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    Home » Condiments

    Published: Feb 19, 2020 · Modified: Jun 13, 2022 by Roché Woodworth · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads

    Refried Red Kidney Beans

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    A simple and easy Homemade Mexican Refried Red Kidney Beans recipe. Made from scratch. Perfect for a Mexican Feast. 7 Simple Ingredients. 10 Minutes. Gluten-Free. Vegan.
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    A simple and easy Homemade Mexican Refried Red Kidney Beans recipe. Made from scratch. Perfect for a Mexican Feast. 7 Simple Ingredients. 10 Minutes. Gluten-Free. Vegan.

    This easy refried beans recipe is sure to please!

    refried red kidney beans in a light green bowl garnished with chopped cilantro and a tortilla chip

    What Are Refried Beans?

    Refried Beans is a popular dish consisting of mashed beans. It is a staple in Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisines, but has some difference approaches when cooking the dish.

    Although refried beans are sometimes referred to a “Mexican Beans”, it is a popular dish in various Latin American cultures.

    Carbs In Refried Beans?

    We love refried beans, and admittedly, we eat them on occasion even though we preach the Low-Carb and Keto life.

    Refried Beans have 15g of carbs per 100g. They are high in fiber though, with 5g of fiber per 100g.

    This means that a 100g portion of refried beans has 10g of net carbs.

    Are Refried Beans Keto Friendly?

    If you’re wondering whether you can have refried beans on the low-carb or keto diet, the answer is “no” in most cases.

    Although beans are high in protein, fiber and other important nutrients - they have a very high carb count, making them unsuitable for low-carb and keto dieters in the majority of situations.

    Can You Use Kidney Beans For Refried Beans:

    Yes! In this recipe we use red kidney beans, because we absolutely love they flavor. They make a for great tasting refried beans.

    Nutrition and Calories of Refried Beans.

    Are refried red beans healthy?

    Refried Beans are a good source of Protein and Dietary Fiber. They are low in Saturated Fat and Cholestrol.

    Red Kidney Refried Beans are also rich in Vitamin C, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Manganese.

    It contains about 217 calories per cup of refried beans.

    When eaten as part of a balanced diet, refried red beans can be a healthy addition to your meals!

    See this PAGE for more in depth data on the nutrition of refried beans.

    How To Make Homemade Refried Red Kidney Beans:

    Here’s how to make refried beans from scratch! We like to use red kidney beans, because we love the delicious flavor they add!

    The Ingredients You Need:

    1. Red Kidney Beans (Cooked or Canned)
    2. Onion
    3. Minced Garlic
    4. A Handful Of Spices

    Step-By-Step Instructions:

    step by step instructions of an easy refried beans recipe made with red kidney beans
    1. Start by tossing all the ingredients into a small pan. (Photo 1)
    2. Bring everything to a boil and let it simmer. (Photo 2)
    3. Stir it every few minutes and smash the beans until it reaches your desired consistency. (We prefer chunkier refried beans.) (Photo 3)
    4. Once it’s at your desired consistency, remove from heat, garnish with fresh cilantro and serve! (Photo 4)

    Video Instructions:

    What Do You Serve With Refried Beans?

    One of our favorite ways to enjoy these red refried beans, is the grate some cheddar cheese on top, microwave it until melted and then eat it as a dip with tortilla chips.

    It’s a great side dish any Mexican meal!

    1. We like to spread it in a tortilla for a burrito,
    2. Scoop a dollop into a taco,
    3. A side dish to Mexican Chicken,
    4. etc.

    It’s also great as a Refried Bean Dip for tortilla chips.

    Looking For More Healthy Mexican Recipes?

    If this Refried Kidney Beans Recipe doesn’t tickle your fancy, we’ve got a few other healthy (low carb, keto and often paleo) Mexican recipes up our sleeves, and well as personal favorites from other great bloggers.

