Restaurant Style Refried Beans from a Can

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! 

All you need are a few simple ingredients to pump up the resulting flavor and an immersion blender (or regular blender) to achieve that super creamy consistency. In the interest of keeping it simple, this Restaurant Style Refried Beans recipe uses only 4 ingredients!

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. 

These Restaurant Style Refried Beans go great with Dr.Pepper Carnitas, Chorizo Street Tacos, Crispy Air Fryer Tacos, Chicken Bacon Ranch Tacos, Leftover Pulled Pork Tacos, Grilled Ranch Chicken, Instant Pot Spanish Rice, Doritos Walking Tacos, and Chorizo Quesadillas.

Jump to:

• How to Make Restaurant Style Refried Beans from a Can
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions and Variations
• What do you garnish refried beans with?
• Equipment
• Refried Bean Storage and Reheating
• Top tip
• Restaurant Style Refried Beans from a Can

How to Make Restaurant Style Refried Beans from a Can

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. Then you’ll want to add the following ingredients to punch up the flavor and achieve that rich, creamy consistency.

Ingredients

• 1 16 ounce can of refried beans 
• 2 generous tablespoons sour cream
• ½ tablespoon bacon fat
• 2-3 teaspoons hot sauce (I like Cholula) 
• Cotija, feta, or shredded cheese of your choice (optional, garnish)

Instructions

Restaurant Style Refried Beans take just 10 minutes to make!

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.

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.

What do you garnish refried beans with?

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 Restaurant Style Refried Beans with one of these fantastic salsas?

• Roasted Green Tomato Salsa
• Spicy Pico de Gallo
• Cucumber Pico de Gallo
• Tajin Cucumber Salsa

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.

Equipment

KitchenAid Immersion Blender

Refried Bean 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. 

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