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Charro Beans 64.png

Charro Beans

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🫘 Experience authentic Mexican comfort food with these hearty charro beans that combine tender pinto beans with savory meats and bold spices in a flavorful broth
🌮 Create a versatile dish that can be served as a main course or side, bringing the taste of traditional Mexican cuisine to your table with simple, accessible ingredients

  • Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Yield: 6-8 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale

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:

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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

  • Author: Brandi Oshea
  • 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