2 cups of pinto beans, water, salt and an onion cut in half to your Instant Pot or slow cooker. If using an Instant Pot, press the “manual” button and select 25 minutes. If using a slow cooker just put it on high for 8 hours.
After the beans are done cooking, chop up 1 onion and mince 3 cloves of garlic. Saute for about 5 minutes in 1/3 cup of oil.
Add beans with liquid, one lade at a time and mash with a potato masher. Click on the links above if you don’t have one and check out my video below for how to make authentic homemade refried beans.
Check out this Potato Masher. It is what I use to mash the beans. It’s a must have in your kitchen repertoire.
Add salt and mash together, letting the liquid cook out in between. You will not use all of the liquid, just use what you need to reach the right consistency.
Serve as a side dish, top with melty white cheese, avocados, onions or cilantro. The perfect dish to go with this? Check out The Short Order Cook’s Easy Restaurant Style Mexican Rice! Enjoy!
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Authentic Homemade Refried Beans
Ingredients
- 2 cups pinto beans
- 8 cups water
- 4 teas salt divided
- 2 onions
- 3-4 cloves garlic
- ⅓ cup oil corn or vegetable
Instructions
- Add water, dry pinto beans, 1 onion (cut in half) and 2 teas salt to an Instant Pot or slow cooker
- If using an instant pot, set it manually to 25 minutes with it sealed. If using a slow cooker set it to high for 8 hours
- Heat the oil in a non-stick pan and sauté the diced onion and minced garlic for 4-5 minutes until soft
- Add cooked beans with liquid, 1 ladle full at a time, to the pan with the onions and garlic.
- Mash with a potato masher as if fries in the pan. Add the remaining salt
- Continue to add 1 ladle of beans with liquid at a time, mashing it and letting it thicken up until all of the beans are transferred and mashed
- Discard remaining liquid
- Top with melty white cheese, onions, cilantro or avocado
- Serve and enjoy!
21 Comments
Tanya Bostick
Love this!!! We are huge protein lovers and always looking for perfect recipes. This is it!!!
Kristina
Yum this was good. Made it today with red onions because I didn’t have yellow. Really good flavor. Do you have a favorite taco meat recipe?
Emily Ackerman
Hi Kristina! I sent on the recipe for my ground beef tacos. Another great one to check out is my Shredded Mexican Beef! It’s a family favorite http://apinchofadventure.com/instant-pot-slow-cooker-mexican-shredded-beef/ and we always eat it with this salsa http://apinchofadventure.com/everyday-salsa/
Jessica
Looks like a great recipe! Thanks for sharing! I’ll definitely be trying this in the slow cooker.
Kim
Even my vegetarian daughter could eat this! Thanks for sharing!
Adrienne
These look great. I love refried beans but have never made them myself. Your recipe definitely looks like something I could handle!
Emily A
You can totally handle it!
Holly
I can’t wait to try this recipe, I haven’t had a lot of success with pintos in my instant pot! Thank you!
Beth Shields
My daughter does this all the time and they turn out amazing. Thanks for the recipe.
Shirley
I’ve never considered making my own refined beans, but after reading this recipe, now I want to try!
Christina Cumbria
Great idea to do this in an instant pot! Thanks for the idea!
Gayle
So so good!!!! 👍👍 Have you ever froze them??
Emily Ackerman
YES! I need to update the post with this. I love making an overabundance and then freezing them in quart bags.
Barbara
Looks yummy!
Angela
so excited to find a refried bean instant pot recipe, thanks
Eva Keller
Looks good! We’ve always just bought refried beans from a can or a pre-packaged meal. Not a bad idea to actually prepare it from “scratch”.
Cynthia
I have never refried beans myself. I generally order them in a restaurant but these look so good.
tracy donovan
love refried beans and looking forward to making them myself using your recipe! i have a question….what do you do with the onion cut in half that you cook with the beans in the slow cooker? discard or mash along with the sauteed onions in the pan?
Emily Ackerman
This is a really great question and I will update my blog to reflect it. I discard the onion that I cook with from the instant pot/slow cooker
Lauren
Where/ when do you add the oil? Thanks
Emily Ackerman
Hi Lauren! Step number 3 you will heat the oil and saute the onions and garlic in a non stick pan