    1. Mexican Salad
    2. Taco Seasoning Blend
    3. Restaurant Style Salsa
    4. Some recipes from other great bloggers: 11 Keto Mexican Recipes

    Have You Made This Refried Red Kidney Beans Recipe?

    side shot of refried kidney beans garnished with chopped cilantro

    If you’ve made this easy homemade refried beans recipe, please leave a comment and a rating. We love hearing your feedback and it greatly helps us improve our recipes!

    You can also give us a follow on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook – we love staying in touch!

    Easy Refried Kidney Beans

    A simple and easy Homemade Mexican Refried Red Kidney Beans recipe. Made from scratch. Perfect for a Mexican Feast. 7 Simple Ingredients. 10 Minutes. Gluten-Free. Vegan.
    3.58 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Condiment, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American, Mexican
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 8.68kcal
    Author: Roche Woodworth

    Ingredients

    • 1 Can Kidney Beans (Don't Drain)
    • ¼ Onion (Finely Chopped)
    • 1 Clove Garlic (Minced)
    • 2 teaspoon Chili Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Cumin
    • ½ teaspoon White Pepper
    • to taste Salt

    Instructions

    • Add the beans (including the liquid) from the can into a medium sauce pan, over a medium heat.
    • Add all the rest of the ingredients, and cook until heated through.
    • While it cooks, be sure to smash the beans until they reach your desired consistency.

    Tips and Tricks:

    1. Add vegetable stock if the refried beans get too thick.
    2. If it’s too saucy, just keep simmering for a few minutes longer.
    3. If you would like a very smooth final product - use an immersion blender.
    4. Draining the beans: We always buy canned beans in brine. The ingredients are beans, water and salt. Check the label.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 8.68kcal | Carbohydrates: 1.73g | Protein: 0.35g | Fat: 0.22g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 598.61mg | Potassium: 29.54mg | Fiber: 0.53g | Sugar: 0.38g | Vitamin A: 296.5IU | Vitamin C: 0.74mg | Calcium: 3.3mg | Iron: 0.34mg
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    This recipe for Refried Kidney Beans was first published on August 1, 2018 and was updated on February 19, 2020 to include detailed step-by-step instructions and faqs.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lauren says

      September 30, 2022 at 10:56 am

      I am from the USA and I don't know what kcal means. I googled it and it seems to say the same thing as calories. There coudln't possibly be only 8-9 calories so I don't get it. Also, there is no serving size this is in reference to - that is, 8-9 calories per what? If per Tablespoon maybe this woudl make since. I was about to subscribe but saw this difficulty. I imagine that if people are trying to eat healthy, they woudl want to know. Hope that helps. Thanks

      Reply
    2. Maria Waid says

      May 12, 2022 at 9:23 pm

      I found this recipe when I was about to make some tostadas and realized I did not have any refried beans. I only had a can of whole kidney beans so quickly checked online to see if ok to refry kidney beans.

      For those who prefer less salt, always rinse your canned beans thoroughly to reduce sodium content and omit the salt or use less! Simple fix.

      I blended my beans with around 1/4 cup water. To the saucepan, I added some olive oil and fried the beans, adding some homemade salsa. At first the beans may look very runny. Continue cooking on low heat, stirring frequently, preferably with a rubber spatula. Before you know it, the beans will thicken up!

      P.S. In Mexican cooking, refried beans are just that...refried. I did not notice any oil or fats added in this recipe. So, maybe these should've been titled "Mock Refried Beans"? ; )

      Reply
    3. Deborah Brestel says

      April 06, 2022 at 5:26 pm

      On a limited salt diet. Drained 3/4 liquid from the low salt kidney beans, lightly mashed them, added 1/2 cup salsa , 1/4 onion minced, 2 cloves grated garlic. Heated for 10min.
      Delicious

      Reply
    4. Betty Clifton says

      January 01, 2022 at 6:47 pm

      2 stars
      Easy enough to make, but way too much white pepper!

