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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.
Table of Contents
- The Easiest and Tastiest Refried Beans
- Simple Ingredients for Our Beans
- How to Make Cheater Refried Beans
- Tips and Suggestions
- Recipes that use Refried Beans
- Questions About Cheater Refried Beans
- Authentic Refried Beans (Using Dried Beans)
- More Mexican Food Recipes
- Cheater Restaurant Style Refried Beans Recipe
The Easiest and Tastiest Refried Beans
I have to tell you—I am absolutely obsessed with these “cheater” restaurant-style refried beans! Why are they “cheater,” you ask? Well, because we’re starting with canned refried beans. Yep, no need to spend hours in the kitchen soaking and simmering dried beans. This recipe lets you whip up a creamy, flavorful side dish in just minutes. Bonus: these beans are naturally gluten-free, so everyone can enjoy them!
I love how easy these beans are to make, and trust me, they taste so much better than anything you’ll find in a can. They’re perfect for dipping chips, spreading on tacos, or serving alongside all your favorite Mexican dishes. Have you ever noticed how the beans at restaurants are creamy and smooth, but the canned stuff is so thick it breaks your chips? Well, this is my no-fail method for turning the canned stuff into something even better than what you’d get at a restaurant.
Simple Ingredients for Our Beans
Just four simple ingredients to make these flavorful beans.
1. Canned Refried Beans
- Why use it? Canned refried beans are the foundation of this recipe, offering convenience and a good base flavor to build upon. They save time compared to starting from dried beans, which require soaking, cooking, and mashing.
- Pro tip: Choose a high-quality brand with simple ingredients like beans, salt, and minimal additives for the best flavor.
2. Sour Cream
- Why use it? Sour cream adds creaminess and a slight tanginess, giving the beans a smooth texture and balancing the richness of the dish. It also helps achieve that restaurant-style consistency that’s perfect for dipping or spreading.
- Substitutes: Greek yogurt (for a lighter option), cream cheese (for extra richness), or plant-based alternatives if dairy-free.
3. Hot Sauce
- Why use it? Hot sauce brings a subtle kick and depth of flavor to the beans, enhancing their overall taste without overpowering the dish.
- Which type to use: A Mexican-style hot sauce like Cholula, Tapatío, or Valentina works best, but you can adjust based on your preferred heat level.
- Customizations: If you prefer milder beans, use less hot sauce, or try smoky flavors like chipotle for variation.
4. Monterey Jack Cheese (Optional)
- Why use it? Monterey Jack is a mild, creamy, and melty cheese that complements the flavors of the beans while adding a satisfying gooey texture.
- Alternatives: Cheddar, cheddar-jack blend, pepper jack (for added spice), or dairy-free cheese if avoiding dairy.
- Optional toppings: Instead of melty cheese, try crumbled cotija or queso fresco for a fresher, saltier finish.
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.
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.
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.
Questions About Cheater Refried Beans
These beans are called “cheater” because they use canned refried beans as a base, saving you hours of cooking while delivering restaurant-quality flavor and texture.
Absolutely! Monterey Jack is great for a melty topping, but you can also use cheddar, a cheddar-jack blend, or even crumbled cotija or queso fresco for a different flavor profile.
These beans have a mild kick from the hot sauce, but they aren’t overly spicy. You can easily adjust the spice level by adding more or less hot sauce to suit your taste.
Yes! You can prepare the beans, store them in an airtight container in the fridge, and reheat them when you’re ready to serve. If you’re adding cheese on top, add it just before reheating.
Yes! To make it dairy-free, skip the sour cream and cheese or use dairy-free alternatives like vegan sour cream and plant-based cheese.
Absolutely! You can add diced onions, garlic, or seasonings like cumin and garlic powder for extra flavor. Fresh cilantro makes a great garnish.
While baking enhances the flavor and creates a smooth, creamy texture, you can heat the mixture on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until hot.
Yes! Let the beans cool completely, then store them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat before serving.
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!
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. Here are some of my favorite dishes to serve with our beans and rice:
- Carne Asada Burritos
- Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas
- Sweet Pork Baked Burritos
- Pizzadillas (Pizza Quesadillas)
- Hatch Chiles Rellenos
- Chicken Tostadas
- Taco Bowl Recipe
- 75+ Best Mexican Recipes
Cheater Restaurant Style Refried Beans
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Ingredients
- 1 can refried beans
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium-sized bowl combine the refried beans, sour cream, and hot sauce.
- Pour into a oven safe skillet, glass pie pan or 9×9 dish.
- Bake at 400℉ for 10 minutes, or until its hot and bubbly.
- Remove and stir well. Optional: Top with grated cheese and heat in the oven for 3 more minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Garnish with cilantro and serve with tortilla chips and with our Restaurant Style Mexican Rice for a complete side dish to any Mexican meals.
Notes
- You can use an immersion blender or a potato masher to get an even creamier consistency to your refried beans.
