Frijoles Charros (Mexican Cowboy Beans)
Frijoles Charros (Mexican Cowboy Beans) are loaded with smoky ham hocks, crispy bacon, and spicy chorizo, creating a rich broth that clings to tender pinto beans. Fresh tomatoes, jalapeños, cilantro, and garlic brighten each bite with a gentle heat and herbal finish. Serve as a hearty side at a cookout or as a comforting main with warm tortillas on a cool evening.
- Prep25 mins
- Cook2 hrs 45 mins
- Serves8
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Frijoles Charros (Mexican Cowboy Beans), not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 61 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 17 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 93 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 30
- Heart Health
- 51
- Metabolic
- 53
- Digestive
- 29
- Inflammatory
- 54
- Performance
- 53
- General Wellness
- 1
Put the ham hocks in a large pot and cover them with water; bring to a boil.
- 2
Boil until the meat pulls back from the bone, about 2 hours.
- 3
Remove the meat from the bones and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
- 4
Save the bones but discard any fat.
- 5
Chop 1/2 of the white onion and leave the other 1/2 whole; set aside.
- 6
Put the bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes.
- 7
Drain the bacon on paper towels, and chop it when cool enough to handle.
- 8
Pour the bacon grease into a small bowl.
- 9
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- 10
Cook and stir the chorizo in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes.
- 11
Transfer the chorizo to a bowl with the chopped bacon, tomatoes, chopped onion, and jalapenos.
- 12
Place the ham chunks and bones in a large pot, then pour the pinto beans over the top.
- 13
Add water to cover and bring to a boil over medium or medium-high heat.
- 14
Meanwhile, heat the bacon grease in a large skillet over medium heat.
- 15
Add the chorizo and vegetable mixture and cook, stirring, until the vegetables are soft, 5 to 7 minutes.
- 16
When the beans come to a boil, add the remaining onion half and the garlic.
- 17
Let it boil for 3 to 4 minutes; add the sauteed vegetables and meat.
- 18
Return to a boil; add the cilantro and chicken bouillon.
- 19
Continue boiling for 15 to 20 minutes.
- 20
Remove the bones, season with salt, and serve.
- Calories 427.08 kcal High 21%
- Protein 26.62 g Good Source 53%
- Carbohydrate 55.96 g 20%
- Total Fat 13.86 g Moderate 18%
- Saturated Fat 5.46 g High 27%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 59.58 mg Moderate 20%
- Sodium 1728.09 mg High 75%
- Dietary Fiber 18.32 g Good Source 65%
- Total Sugars 9.63 g --
- Added Sugars 4.96 g Moderate 10%
- Calcium 112.2 mg Low Source 9%
- Iron 4.73 mg Good Source 26%
- Potassium 834.67 mg Moderate 18%
- Vitamin A 83.36 mcg Low Source 9%
- Vitamin C 7.68 mg Low Source 9%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Frijoles Charros (Mexican Cowboy Beans) is a Mexican side dish recipe made with 11 ingredients. It takes about 3 hrs 10 mins, serves 8, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Chicken Bouillon, Diced Tomatoes, Fresh Cilantro, and Garlic. Each serving provides about 427.08 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Frijoles Charros (Mexican Cowboy Beans)?
- It is a Mexican recipe made with 11 ingredients, usually served for side dish or dinner or lunch or soup.
- What is Frijoles Charros (Mexican Cowboy Beans) made of?
- The main ingredients are Chicken Bouillon, Diced Tomatoes, Fresh Cilantro, Garlic, Mexican Chorizo. The full list of 11 is above.
- How long does it take to make Frijoles Charros (Mexican Cowboy Beans)?
- About 3 hrs 10 mins in total: 25 mins to prepare and 2 hrs 45 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 427.08 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Frijoles Charros (Mexican Cowboy Beans) easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 11 ingredients and 20 steps.
- Is Frijoles Charros (Mexican Cowboy Beans) healthy?
- Frijoles Charros (Mexican Cowboy Beans) has an easyChef Pro health score of 56/100. Per serving, it provides 427.08 calories and 26.62 g of protein, or 53% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber and iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1728.09 mg (75% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 5.46 g (27% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 4.96 g (10% of the Daily Value). It contains Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.
The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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