Go Back
Print
Creamy, rich, smokey, and delicious refried black beans recipe in a bowl with a few black beans and chopped cilantro sprinkled on top. On the counter are tortilla chips in a bowl.

Easy Refried Black Beans Recipe with Dried Beans

Creamy, rich, smokey, and delicious, this refried black beans recipe will become your new favorite addition to so many things.  Put them on tostadas, on salads, on toast, layered in casseroles, mixed into soups, or use as a dip.  They couldn't be easier to make either.  You just cook the beans in a pot and then blend.  Save in your fridge and use them all week.  Or freeze portioned out and enjoy them for months! #refriedbeans #blackbeans

Course Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword black beans, mexican sides, refried beans
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Soaking time 8 hours
Author Carrie Tyler

Ingredients

  • 16 oz Dry Black Beans (see notes for canned black beans)
  • 3-4 cups water
  • 3 cloves Garlic, minced divided
  • 3 teaspoons Chili Powder
  • 2 teaspoons Ground Cumin divided
  • 2 teaspoons Salt
  • 1 teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Instructions

Prep-Ahead Steps

  1. Rinse the dried black beans with cold water, then place in Bowl. Cover the beans with cold water so that the water is about 1 inch higher than the beans.  Soak the beans overnight in the fridge.

    Hand holding dried black beans for refried black beans recipe.

  2. Mince the garlic cloves. Divide: Half will go into the pot when you cook the beans. Half will go into the food processor.

Cooking Steps

  1. Drain the beans, rinse and then add the beans to large pot and cover with water (about 3-4 cups). Mix in half of the minced garlic, all of the chili powder, half of the cumin, and the salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, about 8-10 minutes.Turn the heat down to low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

    Hand holding small bowl with chili powder, cumin, and salt over pot with dried black beans for refried black beans recipe.

  2. Using a slotted spoon, transfer 1 cup of the cooked beans to a food processor with with ¼ cup of the cooking liquid, the other half of the minced garlic, and half of the cumin. Pulse to mince the garlic and blend up the beans. Then blend until smooth.

    Spoon adding cooked black beans to food processor for refried black beans recipe.

  3. For the rest of the cooked beans, add them to to food processor in batches (depending on the size of your processor). You want the beans mostly blended, but with some texture. Scrape down the sides of the processor and add more cooking liquid if needed, 1 tablespoon at a time.

    Spoon scooping pureed black beans over food processor for refried black beans recipe.

  4. After all of the beans are pureed, add the beans to a preheated skillet or frying pan on on medium heat with 1 teaspoon olive oil.  Stir the beans around as they cook for so as not to burn them. Cook for 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

    Creamy, rich, smokey, and delicious refried black beans recipe in a bowl with a few black beans and chopped cilantro sprinkled on top. On the counter are tortilla chips in a bowl.

Recipe Notes

  1. You can make this recipe in 15 minutes by using 3 cans of 14-15 ounce cooked beans.  If you use canned beans, first rinse and drain the beans.  Then move directly to the step adding them to the food processor.