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Easy Bean Recipes

Cowboy Beans Recipe

Cowboy beans can best be described as baked beans with a southwestern twist. This cowboy beans recipe uses our cooked pinto beans recipe as a base, so be sure to read through both recipes before preparation.

Cowboy Beans

6 cups cooked pinto beans with reserved bean broth
4 slices bacon, minced
2 jalapeno peppers, chopped
½ onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp lard or vegetable oil
1 tbsp salt or to taste
½ tsp ground cumin
chopped fresh cilantro for garnish

  1. Prepare a large pot of cooked pinto beans. Set aside and do not drain the cooking liquid.
  2. Heat the lard or oil in a skillet over high heat. Add the bacon and onion and cook until the onion is golden, about 5-7 minutes. Add the peppers and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for 1 minute more. Transfer the fried vegetables and bacon to the pot of cooked pinto beans.
  3. Season the pinto beans with salt and cumin. Bring the pinto beans to a simmer, and cook for at least 10 minutes to combine the flavors. Serve in a bowl and garnish with cilantro.

Yield: 6 cups cowboy beans

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Refried Beans Recipe

This easy refried beans recipe not only makes a healthy side dish, but it can be quickly turned into several cheap dinners, such as bean burritos, nachos, and quesadillas. Lard is traditionally used in refried beans, but they will still be tasty if you substitute a lighter oil like peanut, canola, or vegetable. The onion in the recipe is optional, but it is recommended since it gives the refried beans more flavor.

Refried Beans Recipe

3 cups cooked pinto beans, cooking liquid reserved, or two 16 oz. cans pinto beans
½ cup reserved bean broth (cooking liquid)
¼ cup lard or cooking oil (peanut, vegetable, or canola) or bacon grease
½ tsp salt or to taste
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
1 large onion, diced (optional)

  1. Melt the lard or heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the onions until soft and golden, about 5-7 minutes.
  2. Turn the heat to low. Using a large wooden spoon, add a few spoonfuls of cooked pinto beans to the skillet and a little bit of the reserved bean broth. Mash the beans with a potato masher or fork. Repeat, adding a few spoonfuls of cooked pinto beans and a little bit of bean broth each time, until all the cooked pinto beans have been mashed. Mash the refried beans into desired consistency.
  3. Add the salt and pepper to the refried beans and stir well. Turn the heat to medium and warm the refried beans to desired temperature.

Yield: 3 cups refried beans

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Pinto Beans Recipe

Use this easy pinto beans recipe as a starting point for refried beans or bean burritos. The onion and jalapeno give the pinto beans a delicious, spicy flavor, but those ingredients are optional. The pinto beans taste just fine cooked in water only!

Pinto Beans Recipe

2 cups dried pinto beans (1 lb. package)
8 cups water
1 tbsp cooking oil (vegetable, canola, or peanut)
1 large onion, diced (optional)
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced (optional)

  1. Place the dried pinto beans in a colander. Carefully inspect the beans and remove any small stones, debris, and questionable-looking beans. Rinse the beans in the colander under cold running water. Move the beans around with your hand while under the running water so that the beans are thoroughly washed.
  2. If you are using the onion and jalapeno, heat the oil in a large soup pot over high heat.  Sauté the onions and jalapeno pepper for 3-4 minutes until just soft.
  3. Add the dried pinto beans and water to the large pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover only half the pot with a lid, so that steam is allowed to escape. Cook until the beans are tender, 1½ – 2 hours. Stir occasionally and check the water level. Add more water if the water level looks too low or if the beans are cooking too slow.
  4. Drain the beans in a colander when cooked. If you need to reserve the bean cooking liquid for refried beans or another recipe, place the colander over a large empty pot and drain.

Yield:  6 cups cooked pinto beans and approximately 4 cups bean broth

Find more bean recipes here: The Complete List of Bean Recipes by BeansBeansBeans