{Faux-Fried Beans (my version of refried beans)}

A few months ago I shared a recipe for enchiladas and mentioned I was making refried beans to go with it! Well, the emails and comments poured in....how do you make refried beans from scratch?

So I decided to do a photo tutorial with you on how to make them because they are so easy and taste so good, you will never want to buy them out of a can again! Plus, mine are not actually fried so they are even better for you!

Here is what you will need to start:
1 bag dried pinto beans (sort through them and make sure there are no stones or dirty beans)
1Tbsp chili powder
1tsp. cumin
1tsp. salt
1tsp. black pepper
water to cover beans by 1 inch in crockpot
1 onion chopped
*bacon grease (I just save it in a clean coffee can every time I make bacon)
*this is completely optional, but it does add to the flavor and makes them more "restaurant style"

first, add all ingredients EXCEPT for onion and bacon grease into your crockpot and turn to high for about 4-5 hours or low for 7-8 hours until beans are soft. You might have to add more water depending on your beans. If they start to look dry, just add about a cup of water at a time.

remove your beans and place in large bowl.


Reserve cooking liquid for thinning out the beans


Saute the onion until just see through


add the onion to the beans and start to mash together. I am using my hand blender here. If you don't have one, I highly recommend getting one so you get that smooth texture. If you cant get one right now, then use a regular potato masher! :)


keep mashing until you are at the consistency you want. If they get too thick, this is where you can add in your cooking liquid a little at a time.


Stir in 4-6 Tablespoons of bacon grease (or to taste)


And that's it! Beautiful faux-fried beans! Now, this makes a TON of beans, so I usually use half of the batch for dinner and freeze the other half for another time.