Slow Cooker Borracho Beans
This easy recipe for crockpot Borracho Beans yields a pot full of creamy, spicy, and delicious pinto beans. While I could eat a whole bowlful all on their own, they also make an excellent side for any gathering.
Pair these smoky, bacon-y pinto beans with some shredded brisket and cornbread for a true Tex-Mex summer feast, or serve alongside homemade carne asada and fresh corn tortillas for a real Mexican fiesta!
I am so excited to share this recipe for borracho beans with you! Itโs a delicious dish that is published in my very good friend Vianney’s cookbook, The Tex-Mex Slow Cooker.
Why I Love This Recipe
Borracho beans remind me of my hometown of El Paso and all the many family summer cookouts we used to have. They hold a special place in my heart! After you have your first bite, I’m sure they’ll become one of your favorites, too.
Soft and creamy pinto beans are slow simmered in a sauce made from Mexican amber beer, smoky bacon, and spicy jalapeรฑos for a side dish that is dreamy.
I also love how simple and easy this recipe is! You literally place a handful of ingredients into the slow cooker, have a good nights sleep, wake up, and your house will be filled with the aroma of bacon.
They’re so easy that you can make them as a delightful side for busy weeknights, but tasty enough that you’ll want to share them with company. These borracho beans will be on repeat at my house all summer long.
Finally, since this slow cooker recipe calls for dried beans, it is exceptionally cost effective! A pound of dried beans usually costs less than $2, and makes up to ten servings. I honestly can’t think of a less expensive side.
What Are Borracho Beans?
Very similar to frijoles de la olla, but with the addition of chopped bacon, onion, garlic, jalapeรฑos, diced tomatoes, and beer, borracho beans are an authentic Mexican side dish.
Borracho translates to “drunk” in Spanish. With your choice of Mexican beer in addition to water you will have true, savory, and spicy borracho beans.
Oh, and don’t worry. These “drunken” beans are perfectly kid friendly – the booze completely cooks off during the cooking process. Go ahead and make a batch today – your whole family will thank you!
The Tex-Mex Slow Cooker Cookbook
I hope you have a chance to order Vianneyโs cookbook, because it is full of delicious Tex-Mex recipes that are so simple to make — all in your slow cooker. It doesnโt get any easier than that! Especially during hot months when the last thing you want to do is turn on your stove or oven.
If you didnโt know, Vianney is my co-author for Latin Twist: Traditional and Modern Cocktails and she knows a thing or two about delicious cocktails. In her new cookbook you will also find plenty of thirst-quenching Tex-Mex inspired beverages and cocktails.
The Tex-Mex Slow Cooker is filled with tried and true Tex-Mex recipes all made in your handy crockpot. You can plan an entire fiesta with the recipes in this cookbook – everything from breakfast to appetizers to entrees to desserts. Be ready to be hypnotized with queso, tequila, hibiscus, and plenty of pecans.
How to Make Tasty Slow Cooker Pinto Beans
First thing’s first, you have to sort your beans. Spread them over your counter so you can look for beans that are broken, discolored, or shriveled and remove them. There may also be small stones or pebbles that should be sorted out of the beans during this phase. Discard all of the undesirable pieces.
Place beans in a colander. Rinse the beans thoroughly with cool water to remove any dust or dirt. Soak your beans for 30 minutes to 1 hour before cooking, then drain.
Add soaked beans, beer, water, and garlic to slow cooker.
Now it’s flavor time. Chop bacon into 1โ2-inch pieces and fry in a large skillet until crispy; drain and set aside.
Add the onions to the skillet and cook, stirring frequently to loosen the brown bits left behind in the pan from the bacon, for two to three minutes.
Add tomatoes and jalapeรฑos (if using) and, cook, continuing to stir and incorporate and leftover bits from the skillet, keeping all the delicious goodness in your beans, for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
Add the contents of the skillet to the slow cooker, along with the cooked bacon. Add salt and stir until well combined.
Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours. Garnish with cilantro and serve warm. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you plan on going the slow cooker route, dried beans are the best option. Not only are they less expensive than their canned counterparts, they are also able to withstand the 7 to 8 hour cook time without breaking down or becoming mushy. Using dried beans also means you get the opportunity to add as much flavor as possible.
While pinto beans are the traditional variety used for borracho beans, you can swap in dried navy beans, great northern beans, or cranberry beans instead, depending on what you have available.
Absolutely! Generally speaking, anything that gets made in a slow cooker will do just fine being made ahead. Borracho beans will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week, or can be frozen for up to three months.