- Heat refried beans in a crock-pot or even the instant pot.
- Garnish with diced onion, cilantro or shredded cheddar cheese.
Nutrition Information
Ready to elevate your next Mexican-inspired meal? Try these Cheater Refried Beans and see how easy it is to achieve restaurant-quality flavor at home! Whether you’re dipping chips, layering tacos, or building the ultimate nachos, this recipe will become your go-to side dish.
If you give this recipe a try, we’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and share your favorite ways to enjoy refried beans. Happy cooking! 🌮🎉
We are hosting a fiesta bridal shower serving tacos and want to have refried beans a as side item. Will this recipe work for that or is it more of a dip for chips? I know that may be a silly question, but I don’t care for refried beans myself so I really know. 🙂
Yes, we usually serve it as a side dish. 🙂 You can use it as either a dip or a side
Taco Bell refrid beans are the best besides homemade.
I’ve always thinned mine with water but I will differently try the sour cream.
Thanks for the tip, Lifesaver!
Would it come out the same if I put it together the night before, refrigerate, then warm up the following day?
Yes, that should work great!
If there were a star rating, I’d give it 5/5! I just made it and my husband and I gluttonly ate it all! (Granted that’s all I made for dinner). Anyway, it was great and very much like restaurants. And, I have now discovered Valentina sauce! (Btw, we use the sour cream you find by the Mexican cheeses- it’s Cacique brand, called Crema Mexicana: Agria Sour Cream– I highly recommend for all your sour cream needs.)
Ooh I love Crema– great idea to use that as a substitute! So glad you liked this recipe 😀 Thanks for taking the time to comment!
is there a difference between in the regular sour cream and the crema?
Have you ever tried it with Greek yogurt instead of sour cream? I’m am thinking of trying your recipe in the morning for huevos rancheros and our of sour cream
We haven’t used Greek yogurt before but I am sure it would be fine! Let us know how it turns out if you try it!
I have ditched the can. I make mine from dried pinto beans in the slow cooker. It’s cheaper, I can control how much to make, and it’s lower in sodium. Well worth it.
So simple, I hope it’s good. I Will be making this tonight with some homemade chicken and cream cheese taquitos.
What degree do you put the oven on and for how long
Around 375, and just until the cheese melts- maybe 5 minutes.
Valentino hot sauce can be found on the Mexican aisle at Walmart. They also make an extra hot version, which I will be using tonight! Can’t wait to try this along with your Spanish rice recipe and tacos.
I just wanted to let you know, I’m hosting SuperBowl 50 party, and am doing a Messican Fiesta theme.. Im making these beans and your rice dish for sides. Your site and recipes are awesome, and I must come back and check out more.. Thank you so much.
Thanks so much! How did you like them? I made burritos out of the beans and rice today too. Great minds think alike ????
So glad I found your recipe. I am cooking up a crockpot full of pinto beans and ham for dinner a couple times this week. I had put way too many beans into soak last night which means I will cook excess on stove top for refried bean dip….perfect timing with SUPER BOWL this Sunday!
Great idea! So glad you you were able to rescue the excess beans!
I love this recipe! I usually add a packet of taco seasoning to the mix as well.
We just love this dish. My son gets so happy when I make it. I just added it to my blog. Come by and check it out.http://questfordelish.blogspot.com/2016/01/restaurant-style-bean-dip.html
Amazon has several types of Vanentina sauce including a Hawaiian style one that sounds yummy!
going to make tonite, sounds delicious and simple to make im all about quick and simple since I’m a very busy mom, thanks for sharing!! Also I don’t think is very polite for others to push recipes on others blogs, please get your own!! God bless and thanks again for sharing.
Thank you so much for your nice comment! Hope you liked the refried beans!
Can someone tell me where I can get the hot sauce or a good substitute for it because I cannot find the Valentina hot sauce anywhere! Thanks in advance! 😉
Why not use real pinto beans instead of canned? So much better for you and cheaper!
I didn’t have refried on hand, but I did have cans of pinto beans in the pantry. (when I have more time I’ll use dried) Anyway I dumped 2 cans in a pot and added homemade chicken stock, garlic, onion powder, cumin, and bacon drippings. Let that sit on the stove and simmer a while. After all the flavors were blended and beans were soft, I mashed them then put in a blender. Once they were a smooth consistency I mixed in the sour cream. I used this in a taco lasagna and it was to die for.
Please stop pushing your own recipes on another’s recipe. Thank you!
amen. I know they mean well but its kind of rude.
This is exactly what I have been searching for! Quick and easy way to make canned refried beans, much better! Thanks for sharing!
I just open a large can of pinto beans, dump them undrained into a large frying pan, heat them up and mash with a potato masher.. let them simmer till they thicken a little. Sprinkle with a little grated cheese and turn off. They will thicken even more after they are turned off. So creamy and delicious!
Thank you for sharing!