Refried Black Beans with Canned Beans

Using canned black beans is a great way to make easy homemade Refried Black Beans, which are done in just over 20 minutes. 

They’re great with tacos, guacamole and tortilla chips, alongside rice, spooned over nachos, or served with these Green Chili Pork Tostadas.

One of the big upsides to making your own homemade refried black beans is that you can control both the consistency of the beans and the amount of salt and flavor in the beans.

This is a super simple version of refried black beans with only onion, garlic, salt, and pepper added, so the flavor of the beans shine. Feel free to add in other spices or herbs if you like, such as chili powder, hot sauce, or fresh cilantro.

Using canned beans is much faster than using dry beans, which would require a lengthy soaking period and advanced planning.

Ingredients

Below are the ingredients needed to make Refried Black Beans with Canned Beans.

• Olive Oil: I recommend using extra virgin olive oil.
• Onion: Use half of a small yellow onion. Mince the onion so that it disappears as it cooks in the beans and only adds flavor rather than texture. I recommend using a real onion, but you can use onion powder if needed.
• Garlic: Also minced and adds subtle flavor. If you want to skip a step, feel free to use garlic powder here instead.
• Black Beans: Look for canned beans that only contain beans, salt, and water. I choose Organic Black Beans from Whole Foods because the cans are made without a BPA lining.
• Salt and Pepper: Amounts for each are given, but feel free to tailor the amounts to your taste preferences.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Refried Black Beans with Canned Beans

Below are the step-by-step instructions for how to make Refried Black Beans with Canned Beans.

Step 1. Onions: Bring a medium saucepan to medium heat (a setting of "4" out of "10" on an electric stove or the equivalent for a gas stove). Add the olive oil and the minced onions and sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened.

Step 2. Garlic: Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not allow the garlic to brown.

Step 3. Add the Canned Beans: Add the canned beans and bring to a simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 4. Mash the Beans: Use the back of a slotted spoon, spatula, or potato masher to mash the beans in the saucepan. Season with salt and pepper, adjusting the spice level as needed.

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