If you want an authentic Mexican flavor, you should reach for a Mexican beer. I tend to like amber beer for this recipe, so I generally opt for Dos Equis. You can also sub in Modelo or Victoria if you prefer.
Other delicious bean recipes you’ll love:
If you love these easy and delicious Slow Cooker Borracho Beans, be sure to check out some of my other favorite bean recipes below.
- Frijoles Charros (Cowboy Beans)
- Cowboy Caviar (Texas Caviar)
- Frijoles de la Olla
- Homemade Refried Beans
- Instant Pot Black Beans
- Easy Navy Bean Soup
- Brazilian Feijoada
If you make this recipe for Slow Cooker Borracho Beans, please be sure to rate and review the recipe below. I always love hearing from you!
You can also feel free to tag me in any of your tasty creations on Instagram.
Slow Cooker Borracho Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound pinto beans, dried
- 1 12 ounce bottle Mexican beer
- 6 cups water
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 pound thick-cut bacon
- 1 white onion, chopped
- 3 roma tomatoes, chopped
- 1 to 2 jalapeรฑos, chopped (optional)
- 1 tablespoon salt
- fresh cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Spread beans over your counter so you can look for beans that are broken, discolored, or shriveled and remove them. There will also be small stones or pebbles that should be sorted out of the beans during this phase. Discard all of the undesirable pieces.
- Place beans in a colander. Rinse the beans thoroughly with cool water.
- Soak your beans for 30 minutes to 1 hour before cooking.
- Add soaked beans, beer, water, and garlic to slow cooker.
- Chop bacon into 1โ2-inch pieces and fry in a large skillet until crispy; drain and set aside.
- Add the onions to the skillet and cook, stirring frequently to loosen the brown bits left behind in the pan from the bacon, for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add tomatoes and jalapeรฑos (if using) and, cook, continuing to stir and incorporate and leftover bits from the skillet, keeping all the delicious goodness in your beans, for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Add the contents of the skillet to the slow cooker, along with the cooked bacon. Add salt and stir until well combined.
- Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours.
- Garnish with cilantro and serve warm.
Notes
Photography by Jenna Sparks
Originally published: May 2018.
103 Comments on “Slow Cooker Borracho Beans”
I dropped mine and broke it and I miss it so much. I do spaghetti sauce and chili in mine.
My favorite thing to make is beef pot roast .
I love throwing the beans in the slow cooker, and letting the cook over night. Wake up to
a
great smell and good beans first thing in the morning.
Oh my I have to pick just one, I don’t know if I could do that, but I have been told by many that my Navy Beans Soup with ham is the bomb.
i make a beef roast with mushroom gravy and veggies that my family loves
I love making tamale meat in my slow cooker.
i make pinto beans with some bell pepper and some sugar mixed in there
My favorite slow cooker meal is stew, in the wintertime.
I love using my slow cooker to meal prep especially meat or baked potatoes!
I visited your facebook page, but the link inside the rafflecopter is broken.
I love to make a sausage cheesy dip in my slow cooker
One of my favorites for a slow cooker are short ribs in a spicy sauce.
Posole is my favorite recipe to make in a crockpot. I would love to win–thanks for the opportunity!
Be still my Tex Mex lovin’ heart! These beans look wonderful, and that cookbook! One fave for the slow cooker is carnitas…and beans for refrying.
Pork Carnitas!
I saw this on Instagram yesterday, looks so good & easy. I am making it Sunday! Thank you for sharing
One of my favorites is Mississippi beef sandwiches. I also love the classics like chili, beef stew, and potato soup. Thank you so much for offering a wonderful giveaway.
WE do a lot of beans and soups/stews. Thank you!
My favorite recipe to make in a slow cooker is salsa verde tacos. I make a spicy green sauce and place the beef to cook for 8 to 9 hours. Its come apart beautifully and its so easy to make. Its always a big hit with my family and anyone else who eats it.
Chili is my fav to make !
Are you kidding? I’ve never seen you make one thing in this house. I even have to microwave your Cup o’ Noodles for you!
I’m joking. You share my teen’s name and I don’t see it around often. I was tickled to see his name. ๐
Roast
Mojo pork is one of our favorite crockpot recipes!
Thank you for the recipe. ย I am looking forward to making it. ย Picture makes me hungry!
LOVE borracho beans, theyโre a must on every carne asada, and since the temperatures are rising up what best way to make them than using the slow cooker, Iโll have to try this recipe.
My favorite thing to make in the slow cooker is barbacoa! So easy and delicious