      Reply
    5. Douglas says

      June 12, 2021 at 4:36 pm

      2 stars
      Way too salty and peppery. I added 2 more cans of beans to make it restaurant quality.

      Reply
    6. Sherri Oake says

      June 11, 2021 at 2:57 pm

      2 stars
      I found it inedibly salty. I used a 15.5 oz. can of beans in brine so perhaps this requires a larger can. No size is noted in the recipe. In order to salvage it I added another can of beans and doubled everything else but added no additional salt. It was ok but still extremely salty.

      Reply
    7. Cheryl says

      May 07, 2021 at 8:50 pm

      4 stars
      Great recipe — bit too much salt. Next time I’ll wait until the end and salt to taste. Thanks for the starter, though!

      Reply
    8. Annemarie says

      March 25, 2021 at 7:33 pm

      5 stars
      I loved this.... I made some beans by soaking, cooking, then freezing them in. Can sized portions. So I used those and with water but I also mixed a little of Sabor medium salsa in while it cooked and omitted the cumin because I'm not a fan! It is seriously so awesome...it has ruined me for all other refried beans!
      I topped it with a little cheddar and hot sauce!

      Reply
    9. Michelle says

      March 04, 2021 at 7:43 pm

      Loved the recipe! Wish I had looked at your notes section sooner. I added salt when the can already had salt added. Otherwise, fantastic recipe. I can't wait to try it with other bean types!

      Reply
    10. Elisa says

      January 20, 2021 at 11:35 am

      Fantastic recipe! I see that you have taken note about the saltiness - 1 tsp was definirely too much. Still, I'll make it again and less salty!

      Reply
    11. Leah says

      October 15, 2020 at 9:35 pm

      5 stars
      This was Delicious. Our beans had too many preservatives in the liquid for me to want to cook with it, so I used your tip to add veggie broth. We also omitted the salt since our beans were quite salty to start. We made simple bean and cheese burritos. Will definitely do this recipe again.

      Reply
    12. Lee says

      October 15, 2020 at 1:15 pm

      4 stars
      Make these all the time 3 cans at a time. Living in Uganda I had to make my own chili powder. I also dice a fresh jalapeño per can & brown onion, garlic & jalapeño. Then before I add beans I use a T of apple cider vinegar per can & 1 to grow on, & all dry seasonings, stir well & cook about 2 min then add beans. Thank you so! Yummy🥰

      Reply
    13. Danielle says

      October 10, 2020 at 12:23 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious. Very simple and very tasty. It is salty but refried beans generally are so no complaints there.

      Reply
    14. Michelle says

      September 18, 2020 at 3:05 pm

      Easy and delicious. I added them to my beef burrito and it was a hit. Thanks for the recipe

      Reply
    15. Antonia says

      September 01, 2020 at 3:46 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious recipe!! I started by browning some shallots and garlic then adding the kidney beans/ seasoning and stirring continuously for about 10 mins, lightly mashed it and it came out amazing! Super tasty, would highly recommend in some pulled pork burritos like I had!!

      Reply
    16. Barb says

      August 08, 2020 at 3:19 pm

      Way way too salty!

      Reply
      • Roché Woodworth says

        September 03, 2020 at 6:28 am

        We’re changing this recipe to “salt to taste” since it’s impossible to know the salt content of all different brands of beans.

        Reply
    17. Kim says

      June 08, 2020 at 6:47 am

      Cannot tell you how delicious this recipe was! We cannot get pinto beans here, dry or canned, and honestly, it never occurred to me that maybe kidney beans might make a nice substitute. So after years of living without refried beans, I thought I would try it and found your recipe. It was such a hit that I am going to make big batches, portion and freeze them so that we can always have them on hand. Although, this was so fast and easy that it isn't really necessary, we just have a lifestyle where grabbing a bean quesadilla or burrito for lunch has been a missed option. Yum!

      Reply
    18. Yvonne says

      October 27, 2019 at 5:16 am

      5 stars
      Very quick, easy and yummy. Perfect for burritos!

      Reply

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