Ingredients
1 pound dried pinto beans (about 2 cups)
6 cups water or more as needed
¼ onion
½ teaspoon salt (for initial cooking)
5 slices bacon, chopped
5 ounces chorizo or 2 sausages/hot dogs, chopped
1 cup diced ham or sausages
½ yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tomatoes (Roma or canned diced with chilies or habaneros)
1 jalapeño or serrano pepper, seeded and chopped
½ to 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, chopped (optional)
1 cup fresh chopped cilantro (about ½ bunch)
½ teaspoon oregano
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon cumin
Black pepper to taste
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon
Bay leaf (used during bean cooking)
Water as needed to reach desired broth consistency
Instructions
1-Rinse the dried pinto beans and remove any debris. Place them in a large pot with 6 cups water, ¼ onion, bay leaf, and ½ teaspoon salt. Boil, then simmer for 1 to 2 hours until the beans are tender but not bursting, adding water as needed.
2-Drain the beans and reserve the cooking liquid. Adjust the liquid with water to reach 2 ½ cups, stir in 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon, and set aside for later use.
3-In a large pot, cook the chopped bacon and chorizo for about 5 minutes until the bacon is cooked; remove some grease to keep things balanced.
4-Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, cooking until the onion is translucent for a fragrant base.
5-Stir in the diced ham or sausages, tomatoes, chopped peppers, cilantro, oregano, paprika, cumin, and black pepper. Cook for another 5 minutes to blend the flavors.
6-Add the cooked beans and the reserved broth mixture, then simmer for 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste for the perfect finish.
7-Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving, and pair with warm flour or corn tortillas. If you prefer a thicker sauce, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water and stir it in.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
🫘 For a shortcut, use canned pinto beans (5-6 cups) with reserved liquid and chicken broth to total 2 1/2 cups of liquid, reducing cooking time significantly
🌶️ Adjust the spice level by varying the amount of chipotle pepper and jalapeño – omit chipotle for milder flavor or add extra for more heat
🍺 For authentic borracho beans variation, replace most of the bean cooking liquid with dark beer to add depth and complexity to the flavor
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Not Suitable
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 338
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 657
- Fat: 11
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 6
- Trans Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 10
- Protein: 20
- Cholesterol: 28
