These Frijoles Charros are flavored with smoky bacon, onions, garlic, fire roasted diced tomatoes, and jalapeño slices. They can be made in a slow cooker, in a dutch oven on the stovetop, or in a magical Instant Pot. 

Blue and white bowl filled with pinto beans called frijoles charros

Beans, beans, the magical fruit – the more you eat, the more you…want more!

I think it’s amazing that simple pinto beans can be transformed into so many dishes. The purest and simplest pinto beans are beans from the pot, Frijoles de la Olla. Cook them in beer and add bacon and they become Borracho Beans, or add a few extra ingredients like chorizo, hotdog slices, ham, chicharrón (pork rinds), and it becomes a hearty dish called Frijoles Charros.

I always looked forward to family summer cookouts growing up because someone was always sure to contribute this Northern Mexican dish.

To be honest, I am not a fan of too many extra ingredients and I wanted to share a recipe where the beans are the star of the show. These frijoles charros are flavored with smoky bacon, onions, garlic, fire roasted diced tomatoes, and jalapeño slices.

This recipe can be made in a slow cooker, in a dutch oven on the stovetop, or in a magical Instant Pot.  It is the ideal potluck or cookout dish to make – it’s inexpensive, easy to make, and extremely delicious.

Mexican hand painted soup tureen with ladle scooping frijoles charros

When trying to develop a recipe I found a recipe by Rick Bayless that is perfect, so rather than reinventing the wheel I am sharing his recipe.

After the beans are cooked he adds two cups of beans and liquid in the blender to puree and adds them back to the pot of beans giving them a creamier consistency. I had never done that before, but really loved the texture and highly recommend it.

soup tureen and serving bowls filled with pinto beans frijoles charros and a stack of corn tortillas smeared with sour cream

While the beans were simmering I was reminded of my grandmas’ kitchen – she always had a pot of beans on the stovetop and sour cream on her kitchen table. I used to love smothering a warm corn tortilla with sour cream and sprinkle it with salt. I’d roll it up tight like a mini burrito and eat it with a steaming bowl of freshly made beans.

Sure, you can serve these beans as a side-dish, but eating a warm bowl of beans like soup is a comforting meal and oh so heavenly.

Watch this video to see how simple these Frijoles Charros are made.

bowl of pinto beans frijoles charros and a side of corn tortillas with sour cream

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

DO YOU HAVE TO SOAK DRIED BEANS BEFORE COOKING THEM?

No, not necessarily, but I like to soak for at least one hour to ensure beans are clean. Put the beans in a pot, cover with water by two inches and let them soak for an hour or overnight. Drain, rinse and proceed with your recipe. 

HOW TO STORE COOKED BEANS

Beans can be refrigerated for up to 5 days and also freeze well in these plastic containers.

How to make Frijoles Charros in a slow cooker

(scroll down for detailed recipe)

  • Measure out the beans. Spread the 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.
  • In a removable insert of a 6-quart slow cooker (or a large 10-inch skillet if your slow cooker does not have a stove-top safe insert) set over medium heat, cook the bacon several minutes, stirring regularly, until bacon starts to brown and renders its fat.  Add the onion and cook until golden, about 6 to 8 minutes.  Add garlic and jalapeños and cook until the garlic begins to brown and is fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes and cook another minute.
  • Fit the insert into the slow cooker (or transfer the mixture from the skillet to the slow cooker) and add the beans, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 7 cups of water. Cover and turn the slow cooker to high. Your beans will be done in 3 to 4 hours, though you can hold them for longer.
  • When ready to serve, remove 2 cups of the beans and process in a blender or food processor until smooth.  Add the smooth beans back to pot and stir in the cilantro. Taste and season with more salt if needed. Ladle into bowls and serve.

No Slow Cooker?

