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Get perfectly creamy restaurant-style beans by adding just THREE extra ingredients to your canned refried beans!
Refried beans are perfect served as a dip, side, or filling for Bean Burritos and Chicken Tacos!
Gotta Love Cheesy Beans!
Our family uses beans for dipping, as a side dish, and for adding to all sorts of recipes from our Tostadas to our Bean Burritos. Mind you, my family is Hispanic and we have Mexican dishes all the time, so you better believe we make these pretty often.
Yes, refried beans can be served from the can, but these upgraded canned refried beans add a few extra ingredients that will take the canned stuff to the next level!
Why we love them:
- Flavor explosion. Just 3 ingredients to easily amp up your canned refried beans for serving with your favorite Mexican dinners!
- A classic side. Refried beans are a staple Mexican side dish along with Homemade Spanish Rice and Baked Tortilla Chips with Homemade Salsa!
- So quick! Adding extra flavor does not mean adding extra time, these beans are still ready to enjoy in only 10 minutes.
Few Ingredients
- can of refried beans – we use pinto beans, but refried black beans may be used as well
- Crisco vegetable shortening – instead of shortening use lard, butter, bacon grease/bacon fat, or coconut cream. Each of these uses more natural ingredients, however they WILL change the flavor and texture of the original recipe.
- milk
- cheese – I use either shredded cheddar cheese, Colby & Monterey Jack Cheese, or a Mexican cheese blend.
How to make refried beans Creamy
- MIX. Combine beans, milk, and crisco in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir vigorously with a fork or wire whisk until silky smooth. Add cheese and let it melt before serving.
- SERVE! Enjoy with warm Tortillas or Tortilla Chips.
Recipe Tips
- Serving suggestions. Wrap these beans in a homemade Flour Tortilla, or use them in any Mexican meal from 7 Layer Bean Dip, Tostadas, Burrito Recipe, Bean Chimichangas, or Homemade Taco Pizza.
- More variations to enhance the taste of canned beans:
- Leave out the shortening and reduce the amount of milk to about ⅓ cup or until you get a creamy consistency.
- Spices. Add extra seasonings like garlic salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, cumin, oregano, cayenne pepper, or hot sauce. Mix in some diced jalapeños, chili pepper, or chopped white onion, or top with chopped cilantro.
- Add brightness with a squeeze of lime juice.
Storage Tips
- STORE. Keep the refried bean recipe in an airtight container in the fridge, or a bowl covered tightly with plastic wrap for 3-4 days.
- FREEZE. For longer storage, freeze for several months. To reheat, thaw, put in a saucepan, set the stove to low heat, and stir until heated through.
For More Mexican Recipes:
Canned Refried Beans
Ingredients
- 1 (30-ounce) can refried beans, canned
- ¼ cup crisco shortening
- ⅔ cup milk
- 1-2 cups cheese
Instructions
- Combine beans, shortening, and milk in a pot over medium heat. Stir vigorously with a fork or wire whisk until silky smooth. Add cheese and let it melt before serving. Enjoy with warm tortillas or tortilla chips.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I am reluctant to put crisco into the bean. Seems a bit high on the grease/fat side. Can i leave it out?
You definitely can 🙂
I’ve never been able to make good refried beans, so I appreciate this recipe so much!
So glad you like the recipe! These are our favorite!! Thank you 🙂
Perfection and ease in these beans! Nothing hard and qUick to come together.
I love these refried beans. Especially on tostadas.
These look so easy and delicious! can’t wait to try!
This is my kind of recipe! This will be perfect to serve with our tacos tonight; looks amazing!
LOVE this recipe!
We love beans! This recipe is AMAZING!
I’ve never been able to make good refried beans, so I appreciate this recipe so much!
I will use this recipe every time from now on! SO creamy & so good! They taste like restaurant beans! My family wants these again soon!