How to Make Taco Bell's Refried Beans at home in under 30 minutes

[@philochristos]

I appreciate you letting me used canned refried beans. I add enchilada sauce to mine and chopped onions. Also salt and garlic powder.

[@howtocooke]

That is so delicious! I love it too

[@dalton1824]

How high did you have the stove on??

[@howtocooke]

Medium low or low is best once it gets bubbling. You just want a low simmer.

[@jacksonnow5420]

Hello. Another easy way to get yummy refried beans is to use the whole canned pintos, about a tablespoon or so of Manteca, a bit of salt and pepper. That is how Taco Bell used to season theirs when I worked there way too many years ago. They of course put the dry beans, water, Manteca, salt and pepper then pressure cooked in giant pressure cookers. Then used stick blenders to blend.

[@craftymom3159]

When I worked there during the pressure cooker and stick blending days, we never used pepper.

[@Wenchlock123]

What is Manteca? I use salt, pepper and garlic in my beans. I cook just dry pinto beans, unsoaked, in a crock pot for ten hours and pull them out with a spider and mash them up in a mixing bowl. Add cooking water to the beans for the desired texture. I think I am very close to TB bean burrito refried beans. I do not fry them in oil and make cooking fairies cringe by mashing them up in a non-stick skillet with a metal potato masher.

[@jacksonnow5420]

@@Wenchlock123 Manteca is lard. I was offering an easy recipe improving upon canned beans vs. cooking the dry beans etc..

[@jacksonnow5420]

@@craftymom3159 you may be correct. 😊

[@Wenchlock123]

@@jacksonnow5420 Thanks for the clarification. I always thought TB beans were vegan. These days vegans seem to worship TB bean burritos (fresco style) as one of the few vegan fast food items that actually taste incredibly good. I like them fresco style as well. Sounds like the recipe has changed a lot since the '70s.

[@incanada83]

Looking good! I'm binge watching your videos now after watching copycat TB ground beef. Thank you.💐 Subscribed.

[@RealQuickComics]

I don't know why but you remind me of Jim Gaffigan ❤

[@howtocooke]

You are not the first person to say that. I was shooting for George Clooney but I'll take Gaffigan... He's a funny guy. Thanks

[@bethjones6667]

Very enjoyable. Going to try this.

[@caitlinann250]

I used the canned refried beans way and omg they were soooo much better!!! 🎉

[@mikel6989]

Never used chicken stock before, I usually just add some water to thin it out a can of refried beans. I've actually been using these refried beans that come in a bag and you can microwave for a minute, they actually arent bad although i'm sure the whole bean method tastes way better. 👍

[@howtocooke]

Thanks for your comment. Water is the most common liquid people use for sure. I always look for ways to add more flavor so stock is a good alternative. I have not tried the bagged beans yet. Sounds pretty easy and easy is good! Anything has to be better than the canned refried beans.

[@mikel6989]

​@@howtocooke Isadora is the brand of beans that I like, theres multiple varieties all of which are good. Kroger has a store brand in a bag that arent as good as the isadora brand.

[@betsybarnicle8016]

Dog came in on cue when you said "...like dog food."

[@rmsvend]

Add a Tbsp of sour cream for the win.

[@chevypreps6417]

You might be right about the sour creme. I think I will try that.

[@starnoelle8248]

Taco Bell uses dehydrated refried beans, this easily better than taco bell beans

[@howtocooke]

Thank you so much for your kind words. Technically though, all pinto beans start out as dehydrated. That's why you have to soak them for 24 hours before you cook them. My recipe just picks up after they were soaked and first cooked. TB starts at the beginning with dried beans and uses huge pressure cookers to speed up the process. Mine are still better though...😉

[@craftymom3159]

They moved to the dehydrated beans in the late 80's. They were ok, but nowhere as good as the ones done fresh from whole beans daily.

[@craftymom3159]

​@howtocooke Taco Bel in the late 80'sl switched to completely dehydrated bits in a bag that you mixed with hot water, stirred, and set in the steam cabinet for a bit before you served them. I personally miss the days of sorting beans in the morning and pressure cooking them. They had SO much more flavor.

[@Wenchlock123]

All of the fast food restaurants have migrated from local cooking to centralized processing facilities called, "commisaries". The actual cooking is done in centralized areas and shipped to the local franchises and the local folks there really don't have to do much more than rehydrate and warm the food up. For instance, in McDonald's, a big mac tastes the same in Los Angeles as it does in Moscow (And I can tell you from personal experience, it is true... They taste exactly the same.). So it is a way to ensure consistancy from once location to the other, and it probably also helps protect the secret recipes of this food. I worked at Carl's Jr, back in the '70s and we all spoke of the "Commissary" like it was some kind of sacred hallowed ground in Los Angeles. And as a side note, Carl's Jr, had better food back then. Loved their (my) steak sandwiches.

[@Cynthia2v]

I like adding bacon grease to mine along with the spices. Delicious, either way!

[@howtocooke]

Bacon grease of snowcap lards amazing!

[@BEDavisBrown]

I really think it's worth the time to soak and cook dry pinto beans, I use a pressure cooker and the beans and juice it makes is better what you'll get from any can.

[@howtocooke]

100%

[@Wenchlock123]

Some say soaking and throwing out the water also throws out much of the taste. Considering that pinto beans have such a mild flavor to begin with, you may want to avoid the soaking and use a crock-pot or pressure cooker on unsoaked beans. In my anecdotal experience, it makes a difference. Growing up, we soaked our beans and they always tasted bland. Today, I don't soak my beans and they are better than Mom used to make.

[@jeraldbaxter3532]

Thank you!

[@howtocooke]

You bet!

[@FoodAroundUs]

Very nice 👍🏽 Like 9

[@mikemanners1069]

I am too damn lazy for this....I just buy the non-fat Walmart refried beans and just go with it....

[@KevinRCarr]

Again, far too easy to not just do this instead of a can of processed and additive-ized refried mush.

[@MrDowntownLA]

Del Taco has the best refried beans. Their Bean and Cheese Burrito is a great deal. TK

[@GinaR21212]

You don't need a pressure cooker, you put them on your stove to boil, then you put a lid on and you let them soak overnight, then the next day you make sure that the water that's absorbed you add more water in, you have to soak them overnight or you have to boil them for 8 hours, the next day after they've soaked you put in three strips of bacon with your two cups of beans in your soup pot, make sure you keep them stirred at least once every half an hour and don't let them boil over, and cook them another 5 hours when they're soft you're ready to go.

[@howtocooke]

That is a very authentic way to make refied beans for sure and very delicious.

[@Sethstrat]

much better than yucky processed beans from outside with god knows what added to them! way tastier and healthier too!

[@DiannaAtherton]

Save the work and place pinto beans and seasonings in a blender and pour in hot pan.

[@howtocooke]

That is the easiest and best way to get great beans!

[@BLOODYTHECLOWN666]

Rosa Rita’s I can garantee is better