Refried Black Beans
Smokey, creamy Refried Black Beans are the perfect side dish to enjoy with all your Mexican-inspired meals, and are ready in about 30 minutes!
Refried Black Beans are an easy-to-make and deliciously savory side dish to serve on Taco Tuesdays alongside chips and cold margaritas! Whether you dip it, add a big scoop next to your tacos, or slather a tostada, this simple recipe only requires a few ingredients like black beans, onion, garlic, and jalapeno, along with seasonings to make this must-have side dish!
Un-bean-lievably Good
Refried Black Beans are a staple in our house, for both game day get-togethers and mouth-watering Tex-Mex dinners. Black beans are incredibly flavorful and hearty, which means they’re hard to stop eating and are so deliciously filling! We adjust the spice level according to the occasion, with spicier beans for game days and mild beans at dinner, to please the kids. I love the versatility of black beans, and with the amount of protein, fiber, and other vitamins, I feel pretty good about clearing all of the beans off of my plate!
Black Bean and Chicken Nachos and Cowboy Nacho Bites are perfect for sharing during game day snacking or as fantastic appetizers!
Other Recipes to Serve with Refried Black Beans
- Black beans are great as a side, but just wait until you try a big, comforting bowl of Homemade Black Bean Soup!
- Nothing goes better with black beans than sweet potatoes, and these Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quesadillas do double duty as a flavorful appetizer or as the star of the main meal!
Ingredients
Veggies: Bring fresh flavors to the black beans with yellow or white onion, garlic, and jalapeno. To keep the beans mild, remove the membrane and seeds of the jalapeno.
Beans: Pick up a few cans of black beans for this recipe. You can choose any variety you like, such as reduced sodium. Drain and rinse the beans before adding them to the pan.
Seasoning: You will need onion powder, salt, and pepper to season the beans.
Pantry Items: To make the beans creamy, you will need chicken stock or vegetable stock for a vegetarian-friendly version. A little olive oil is also needed to cook the onion and garlic.
How to Make Refried Black Beans
STEP ONE: Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a pot. Add the chopped onion and jalapeno and saute for 2-3 minutes. Stir the garlic into the pot and cook for another 30 seconds.
STEP TWO: Add the black beans, chicken (or veggie) stock, onion powder, salt, and pepper, and then bring the pot to a boil. Reduce the heat and allow the beans to simmer for a few minutes.
STEP THREE: Smash the black beans with a potato masher and cook until the liquid is reduced and the beans are thick but not dry. Enjoy immediately!
Tips for Success
- Refried black beans are so versatile when it comes to spice, which means you can make this as mild or as spicy as you like! Cut away the membrane and seeds of the jalapeno to keep the beans mild, or toss in as much jalapeno as you like for a great spicy treat!
- When making this dish for Meatless Mondays or vegetarians/vegans, use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.
- For a traditional refried bean consistency, all you need is a potato masher! A potato masher will give you that great mix of creamy beans mixed with small chunks of beans. You can toss the beans into a food processor once they are fully cooked for a completely creamy consistency.
Are refried black beans healthy?
Black beans, as well as many other types of beans, are a powerhouse of nutrition. Most beans, including black beans, contain a good amount of protein and fiber, along with a variety of necessary vitamins and minerals. Black beans are wonderful for lowering blood sugar and cholesterol and are great for digestion. By using olive oil in this recipe, instead of lard or other unhealthy fats, these black beans are also more weight and heart-healthy. When eating black beans for health reasons or just to improve your diet, choose low-sodium options of beans and use heart-healthy oils to cook them!
What’s the difference between black beans and refried black beans?
Black beans can be served hot, cold, as-is, or mashed, so they can be used in many different dishes and enjoyed in many ways! A recipe or dish that includes black beans typically means whole, cooked beans. On the other hand, refried black beans are cooked black beans that have been cooked again and mashed. They are not “refried,” as the name implies, but are cooked twice, once to soften and once to mash. The only difference between the two is the texture and additional ingredients in refried black beans to provide more flavor.
More Ways to Love Black Beans!
- Black Bean Rice Pilaf
- Mango Black Bean Salsa
- Black Bean and Sweet Potato Enchiladas
- Cheesy Roasted Corn and Black Bean Dip
- Southwest Quinoa Soup
*This post was originally posted on 10/23/2013.
Refried Black Beans
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion peeled and diced
- 1 jalapeno seeded and diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 30 ounces canned black beans drained and rinsed (2 cans)
- 4 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Add the onion and jalapeno and cook for 2-3 minutes until the onions are tender. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring often.
- Add the black beans, chicken stock, onion powder, salt, and pepper to the pot and stir to combine.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer. Cook for about 25 minutes until the liquid has reduced and the beans are thickened but not dry. Periodically, mash the beans with a potato masher.
- Check the seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a serving bowl before serving warm. Garnish with jalapeno slices and chopped cilantro if desired.
