Easy! Refried Jalapeño Black Beans

Name: Easy! Refried Jalapeño Black Beans
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 cans black beans (drained and rinsed ); 1/2 yellow onion (finely chopped); 2 cloves garlic (grated); 1/2 jalapeño, seeded (finely chopped); 3 tbsp neutral oil (avocado, canola or grape-seed ); 1 tbsp ground cumin; 1 c water; salt; Mexican hot sauce, like Tapatio or Cholula (optional)

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Refried black beans with fresh jalapeño is the perfect side dish for all of your favorite Mexican recipes. Starting with canned black beans makes this recipe so quick and easy these flavorful, creamy beans will be on the table in under 30 minutes!

a bowl of puréed black beans topped with diced jalapeño and queso fresco

To me, nothing says comfort food quite like a spread of all my favorite Mexican dishes! These thick and creamy Refried Jalapeño Black Beans are full of flavor and hold their own along side tacos, nachos, salsas and more!

Starting with canned black beans makes this recipe a cinch! If you don’t have black beans on hand canned pinto beans will work too. If you prefer to start with dried beans, soak and cook them first until they are tender. You can use this recipe as a guide to get started.

Looking for more yummy Mexican-inspired recipes? Check out fan favorite Sheet-Pan Chicken Tacos al Pastor or Creamy Choriqueso. Don’t forget the Mezcal Margaritas to wash it all down!

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe: canned black beans, onion, garlic, jalapeño, ground cumin, a neutral oil and a few dashes of hot sauce (optional.)

recipe ingredients: canned black beans, a bottle of hot sauce, onion, garlic, cumin and a small bowl of oil

Recipe Step by Step:

Step 1. Sauté the Aromatics

Cook the onion, garlic, and jalapeño together until the onion softens and the garlic is fragrant and aromatic.

onion, garlic and jalapeño sautéing in a white pan, black beans cooking in a white pan

Step 2. “Refry” the Black Beans

Next, add in the beans and ground cumin. Sauté for about 5 minutes then pour in the water and a few drops of hot sauce, bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer on low for about 10 minutes.

refried black beans in a white enamel cast iron pan

Step 3. Purée the Beans

Use an immersion blender to blend the beans or transfer 3/4 of the cooked beans to a blender/food processor and blend until smooth. Return the blended beans to the pot, and season to taste with salt.

FAQs and Expert Tips

Why are they called “refried” beans?

Many people assume refried beans are twice fried or fried and then re-fried but that isn’t actually true. In Spanish refried beans are: frijoles refritos. The word refritos means “well fried”. “Refried beans” is a bit of a misnomer. They are actually just beans that are well cooked and mashed.

Can I use Pinto beans?

Yep! Pinto beans are more traditional for refried beans so you can absolutely use them in this recipe.

How long do leftover cooked black beans last?

Refried black beans will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave. When re-heating you can add water to loosen them up as needed.

a bowl of refried black beans with jalapeño on a blue background

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