Pinto Beans Mexican Style is one of my favorite dishes to make for large gatherings.

The addition of crispy bacon, caramelized onions and fresh cilantro right before serving is what makes these beans stand out.

They were a hit at our Cinco de Mayo party last Saturday!

This is a recipe that was shared with me by my friend, Maria, several years ago.  I’ve been making them for all our Mexican food gatherings ever since.

I’ve found that the beans freeze well.  If you have leftovers, put serving-size portions into ziplocks, squeeze all the extra air out and freeze them flat so that they are easy to defrost.

What I like about these beans is how versatile they are.  You can serve them as-is or you can dress them up with toppings such as sour cream, cheese, salsa and olives.  You can throw them in a flour tortilla and enjoy a nice bean burrito, or you can mix them with rice for a satisfying meal.

You can also spice them up while cooking by adding jalapenos.  If you prefer a spicy, smokey flavor, you could toss in a couple chipotles in adobo sauce.

Tap into your creative side and put your spin on these Pinto Beans Mexican Style!

 Enjoy!

Mexican Style Beans – Versatile and Tasty

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Serves	15
Prep time	8 hours
Cook time	4 hours
Total time	12 hours

Mexican style beans are a simple and tasty side dish. Or serve with rice for a hearty meal. Easy to make, these beans are easy on the pocketbook too!

Ingredients

First

• 1.5 Pounds dry pinto beans (cleaned and soaked in water overnight)
• 1 onion (cut in half)
• 4 Cloves garlic (crushed or minced)
• 2 Tablespoons kosher salt
• 1 Package bacon (chopped - I prefer center cut)

Third

• 1 Package bacon (chopped and cooked to crisp - I prefer center cut)
• 1 onion (finely diced)
• 1 Bunch cilantro, chopped

Second

• 1- 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes

Note

Mexican Style Beans are a tasty, economical and versatile dish.

Enjoy these Mexican Style Beans just as they are, or they can be dressed up with sour cream, salsa, fresh tomatoes and cheese. You can even serve these beans with a side of rice for a hearty, satisfying meal.  They also freeze and reheat well.  So make a big batch and save some in the freezer for later!

Enjoy - The Recipe Wench

Directions

First

Step 1

Place cleaned, soaked beans in large, heavy-bottomed pot. Fill water to 3/4 full (you might need to add water as beans cook) Add halved onion, garlic, salt and bacon. Bring pot to boil then reduce to simmer and allow to cook until beans are very tender. Approximately 3-4 hours.

Next

Step 2

Add can of crushed tomatoes.

Lastly

Step 3

In skillet over medium-high heat, pan fry bacon until crispy to your liking. Add chopped onion and cook until onion is caramelized. Add crispy bacon, caramelized onions and cilantro to beans. Heat through and enjoy!