How To: Make Canned Refried Beans Taste like a Restaurant’s
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Turn a can of refried beans into restaurant quality in a matter of minutes! Only two simple add-ins and it’ll feel like you’re eating at your favorite Mexican restaurant, right at home!
Mexican food is far and beyond my MOST FAVORITE food. I never seem to tire of it. Typically when you ask someone what their favorite restaurant is, it’s something they think of that is really special, like a special occasion type of thing. Not me. I always say my favorite little Mexican place. The margaritas are good, the Dos Equis Amber is cold, the chips and salsa are homemade and the food is FABULOUS!
(plus I don’t have to dress up if I don’t feel like it, no judging, just good food.)
^^ LOVE IT? PIN IT!!!! ^^
I love how the refried beans at a Mexican place are so creamy and taste so much better than the canned stuff. Did you know though, that making the canned ones TASTE like the restaurant ones is super duper easy? How do you say easy in Spanish? — “fácil”
I used to have a friend many years ago that was Mexican, and she was a fantastic cook. She told me that adding milk to the canned beans was her mom’s secret, and that works, too. I have to say, though that adding sour cream is even better! It gives them just a slight tang with a smooth creaminess to them.
This is one of my MOST POPULAR recipes on my site. It happened almost instantly. Who couldn’t love something so very simple?? Only 3 ingredients, and in no time, you will have a piping hot bowl of Restaurant Style Refried Beans. Top them with cheese, like we do, to make them even better!
I’ll Drink to that!
Using this recipe, you can quickly turn these beans into a Restaurant Style Bean Dip!
Serve them up as a side dish or with a bowl of chips for dipping. Either way, it’s a “ganador” (WINNER) of a recipe! I always buy the Old El Paso Fat-Free Refried beans, they always turn out perfectly, and they are lower in fat and have loads of fiber! You can even use fat free sour cream and make these even more guilt free!
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Ready? Let’s cook! 
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How To: Make Canned Refried Beans Taste like a Restaurant's
Ingredients
- 16 ounce can Refried Beans
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1-3 teaspoons of hot sauce depending on the heat you want
- shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- In saucepan on the stove, or in a microwaveable bowl, stir ingredients together and cook until heated through.
- Top with cheese and serve.
- *Note: I use fat free beans and fat free sour cream and it works great!*
- Can also be baked with cheese on top and makes a great (and EASY) dip!
Delicious! A very simple-yummy way to dress up canned refried beans. I am obsessed with Mexican food, but don’t like to eat out a lot. This is a perfect solution. Wonderful in bean burritos! Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks for commenting, Julene!
I have a lot of can need refried beans excited about trying the bean/cheese dip.
Thank alot!
I have a lot of can need refried beans excited about trying the bean/cheese dip.
Thank alot!
Outstanding!!!! Made our Taco Pie even better,, thank you!!!!!
Glad you liked it! 🙂 I need to know more about this Taco Pie!! Have recipe to share?
Thank you! I am going to try this out tonight and I know I’m going to like it!!
I hope so!! They are addicting!! If you love them like us, try making them into the bean dip!
This week is teacher appreciation day at my baby’s daycare. Tomorrow is Mexican day, I’m doing rice and beans. I’m looking forward to trying this recipe! 🙂 Thank you for posting.
AWESOME! They will love that!! I hope you enjoy!
I gave it a try, and it certainly came out fantastic! I added some spices (think taco seasoning) to give it a kick, and I can’t get enough of it 🙂
SO glad you liked it, David!
This recipe + green onions, cilantro, cumin = perfection.
That’s sounds like a great addition! I’ll have to try that!
I mincedand sauteed yellow onion, added some minced garlic, along with cilantro and cumin, and otherwise followed Michaela’s recipe and it was better than any Mexican restaurant’s I’ve tried.
So glad you loved it!
I have tried for years to make canned refried beans taste as good as Resturaunt beans. Awsome thanks
George – I am so glad you enjoyed these!! They are like a staple in our house! 🙂 Check out my bean dip from last week — that one is a keeper too!
This is exactly what I was looking for! Thanks!
I am so happy!
Perfect! Thanks!
So happy you liked them!
Why the big long story, get to the darn recipe already!
Sheesh!!
Ouch. If you don’t want to read my stories, Jim. You can always scroll to the bottom for the recipe.
I enjoyed going to your webiste. I rarely leave comments, but
you definately up deserve a thumbs!
Thank you so much! That means a lot to me!!
Years ago I knew a couple from Mexico. We where invited to their house for dinner one night and they had the best refried beans. I thought they made them from some secret beans or something. I asked them for the recipe and the husband said it was an old family secret and could never give it out. His wife told me later that they where canned and he put milk in them. Ill never forget them. The couple and their beans.
What a great story!! Thank you!!
A couple weeks ago I made this recipe for a supper club dinner. Everyone loved them. One lady just raved about them and asked how they were made. The moment she heard the beans were from a can she curled her nose up. We all laughed and tease her a little about her two opposite reviews. But I still make the recipe and it just disappears. Thank You.
People are funny aren’t they?? Thank you for the laugh and the review!
I’m wondering how they would turn out if I just threw it all together in a slow cooker on low. I’m throwing a grad party and we’re doing a taco bar, and am trying to make things super easy on myself. Also maybe tripling the recipe?
It would be just fine to do it that way! 🙂
Delicious! You nailed this! Thank you!
I make this but instead of hot sauce I add cumin and garlic salt.
Great addition!!
I love refried beans and these are easy and delicious! Thanks for the great recipe and Happy Cinco De Mayo?
I am thrilled y ou love them too!!
This is fantastic! It looks really delicious. Yum!
What brand of canned refried beans do you use for this recipe? Thanks!
I usually buy the Old El Paso fat free ones!
I just made this to go with our tacos for supper tonight, and it was SO good! I will definitely make them like this going forward. Thank you!
Suzy – I am so happy that you enjoyed them! Thanks for the positive feedback! 🙂
I’m a refried bean superfan (when in mexico I have them each and every breakfast on the side)… tried yours tonight. Not sure what prompted for me to make them better as I enjoy them out of the can just by themselves but I’ll say your sour cream/hot sauce mix in is pure genius and I’ll use it forever. Thanks so much!!
Hi, Greg!! So happy that you liked them!! Isn’t it so weird when such a little tweak to something so simple makes it that much better?!