The Best Way To Dress Up Canned Refried Beans

Dine out at any standard Mexican restaurant, and you're almost certainly getting a side of beans with that plate of tacos, enchiladas, or fajitas. One might argue, and rightly so, that an entree of Mexican fare isn't complete without the creamy, comforting, and fiber-rich accompaniment. 

Refried beans (which, contrary to what the name suggests, are not re-fried at all) are an accessible and inexpensive canned good to grab off the grocery store shelf. But they don't always live up to restaurant-quality refried beans at home. Popping open a can of refried beans, you might have noticed that they fall short of the creamy, satisfying side and often taste bland or one-dimensional, regardless of the brand or how much hot sauce you use. 

One factor at play is that many restaurant-refried beans are house-made or often made with lard — a source of animal fat customarily used in traditional Mexican refried beans to give them a rich mouthfeel and fattiness. Many store-bought refried beans, especially if marked non-fat, are made without it — but don't assume your beans are vegetarian if they aren't labeled so. While lard may not be a common pantry staple in most home kitchens, you can still achieve creamy, fatty deliciousness by adding sour cream to canned beans. Just a few spoonfuls and a few minutes of prep improve the beans for your next at-home taco night.

Convenience is a key factor when it comes to ramping up the wow factor of ordinary beans. It's as easy as opening a can of your favorite store-bought refried beans, putting them into a pan or pot, adding anywhere from ⅓ to ⅔ cups of sour cream, warming up, and stirring until smooth. 

If you're plant-based or dairy-free, you can also use a scoop of your favorite vegan sour cream or homemade cashew cream to add creaminess sans cream. This trick works beautifully on any variety of beans — fat-free, black refried beans, or classic, and is ready to spoon out and enjoy in minutes. 

Of course, this is only the starting point to dressing up the humble can of refried beans. Other add-ins that pack a punch include garlic — either sauteed or a few shakes of garlic powder, your favorite hot sauce or salsa, or a few spoonfuls of guacamole. All go a long way in adding flavor and richness to dress up everyone's favorite side or create a base for a delicious Mexican-inspired dip.