Cheater Restaurant Style Refried Beans

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Cheater Restaurant Style Refried Beans taste exactly like what you get at your favorite Mexican restaurant! Creamy, flavorful, and easy to make, this is a perfect side for any homemade Mexican dishes.

Spoon with Cheater Refried Beans in a skillet.

Jump to Recipe

You are going to LOVE these “cheater” restaurant style refried beans. How are these “cheater” refried beans? Well, because we start with canned refried beans. If you are wanting delicious beans made from scratch with dried pinto beans, try our recipe for Homemade Refried Beans. If you are looking to make a refried beans side dish in a matter of minutes, instead of hours, you are in the right place.

I love how these beans are so easy to make and so flavorful, they’re the perfect dip for chips, and make the best side dish to all your favorite Mexican recipes. Have you ever noticed that when you get refried beans at a restaurant, they are creamy and smooth and easy to dip your chips in, but the canned stuff is so thick, breaks your chips, and doesn’t taste nearly as delicious? Well this is my “cheater” recipe to make the canned stuff have that restaurant like consistency and flavor. In fact, I like the flavor of these beans even better than anything I have had at a restaurant.

Refried beans, Valentina salsa picante, sour cream and Monterey Jack cheese for Restaurant Style Refried Beans.

How to Make Cheater Refried Beans

This recipe uses just a few simple ingredients: canned refried beans, sour cream, Mexican-style hot sauce, and cheese. It’s so easy to get that creamy, restaurant style flavor and texture in just a few minutes, here’s what you do:

Combine ingredients – Combine all the ingredients and place the mixture in an oven-safe baking dish. This can be anything from a cast-iron skillet to a 9×13 glass baking dish.

Bake – Bake for 10 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Stir and Bake Again – Remove the beans from the oven and give it a good stir. Top with cheese and then bake again until the cheese melts. If you prefer to not have cheese over the top, you can always just stop after the first bake and serve.

Garnish and Serve – When beans are done, garnish with cotija cheese, queso fresco, and/or chopped cilantro.

Which Cheese to use on Refried Beans

When I want a melty cheese over the top, I prefer to use Monterey Jack cheese. You can also use shredded cheddar cheese or any cheddar jack blend. When I’m not feeling a melty topping, I prefer to use a crumbling of cotija cheese or queso fresco.

Pulling up Cheater Refried Beans on a tortilla.

Tips and Suggestions

Adjust the sour cream – To get a better flavor and creamy consistency from canned refried beans, adding sour cream and cheese is the answer! You can add more or less sour cream, depending on your desired consistency.

Kick up the heat – These cheater Restaurant Style Refried Beans have a little more intensity and kick, which I love. They aren’t too spicy, but definitely have a little more spice than a regular can of refried beans. You can amp up the spice by adding more hot sauce, or tone it down by adding less — whatever your family prefers!

Try some onion – Dice green, yellow, or even red onion and add to the refried beans for more flavor.

Add some seasonings – Try adding a dash of cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt.

Top with cilantro – Garnish with cilantro to improve refried beans taste.

Authentic Refried Beans (Using Dried Beans)

Have a little more time on your hands and want to try a more authentic recipe? Try our easy guide on How to Make Refried Beans. Make restaurant style refried beans by starting with dried pinto beans. This is a more classic and authentic version that you don’t want to miss!

A bowl of refried beans on a colorful placemat

Recipes that use Refried Beans

Refried beans are the perfect side dish all on their own, but they are also great as an ingredient in a wide variety of recipes! Use them to add flavor, creaminess, and a protein boost to your favorite dishes, including:

Burritos and Tacos: Spread a layer of refried beans on tortillas before adding your choice of protein, veggies, cheese, and toppings for delicious burritos or tacos.
Enchiladas: Use refried beans as a filling for enchiladas along with shredded chicken, beef, or cheese. Top with enchilada sauce and bake until bubbly.
Quesadillas: Spread refried beans on one tortilla, top with cheese and another tortilla, then cook until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are crispy.
Bean Dip: Warm up refried beans and serve as a dip with tortilla chips. Add toppings like melted cheese, jalapeños, sour cream, and salsa. You can also serve cold and make a 7-Layer Bean Dip.
Tostadas: Spread refried beans on crisp tortillas and add toppings like lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, and salsa for a tasty tostada.
Navajo Tacos: Much like tostadas, you can layer the refried beans with some chili and toppings on some Indian Fry Bread for a delicious meal.
Nachos: Layer tortilla chips with refried beans, cheese, and toppings like sliced olives, jalapeños, and guacamole for loaded nachos.
Mexican Pizza: Use these refried beans to make your favorite taco pizza or Mexican-style pizza.
Mexican Lasagna: Layer corn tortillas with refried beans, cheese, and a meat or veggie filling to create a Mexican-style lasagna.
Use as a Chili Thickener: This is one of my favorite secrets for thickening chili! Add refried beans to chili for extra thickness and flavor. They work particularly well in Mexican-style chilis.

Stirred Cheater Refried Beans in a skillet with a spoon. Tortilla chips, cilantro and pico de Gallo on the side.

More Mexican Food Recipes

I use these restaurant style refried beans and our Restaurant Style Mexican Rice for sides every time I make Mexican food at home, we honestly never make a Mexican dish without these two sides anymore. Some of my favorite dishes to serve these with are our Carne Asada Burritos and our Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas. It also makes a much better base for 7 layer bean dips (it’s perfect for our 9 layer bean dip HERE). You can also spoon these beans right into a burrito, taco, or on top of a big, cheesy pile of nachos. Whatever you do, just get these on your table next time you eat Mexican food!

Grilled Carne Asada

Restaurant Style Mexican Rice

Sweet Pork Baked Burritos

7 Layer Dip