Refried beans, main dish from Mexico: what it is and how it is eaten

Refried beans are a Mexican dish made by cooking and mashing beans, then frying them with onion, garlic, and fat. They are a staple in Mexican and Tex-Mex meals, often served as a side or used in burritos, dips, and other dishes. Pinto beans are common, but black and red beans are also used.

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Made by mashing and frying cooked beans with onion and garlic
Pinto beans are common in the north and Tex-Mex, black beans elsewhere
Lard is the traditional fat in Mexico, but other fats are used
Often served as a side or in burritos, dips, and nachos
Epazote herb is sometimes added for flavor and to reduce gas

What is Refried beans?

Refried beans are made by boiling beans, mashing them into a paste, and then frying or baking the mixture with onion, garlic, and some kind of fat. The beans used are often pinto in the north of Mexico and in Tex-Mex cooking, but black or red kidney beans are also used in other regions. The dish is smooth and spreadable, with a savory, rich flavor from the fat and aromatics. It is usually served hot as a side or filling.

Where does Refried beans come from?

Refried beans come from Mexico, where they are called 'frijoles refritos', meaning 'well-fried beans'. The English name is a mistranslation, as the beans are not fried twice but cooked thoroughly after mashing. The dish is a staple in Mexican homes and has become central to Tex-Mex cuisine in the United States. Each region and cuisine has its own approach to the type of bean and fat used.

How is Refried beans made?

To make refried beans, dried beans are soaked and then stewed until soft. The beans are drained and mashed, sometimes with some of their cooking liquid or added stock to reach the right consistency. The paste is then fried or baked with onion and garlic, using lard, vegetable oil, bacon drippings, or butter. In Mexico, lard is common and gives a distinctive taste. Epazote, a herb, is sometimes added for flavor and to reduce gas.

How and when is Refried beans eaten?

Refried beans are usually served hot as a side dish with larger meals, or as a filling in tortillas for burritos. In the United States, they are often found in Tex-Mex restaurants, served with most meals, or used as a dip for tortilla chips. They are also used in tostadas, chimichangas, pupusas, nachos, and layered dips like seven-layer dip. The dish is eaten daily in many households.

Kinds of Refried beans

Northern Mexico and Tex-Mex cuisine favor pinto beans, while other Mexican regions use black or red kidney beans. The type of fat varies: lard is traditional in Mexico, but vegetable oil, bacon drippings, or butter may be used. Some versions include epazote for flavor. The consistency can range from thick and spreadable to more liquid, depending on how much liquid or fat is added.

What Refried beans means

Refried beans are a staple of Mexican and Tex-Mex cooking, found in daily meals and restaurant menus. They are valued for their versatility and ability to complement many dishes. In the United States, they have become a familiar part of Tex-Mex cuisine and are popular as a dip. The dish reflects regional preferences in bean type and preparation.

Questions people ask about Refried beans

What are refried beans made of?

Refried beans are made from cooked and mashed beans, usually pinto, black, or red kidney beans, fried with onion, garlic, and some kind of fat such as lard or oil.

Where do refried beans come from?

Refried beans originate from Mexico, where they are a traditional staple food and are called 'frijoles refritos.'

Are refried beans vegetarian?

The dish can be vegetarian if made with vegetable oil or butter, but traditional versions often use lard, so it depends on the fat used.

How are refried beans served?

They are usually served hot as a side dish, or used as a filling in tortillas, burritos, tostadas, and as a dip for tortilla chips.

What is the meaning of 'refried' in refried beans?

The term 'refried' is a mistranslation; the original Spanish means 'well-fried,' not fried twice. The beans are cooked, mashed, and then fried once.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Refried beans", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

Refried beans