Chef John's Creamy Refried Pinto Beans
Chef John's Creamy Refried Pinto Beans deliver a rich, ultra-smooth texture with glossy depth from lard and a gentle herbal note of epazote. Warm chile layers from serrano and chipotle add a pleasant kick without overpowering the beans’ earthy sweetness. Serve alongside tacos, tuck into burritos, or spoon onto tostadas for weeknight dinners or casual gatherings.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook2 hrs
- Serves8
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Creamy Refried Pinto Beans, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 54 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 9 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 93 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 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.
- 48
- Heart Health
- 48
- Metabolic
- 52
- Digestive
- 22
- Inflammatory
- 22
- Performance
- 48
- General Wellness
- 1
Drain the soaked beans and move them to a stock pot. Add the garlic, epazote, and cold water. Set the pot over high heat and bring it to a boil, stirring. Lower the heat to low. Simmer uncovered until the beans are soft, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Drain the beans, reserving all the liquid.
- 2
Melt the lard in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and salt; cook until the onions begin to brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in the serrano pepper and chipotle powder; cook for 1 minute. Transfer the drained beans to the skillet. Mash about half the beans with a potato masher or the back of a spoon. Ladle some of the bean cooking liquid into the skillet. Keep mashing and stirring the beans as you gradually add more liquid. Mash until the beans reach your preferred consistency and texture. Taste and add more salt, if desired.
- Calories 273.69 kcal Moderate 14%
- Protein 3.05 g Low Source 6%
- Carbohydrate 34.42 g 13%
- Total Fat 13.65 g Moderate 18%
- Saturated Fat 5.5 g High 28%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 7.63 mg Low Source 3%
- Sodium 217.1 mg Moderate 9%
- Dietary Fiber 9.24 g Good Source 33%
- Total Sugars 13.01 g --
- Added Sugars 11.16 g High 22%
- Calcium 83.69 mg Low Source 6%
- Iron 0.88 mg Low Source 5%
- Potassium 176.66 mg Low Source 4%
- Vitamin A 1.45 mcg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin C 9.92 mg Moderate 11%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Chef John's Creamy Refried Pinto Beans is made with 9 ingredients and serves 8. It takes about 2 hrs 10 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Diced Onion, Dried Chipotle Chile, Epazote, and Garlic. Each serving provides about 273.69 kcal, and is a good source of fiber.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Creamy Refried Pinto Beans made of?
- The main ingredients are Diced Onion, Dried Chipotle Chile, Epazote, Garlic, Lard. The full list of 9 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Creamy Refried Pinto Beans?
- About 2 hrs 10 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 2 hrs to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 273.69 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Creamy Refried Pinto Beans easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 9 ingredients and 2 steps.
- Is Chef John's Creamy Refried Pinto Beans healthy?
- Chef John's Creamy Refried Pinto Beans has an easyChef Pro health score of 48/100. Per serving, it provides 273.69 calories and 3.05 g of protein, or 6% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 217.1 mg (9% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 5.5 g (28% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 11.16 g (22% of the Daily Value). It contains 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
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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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