Easy Homemade Refried Beans

As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, I’m thrilled to see how much “fibermaxxing” has been trending lately! Beans are such a well-rounded way to hit your daily fiber goals, since they are chock-full of protein and nutrients. In fact, beans can help lower your risk for disease, improve cholesterol, manage your blood sugar, support healthy digestion, and can even assist with weight management.

These refried beans are made from dried beans, and aren’t exactly traditional! But boy, are they delicious! Plus, they’re easy to digest and don’t cause dreaded gas. You get all the pros of beans without the cons!

Perfect for game-days, snacks, sides—you can even have them as your main course! Don’t miss out on the health promoting benefits of beans wrapped up in this delicious

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Easy Homemade Refried Beans

Author: Judes Draughon

These refried beans made from dried beans are not exactly traditional, but boy, are they delicious! Plus, they’re easy to digest and don’t cause dreaded gas. This 3-ingredient recipe is a great way to get those health-promoting beans in and is a winner!

Ingredients

• 1 lb bag of dried pinto beans
• I piece Kombu seaweed (find at Whole Foods)
• 1 12- 15 oz jar of better-quality red enchilada sauce (like Siete brand)
• 8 oz block of sharp or extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated (~2.5 cups grated)

Instructions

1. Add dried pinto beans to an empty slow cooker, then fill inner pot with water until it's about 3 inches above the beans. Place a piece of kombu seaweed on the water. Put the lid on the slow cooker, and cook until tender, high for 4-6 hours or on low for 6–8 hours. Using hot pads, tilt the inside of the slow cooker over the sink just enough to spill enough water for the kombu seaweed to slide into the sink. Use a colander to drain the remaining water from the cooked beans.
2. Preheat oven to 350 F.
3. Add drained cooked beans to a food processor or high-powered blender. Add enchilada sauce and puree until mostly smooth or completely smooth (as preferred).
4. Add ~ half of the bean mixture to a greased 8.5” by 11” or 9” by 9” baking dish and smooth out. With the back of your spoon. Sprinkle half the grated cheese evenly over the bean mixture. Add the rest of the bean mixture and spread it out. Top with the remaining grated cheese.
5. Cover and put in a preheated oven. Cook until hot and bubbly, ~ 45 minutes. Serve hot with tortillas or chips. Enjoy!