Get creamy, Restaurant Style Refried Beans from a Can when you prepare store-purchased refried beans with a few simple ingredients.
Ain’t no shame in buying refried beans in a can. What is a shame, however, is serving them straight from the can. Canned refined beans are the perfect vehicle for achieving Restaurant Style Refried Beans quickly - and deliciously!
Opening a can of refried beans is pretty uninspiring. Yeah, let’s use that word. They are super thick and incredibly unexciting in the flavor department. You need some dairy (sour cream) to ensure a creamy consistency, a fat to reinforce that creamy mouthfeel (hello bacon fat!), and something to bring a little flavor - I opt for hot sauce here but you could also use whatever seasonings you like.
They're the perfect addition to all types of dishes but I especially love them with Crispy Air Fryer Tacos or Chorizo Quesadillas.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Quick to Prepare. If you’re super short on time but just gotta have those creamy refried beans (like they serve at Mexican restaurants), you’ll want to reach for a can of refried beans. These cheater restaurant style refried beans from a can are quick and delicious. Then you’ll want to add the following ingredients to punch up the flavor and achieve that rich, creamy consistency.
- Improved Flavor. All you need are a few simple ingredients to pump up the flavor of canned beans. You can do all this with just 4 ingredients!
- Perfect Texture. All you need is an immersion blender (or regular blender) to achieve that super creamy consistency.
Ingredients
- refried beans - use any brand of refried beans you'd like, because they are getting a flavor upgrade either way!
- sour cream - add just a subtle kiss of tanginess and lends creaminess.
- bacon fat - for flavor! Bacon fat infuses this meat-y, smoky flavor that's amazing.
- hot sauce (I like Cholula) - just a few dashes of hot sauce really kick ho-hum refried beans up in the flavor department.
- cotija, feta, or shredded cheese of your choice - cheese is optional of course, but I like the saltiness it adds when used as a garnish.
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below - keep scrolling!
Substitutions and Variations
Here are some snazzy substitutions for these Restaurant Style Refried Beans.
- Bacon grease - I realize that not everyone stockpiles bacon grease like I do. Instead you can use lard, butter, or even a vegan butter. You can also use olive oil or vegetable oil. Just use amounts equivalent to what's called for in the recipe.
- Sour cream - you could also use cream cheese (YUM) or heavy whipping cream. Milk also works here. Try swapping in vegan substitutes like a cashew or soy-based cream if you want this to be dairy-free.
- Hot sauce - you can use most any hot sauce your prefer here, just remember that you can add but not take away! I love Cholula here, but Tabasco and Texas Pete’s are fantastic as well.
- Taco seasoning - I didn’t include seasonings in this recipe because I pushed the easy button and opted for hot sauce, but why not include some choice seasoning to add flavor? Try this homemade (and low sodium) Taco Seasoning! Start with a teaspoon and increase the amount until you’re satisfied with the resulting flavor.
How to Make Restaurant Style Refried Beans from a Can
Restaurant Style Refried Beans take just 10 minutes to make!
- Add the canned refried beans, sour cream, bacon fat, and hot sauce to a small pot over medium heat.
- Stir frequently as they heat up to combine all of the ingredients.
- Once heated through, remove from heat and blend with an Immersion Blender (or regular blender) until smooth and creamy.
- Top with cheese of your choice and serve (pictured, crumbly cotija cheese).
If you prefer you refried beans with some texture, you don’t have to blend them - no judgment here! I’ll happily eat them either way.
If you liked the addition of bacon grease here, check out Best Uses for Leftover Bacon Grease for more inspiration.
Top Tips for the Best Refried Beans
- Creamy Beans. Break out your immersion blender (or regular blender) for creamy, Restaurant Style Refried Beans.
- Prefer Them Chunky? Skip the step of blending the beans. No judgment here!
Refried bean garnishes
Cheese, please! From gooey melty shredded cheddar cheese to lovely crumbles of cotija, cheese is a must for topping refried beans. If you want to keep it vegan, use a non-dairy cheese substitute.
Cilantro, spring onion, and fresh (or pickled) jalapeno make fresh additions.
Iceberg lettuce. I love the crunch of cold shredded Iceberg lettuce against piping hot refried beans. Alright so you may not want to put the lettuce on top of the beans to avoid wilting, but serve alongside for a refreshingly crunchy reprieve.
Pepitas. Raw or roasted and salted, pepitas add a nice crunch.
Sour cream. You’ve already got it out, why not use a dollop for garnish?
Salsa! Why not garnish those refried beans with one of these fantastic salsas, like this Roasted Green Tomato Salsa or this super fresh Cucumber Pico de Gallo.
For even more tips and tricks on making canned refried beans taste like they were prepared in a restuarant, check out the Tasty Tip’s 5 Easy Tips to Make Canned Refried Beans Taste Like Restaurant Style.
Storage and Reheating
Store any leftover refried beans in a lidded container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop. I prefer to reheat in a covered pan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until heated through.
What should I serve with Refried Beans?
Looking for other recipes to pair with this one?
Recipe FAQs
Restaurant refried beans taste so good because - and I KNOW you know where this is going - they tend to use extra fat like bacon grease or butter. That fat makes good refried beans truly great.
To make canned refried beans truly great, you NEED to add a fat. Bacon grease, butter. I recommend also adding a dollop of sour cream and a few dashes of hot sauce to really jazz up canned refried beans. You can of course also experiment with the addition of seasonings, like paprika, Mexican oregano, garlic powder, cumin to name a few. If there's anything you add that you think really takes it over the top, do tell 🙂
If you tried this refried beans recipe (or any other recipe on Midwexican), please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it turned out in the 📝 comments below!
Restaurant Style Refried Beans from a Can
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 16 ounce can refried beans
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- tablespoon bacon fat
- teaspoons hot sauce (I like Cholula)
- Cotija, feta, or shredded cheese of your choice (optional, garnish)
Instructions
- Add the canned refried beans, sour cream, bacon fat, and hot sauce to a small pot over medium heat. Stir frequently as they heat up to combine.
- Once heated through, remove from heat and blend with an immersion blender. Or add to a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Top with cheese of your choice and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
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