Best 15-Minute Canned Refried Beans

You can turn canned refried beans into a great side dish perfect for any Mexican Dinner! This recipe is the perfect mixture of a can of refried beans combined with the texture of canned whole pinto beans, seasoned with garlic, onions, sour cream and Mexican spices. Top all that off with some gooey cheese and you have a perfect Mexican side dish.

The truly great thing is that once all the ingredients are mixed together it bakes up in just 15 minutes! Gives you more time to mix up Margaritas and relax!

This recipe for Mexican Refried Beans makes a great side dish for burritos, tacos, or enchiladas… all your favorite Mexican Dinners. You can also add some Mexican Rice to complete the dinner.

RELATED: Instant Pot Refried Beans

Ingredients

Just a few simple ingredients from your pantry and spice cabinet, plus some cheese and sour cream and you have an amazing refried bean side dish.

Onion- In most Mexican recipes we prefer to use white onion. Any onion will work, but the flavor of white onion is most traditional.

If you like a crunchier onion in your beans you can skip the sauteing.

Cheese – use any cheese you have on hand in this recipe. Fresh shredded cheese from a block will melt up creamier, but pre-shredded will still work. If you like a little spice you can choose to use pepper jack!

Pinto Beans – You will be using two kinds of pinot beans; refried beans and whole pinto beans. More on buying canned refried beans in the section below.

Canned Refried Beans

Refried beans are traditionally whole pinto beans that are cooked soft and then pureed or smashed into a creamy texture. They are a staple in Mexican and Tex-Mex Cooking. However, recipes vary quite a bit from home to home and by region.

In this recipe we are taking advantage of the canned refried beans at the grocery store.

PRO TIP: I do recommend that you DO buy the traditional refried beans, not the fat free refried beans. The traditional ones have a much creamier consistency! The fat free beans can tend to be dry.

How to Make The Best Canned Refried Beans

This is a super simple recipe to put together. Buying canned refried beans and whole pinto beans cuts down on cooking time considerably!

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and grab a small baking dish, like an 8×8 or 9×9.

In a small frying pan sauté the chopped onion and garlic in ½ tablespoon of oil, just until they are softened, about 4 minutes.

(If you like a crunchy onions in your beans you can skip the sautéing step)

Meanwhile, stir together the canned refried beans, the drained and rinsed whole pinto beans, sour cream, and all the seasonings.

When the onions and garlic are ready stir them in as well.

If you like a kick or heat or vinegar add a couple dashes of Tabasco or your favorite hot sauce. It gives it a little vinegar tang and great flavor! But, it’s totally optional. But also you should do it.

Pour the bean mixture into your baking dish.

Sprinkle the top with your preferred cheese (I like pepper jack or colby jack). Cover the pan with foil and pop it into the oven with the timer set for 10 minutes.

Pro Tip: Spray the underside of your foil with non-stick spray so the cheese doesn’t cook to the foil.

Then remove the foil and bake another 5 minutes.

Garnish with cilantro and diced tomatoes if you are feeling fancy.

They are ready to eat as soon as they come out of the oven!

Variations

Here are a few ideas on how you can change up this Canned Refried Bean recipe to suit your taste buds:

• Add a tablespoon or two of your favorite hot sauce.
• Sauté some chopped jalapeno with the onion and garlic for a kick of heat.
• Sprinkle in some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper for extra heat.
• Substitute Refried Black Beans and a can of whole black beans.
• If you like your beans super cheesy stir a ½ cup of cheese into the bean mixture and then top the beans with an additional ½ cup of cheese.
• Top the beans with whatever cheese you like: cheddar, monterey jack, pepper jack, colby jack, queso fresco (however, note that the queso fresco will not melt).

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Make It a Meal

Refried Beans are a traditional side dish served to accompany a dinner. They are also traditionally served with a Mexican Rice on the side (or try this Instant Pot Mexican Rice). Here are some favorite Mexican Main Dishes to check out:

1. Barbacoa Tacos
2. Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
3. Chicken Enchiladas
4. Beef Enchilada Casserole
5. Grilled Steak Tacos
6. Chicken Enchilada Suiza

Appetizer

You can also serve this refried bean recipe as a dip with some tortilla chips along side some salsa and guacamole. I would recommend smashing some of the whole pinto beans with a potato masher to serve it as a dip.

More Mexican Side Dishes to Check Out

Of course Refried Beans and Mexican Rice are traditional Mexican side dishes, here are some more to add to your dinner:

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