Homemade Refried Beans

Ingredients

1 15 oz can pinto beans
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
salt and pepper to taste
1 jalapeño pepper, minced (optional)
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/8 cup half and half (optional)
Cotija Cheese to taste (optional)

Directions

In a medium bowl, empty one 15 oz cans of pinto beans. Do not drain liquid before adding.

Use a large spoon or a potato masher to mash beans to desired consistency. Add garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and jalapeño if using, and stir to combine evenly.

Heat a frying pan over medium heat. When the pan is hot, add canola oil. When the canola oil slides easily across the pan, add the bean mixture directly to the pan.

Stir the beans immediately and often as liquid cooks down. If you’d like your beans to be creamy, stir in the half and half and allow to just heat through before removing from heat.

Top with cotija cheese, then enjoy with fajitas, your favorite breakfast tacos, tostadas, quesadillas, or enchiladas.