Easy Mexican Charro Beans (aka Frijoles Charros or Cowboy Beans) are guaranteed to be your new favorite side dish! Tender Pinto Beans swimming in a broth of bacon, ham, chorizo, onions, and a handful of seasonings… they’re a deliciously robust dish that blows refried beans out of the water!
When it comes to Mexican food, I’m all about the side dishes. Give me the rice and beans and chips and guac and whatever else you have to offer. I want it ALL! But obviously there are some sides that are better than others. Namely… Charro Beans!!
If you’ve never had them, first of all, we need to change that. Because unlike black beans or refried pinto beans, which can sometimes be bland and basic, charro beans are absolutely PACKED with flavor. And once you know what’s in them… that comes as no surprise!
Between the chorizo and the bacon and the jalapeños and the cumin and all the other delicious ingredients these beans are swimming in… there’s no way they could be anything other than completely hearty, delicious, and downright addictive. As in I could make a meal of them! As in once you try them, there’s NO going back.
Charro Beans vs. Refried Beans
Charro Beans and traditional Refried Beans are both made with pinto beans… so what’s the difference between the two? Well, the main difference is that charro beans are cooked whole in a flavored broth, while refried beans are cooked, mashed, and fried in lard. Both are traditional ways of preparing Mexican beans, and refried beans are most commonly what you’ll get at a Mexican restaurant. But if you ask me, Charro Beans are so much more flavorful it’s hard to even compare the two!
What you’ll need for this recipe
Pinto beans – Pinto Beans are the main ingredient in this recipe. I used 4 cans of pinto beans, which can be found near all the other varieties at your local grocery store.
Meats – I used a combination of bacon, chorizo, and ham in this recipe. You can feel free to use any or all of these according to your preferences.
Vegetables – Fresh veggies add delicious flavor to the broth. I used a combination of diced tomatoes, yellow onion, jalapeños, fresh minced garlic, and fresh cilantro.
Spices – Finally, you’ll need to flavor the broth with a healthy dose of seasonings. I decided to use smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and oregano in fairly equal proportions. You can also add bay leaves, chili powder, adobo seasoning, or any of your favorites.
How to make Charro Beans
Prepare the ingredients – Prepare the vegetables by dicing the onions, tomatoes, and cilantro and mincing the jalapeño and garlic. Prepare the meats by dicing the ham and bacon.
Cook the bacon & chorizo – Add the diced bacon, along with the chorizo, to a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, crumbling the chorizo as you go, until the bacon is crispy.
Add the onions, garlic & ham – Add in the prepared onions, garlic, and ham. Cook, stirring regularly, until the onions are translucent.
Add the remaining ingredients & simmer – Add in the remaining ingredients, including the liquid from the beans, and simmer uncovered 15-20 minutes. Garnish with additional fresh cilantro as desired.
Recipe variations
- Start with dried pinto beans and prepare according to package instructions
- Substitute black beans, kidney beans, navy beans, or Great Northern beans
- Use any combination of bacon, ham, chorizo, hot dogs, or little smokies
- Make it vegetarian by removing the meat or replacing it with vegan alternatives
- Drain the liquid from the beans and replace with an equal amount of chicken broth (2 1/2 cups)
- Add adobo seasoning, chili powder, coriander, or bay leaves
- Substitute a habanero pepper for the diced jalapeño for extra heat
- Adjust the seasoning levels according to taste
Recipes to pair with Charro Beans
Looking for the perfect meal to pair with Charro Beans? These are some of our favorites!
- Shrimp Fajitas
- Chicken Chimichangas
- Tostadas
- Creamy Chicken Flautas
- Chicken Tacos
- Shrimp Tacos
- Baja Fish Tacos
- Guacamole
Charro Beans
Easy Mexican Charro Beans (aka Frijoles Charros or Cowboy Beans) are guaranteed to be your new favorite side dish! Tender Pinto Beans swimming in a broth of bacon, ham, chorizo, onions, and a handful of seasonings... they're a deliciously robust dish that blows refried beans out of the water!
Ingredients
- 4 (15 ounce) cans pinto beans, undrained
- 6 slices bacon
- 7 ounces chorizo sausage
- 1 cup diced ham steak
- 2 roma tomatoes, diced
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 jalapeño, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Instructions
- Prepare the vegetables by dicing the onions, tomatoes, and cilantro and mincing the jalapeño and garlic. Prepare the meats by dicing the ham and bacon.
- Add the diced bacon, along with the chorizo, to a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, crumbling the chorizo as you go, until the bacon is crispy.
- Add in the prepared onions, garlic, and ham. Cook, stirring regularly, until the onions are translucent.
- Add in the remaining ingredients, including the liquid from the beans, and simmer uncovered 15-20 minutes. Garnish with additional fresh cilantro as desired.
Notes
Recipe variations
- Start with dried pinto beans and prepare according to package instructions
- Substitute black beans, kidney beans, navy beans, or Great Northern beans
- Use any combination of bacon, ham, chorizo, hot dogs, or little smokies
- Make it vegetarian by removing the meat or replacing it with vegan alternatives
- Drain the liquid from the beans and replace with an equal amount of chicken broth (2 1/2 cups)
- Add adobo seasoning, chili powder, coriander, or bay leaves
- Substitute a habanero pepper for the diced jalapeño for extra heat
- Adjust the seasoning levels according to taste
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 152Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 631mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 11g
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