Bowl of garnished refried beans.

The Best Way To Dress Up Canned Refried Beans

NEWS

By EMMY SCHNEIDER-GREENNamE

Bowl of creamy refried beans.
Many restaurant-prepared refried beans are crafted in-house using lard. A source of animal fat, lard is used in traditional Mexican refried beans to give them a rich mouthfeel.
Cans of refried beans in store shelves.
Store-bought refried beans; however, often lack creaminess and flavor due to the absence of lard. Fortunately, adding sour cream can provide them with that creamy, fatty goodness.
Sour cream in a wooden bowl next to a wooden spoon.
Drop your canned refried beans into a pan or pot, add about ⅓ to ⅔ cups of sour cream, warm everything up, and stir until smooth. Your beans should be ready within minutes.
Bowl of refried black beans.
If you’re plant-based or dairy-free, consider using vegan sour cream or cashew cream instead. The hack works for all bean varieties — fat-free, black, or classic refried beans.