Description
This Slow Cooker Refried Beans recipe offers a simple, hands-off way to make creamy, flavorful refried beans using dried pinto beans and a slow cooker. It’s a healthy, vegan, and gluten-free dish perfect as a side, for burritos, or as a dip.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups dried pinto beans (rinsed and sorted)
- 1 small onion (peeled and halved)
- 3 cloves garlic (peeled)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 6 cups water
- 1 tablespoon lime juice (optional)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or butter (for mashing, optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Beans: Add the rinsed pinto beans, onion halves, peeled garlic cloves, cumin, chili powder (if using), salt, pepper, and water to the slow cooker.
- Cook the Beans: Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 5–6 hours or on low for 8–10 hours, until the beans are very soft and tender.
- Drain and Remove: Once cooked, remove the onion pieces and drain the beans, reserving about 1–2 cups of the cooking liquid for thinning the beans later.
- Mash the Beans: Using a potato masher, immersion blender, or food processor, mash the beans to your preferred consistency, gradually adding the reserved cooking liquid until creamy.
- Season and Finish: Stir in the lime juice and vegetable oil or butter if using. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or spices as desired.
- Serve Warm: Serve your refried beans warm, perfect as a side dish, in burritos, or as a dip.
Notes
- These beans will thicken as they cool, so add reserved liquid gradually to achieve your desired texture.
- For a smoky flavor, add a chopped chipotle pepper in adobo sauce during cooking.
- Use vegetable oil to keep the recipe fully vegan or butter for a richer flavor.
- Perfect for meal prep and can be stored refrigerated for up to five days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5-6 hours (high) or 8-10 hours (low)
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ½ cup
- Calories: 160 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
