Turn to your crockpot for the most flavorful refried beans – without the refry! You’re going to love how easy and delicious these Slow Cooker Refried Beans are!
You all know by now that I am obsessed with my slow cooker. It truly is a lifesaver and there is nothing like coming home to a hot meal after a long day. We are back into swim season now which means practices every night. Every.Single.Night.
Don’t get me wrong, I actually look forward to sitting on the pool deck and relaxing for an hour, watching the boys work their little butts off. I also love that they come home thoroughly exhausted and ready for bed 🙂
So devious am I…
We are all about Mexican in our house. We take it however we can get it – burritos, tacos, enchiladas, nachos – we love it ALL! Since beans are a crucial part of any Mexican meal (at least for us…) I love making up these beans in the slow cooker, eliminating one part of the meal prep process at night.
These beans will pretty much blow you away with their amazing flavor and texture. No, they are not refried. They just look, taste, and act like refried beans but are infinitely more healthy.
Slow Cooker Refried Beans are the perfect accompaniment to your favorite enchiladas and make the most delicious bean and cheese burritos for a quick dinner later on in the week. I make my own homemade flour tortillas for maximum deliciousness.
Try this recipe once and I just bet you won’t be buying canned any more 🙂
Slow Cooker Refried Beans
Ingredients
- 3 cups dry pinto beans rinsed and picked through
- 1 jalapeno pepper seeded and chopped
- 1 yellow onion peeled and quartered
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 64 oz low sodium chicken broth or stock plus enough water to cover beans entirely
Instructions
- Place beans, chopped jalapeno, onion quarters, garlic, and seasonings into a slow cooker.
- Pour the broth over the top and stir gently. If the beans are not covered, add water until they are.
- Cook beans on high for 8-9 hours, checking occasionally and adding additional water if needed.
- Check for tenderness and then strain off the liquid, reserving it in a small bowl.
- Mash the beans with a potato masher, adding in liquid until desired consistency is reached.
Nutrition
More Mexican favorites:
Chipotle Inspired Pico de Gallo
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Mark says
Can I ask about the amount of liquid? 8 cups of stock seems like a lot. Especially confusing is the note about adding more liquid if the stock doesn’t cover the beans – I would think 8 cups would be enough to cover the beans easily. So, before digging in to this, is the 64oz a typo?
Please and thanks 🙂
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
That would be correct Mark – the beans require a lot of water to cook completely.
Mark says
Thanks!!
Ernie says
This is a great recipe! Will it work for black beans?
Queen's Speech says
I made these! Put them in the slow cooker on low (next time I will put on high) overnight. The beans were not quite done, so when I came home I threw them on the stove for a few more minutes and blended them with a hand mixer. They are addicting! Refried beans are one of my favorite foods and I always try to recreate restaurant style beans….this is the closest I have ever come! Thank you! Yummy yummy yummy!
Morgan says
Are you supposed to presoak the beans? I did, and the recipe came out super watery and thin- guess that was a mistake! Great flavor, though.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
No need to presoak the beans Morgan, give it another try 🙂
Susan L. @ Full Happy Muffin and Mama says
You have ruined me! I don’t think I can ever eat refried beans from a can again. These are so yummy! They almost didn’t make it to mashing because I started eating them as beans from the crock. My husband, who hates crock pot pinto beans, actually liked these. I can’t wait for him to taste them as refrieds!
Stephanie says
Hi Trish!
Do you recommend using the chicken broth, or do you think just water will do? I am asking because I have started an all natural diet and the idea of using the chicken broth does not appeal to me. I love refried bean, so this recipe sounds fantastic! But, I would like to substitute the broth for water. How do you feel this would work out?
shelley says
Holy smokes, these were fantastic and way better than canned beans! So good and so easy and we devoured them in no time. These beans are the new staple at our house and my favorite slow cooker recipe.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
That’s awesome Shelley! So glad you gave the recipe a try!
Jocelyn@Brucrewlife says
I’m obsessed with my slow cooker, so anytime I can use it, I will! These beans sound awesome! And your pics look great! I always hate taking pics of brown food. It’s hard to make it look as good as it tastes!
Judee@ Gluten Free A-Z Blog says
I love the beans in the slow cooker- anything to make my life easier and beans are so good for you and taste so good too. This is a perfect recipe for our house. Looking forward to making it. Pinning it for now.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
That’s wonderful! Thank you so much for the pin Judee!
Valerie | From Valerie's Kitchen says
I love cooking beans from scratch. I did refried beans a long, long time ago and now I’m inspired to do them again! Just had to say that swimming is a great sport! Our boys played water polo so of course also did swimming each spring. They were in the pool pretty much all year round! It’s SO good for them. Swimmers are the best conditioned athletes out of all the sports.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
The boys LOVE swimming and it really is such great exercise. My husband was a swimmer and he is so happy that they are doing it too 🙂 Thanks Valerie!
Zainab says
I love refried beans!! Never tried it in the slow cooker. What a great idea 🙂
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Easy and delicious Zainab – you’ll love it!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
I’m SO IN LOVE. Pinning all over town!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks Dorothy!
Amy @ Amy's Healthy Baking says
I love how sneaky you are! Both with the boys’ swim practices and bedtime, and with these healthy refried beans. By the end of the day, I rarely have the energy to cook, so this easy recipe will be a lifesaver!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Slow cookers are such a life saver especially on busy nights. Thanks Amy!
Liz says
Thank you for the nice recipe.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
You’re so welcome Liz!
Marcie says
I love this, Trish! I can’t wait to make some because I can never get enough Mexican food either. Pinning.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Yay! Thanks so much for the pin Marcie!
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet says
I love the thought of making my own refried beans! Can I ask you how long you store them in the fridge? Thanks!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks Nancy! They should keep fine for 4-5 days but you know what I do? Throw them in the freezer! They freeze great and since it makes a big enough batch for two meals (easily), I frequently freeze half 🙂
Julie says
What is the nutrition info for these? I am curious of protein aspect.
I made a slow cooker batch and froze in weekly amounts. Yumm!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Hi Julie! Just google “nutrition calculator” and plug in the ingredients to find out!
Kathy says
Yum! I love making refried beans in the slow cooker! It is so easy!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Right!! They are so good too! Thanks Kathy!