Crockpot Refried Beans...Without the Refry

Crockpot Refried Beans...Without the Refry

There are many foods worth making from scratch.  Out of all of them, refried beans is on the top of my list!

Homemade Refried Beans are:

  

 Healthier--Store bought, canned refried beans are loaded with hydrogenated oils, preservatives, salt and fat! 

Frugal--Dry beans are cheap!  I buy a 2lb bag at Aldi for $1.99.  This means I'm only paying about $1 for the beans used in this recipe that yields roughly 3 cans of beans.  At the local grocery store, one can of refried beans costs approximately $1.79! 

Better Tasting--I think homemade refried beans taste much better then canned.  The texture is better and they are full of flavor! 

Easy to Prepare--My hands on time for this recipe is minimal.  For start to finish, there's only about 30 minutes of hands on time and it's broken up into 10 minute intervals.  It doesn't get much easier!

 So, give these beans a try!  I think you'll be happy that you did!

Ingredients: 

• 3 cups of dry pinto beans, picked over and soaked
• 1/4 to 1/2 of an onion, peeled & quartered
• 1 jalapeno pepper, cut in half & seeded (Wear Gloves!)
• 2 tablespoons of minced garlic
• 2 1/2 teaspoons of salt
• 1 3/4 teaspoons of ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 8-9 cups of water (Can also substitute half or all of the fluid with chicken broth.  Just be aware of the salt content in the broth.)

Step 1:

• Pick over 3 cups of dry pinto beans, removing any broken beans & stones.  Place beans in a pot or bowl and cover them with water.  Allow the beans to soak overnight.

Step 2:

• In the morning, drain the beans in a colander and rinse.
• Add beans and all other ingredients, including water, to the crockpot.  Stir  to combine.
• Cook on high for 4-6 hours or on low for 8 hours.  Beans are done when they are tender.

Step 3:

• Once the beans have cooked, strain them removing the chucks of onion & pepper.  Reserve the liquid!  Mash them with a potato masher or hand mixer adding liquid as needed to attain desired consistency.  Note:  The beans will thicken as they cool!  The first time you make them, it may be a good idea to cool them completely before tossing away the liquid.  

To Freeze: 

• Allow refried beans to cool completely.  
• Place 1 1/2 cups of beans into a container or Ziploc sandwich sized bag.  Squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing.  Lay the bag flat and gently push the beans into an even layer.  This will save space in the the freezer!  Label packages and freeze.
• To use:  Remove beans from the container or bag.  If they get stuck, run the container under warm water for a minute until they pop loose.  Heat in a pot on low heat until warm.  Add them to your favorite Mexican recipe or eat them as a side dish! 

Total Cost: 

1 lb of pinto beans:                                     $1

1/4 of the giant sweet onion:                        28¢

1 Jalapeno Pepper:                                       20¢

Garlic:                                                          20¢

Seasonings:                                                  25¢(Probably much less)

Total:                                                       $1.93 for 3 cans worth of beans!

  

Live Frugal.  Live Happy.