(scroll down for detailed recipe)

  • Follow the directions for cooking the bacon, onion, garlic, chiles and tomatoes in a medium-large (4- to 6-quart) pot (preferably a Dutch oven) over medium-high.  Add the beans, salt, and 10 cups water. Bring to a rolling boil, then reduce to medium-low and cook the beans at a gentle simmer, partially covered, until thoroughly tender, about 2 hours. (You’ll find it necessary to add water from time to time to ensure that the level of liquid remains about the same.) Finish the recipe as directed above.

I want beans made in 30 minutes! Cook them in an Instant Pot.

(scroll down for detailed recipe)

OTHER DELICIOUS PINTO BEAN RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE: 

If you love these easy and delicious Frijoles Charros, be sure to check out some of my other favorite pinto bean recipes below. 

Frijoles Charros (Cowboy Beans)

4.24 (47 ratings)
These frijoles charros are flavored with smoky bacon, onions, garlic, fire roasted diced tomatoes, and jalapeño slices. They can be made in a slow cooker, in a dutch oven on the stovetop, or in a magical Instant Pot. 
Print Pin Rate
Yield: 6
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours 13 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 to 5 slices thick cut bacon, cut crosswise into ½-inch pieces
  • 1 medium white onion, cut into ½-inch pieces
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
  • 1 jalapeño, sliced
  • 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes in juice , (preferably fire-roasted)
  • 1 pound dried pinto beans, about 2 1/2 cups
  • Salt
  • 1 cup loosely packed, roughly chopped cilantro

Instructions 

  • Measure out the beans. Spread the 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.
  • In a removable insert of a 6-quart slow cooker (or a large 10-inch skillet if your slow cooker does not have a stove-top safe insert) set over medium heat, cook the bacon several minutes, stirring regularly, until bacon starts to brown and renders its fat.  Add the onion and cook until golden, about 6 to 8 minutes.  Add garlic and jalapeños and cook until the garlic begins to brown and is fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes and cook another minute.
  • Fit the insert into the slow cooker (or transfer the mixture from the skillet to the slow cooker) and add the beans, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 7 cups of water. Cover and turn the slow cooker to high. Your beans will be done in 3 to 4 hours, though you can hold them for longer.
  • When ready to serve, remove 2 cups of the beans and process in a blender or food processor until smooth.  Add the smooth beans back to pot and stir in the cilantro. Taste and season with more salt if needed. Ladle into bowls and serve.

No Slow Cooker?

  • Follow the directions for cooking the bacon, onion, garlic, chiles and tomatoes in a medium-large (4- to 6-quart) pot (preferably a Dutch oven) over medium-high.  Add the beans, salt, and 2 ½ quarts water. Bring to a rolling boil, then reduce to medium-low and cook the beans at a gentle simmer, partially covered, until thoroughly tender, about 2 hours. (You’ll find it necessary to add water from time to time to ensure that the level of liquid remains about the same.)  Finish the recipe as directed above.

Instructions for Instant Pot:

  • Select Sauté on the Instant Pot and follow the directions for cooking the bacon, onion, garlic, and chiles.
  • Add tomatoes, beans, salt, and 7 cups water. 
  • Use “manual” setting for 30 minutes of pressure.
  • Allow pressure to naturally release, approximately 30 to 40 minutes.
  • When ready to serve, remove 2 cups of the beans and process in a blender or food processor until smooth.  Add the smooth beans back to pot and stir in the cilantro. Taste and season with more salt if needed. Ladle into bowls and serve.

Video

Notes

  • Soak beans for one hour or overnight.
  • Beans can be refrigerated for up to 5 days.
  • The beans can be frozen in small bowls for later use.
Calories: 559kcal, Carbohydrates: 75g, Protein: 29g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 24mg, Sodium: 255mg, Potassium: 1712mg, Fiber: 18g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 321IU, Vitamin C: 15mg, Calcium: 140mg, Iron: 6mg
Author: Yvette Marquez
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican

Photography by Jenna Sparks

Originally published: February 2019