BEST CHEESY PINTO BEANS RECIPE

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BEST CHEESY PINTO BEANS RECIPE

We’ll go back to basics with this! I love exploring really simple ways to turn staples, like canned beans, into a filling and satisfying meal. For Cheesy Pinto Beans, I simply seasoned some canned beans, mashed half of them to make the beans flavorful and creamy, and then stirred in a little cheese to make them more flavorful and satisfying. Serve it with rice and you’ll have an easy and satisfying meal for pennies.

WHAT ARE PINTO BEANS?

Pinto beans have been a staple in many parts of the world, including Mexico and the southwestern United States, for generations, so if you live in those regions, you’re probably very familiar with this delicious bean. But if pinto beans aren’t part of your regular diet, this recipe would be a great introduction. Pinto beans are small tan bean that has a spotted appearance when dried. They have a delicious creamy texture once cooked, which makes them great for stir-fry beans, soups, burritos, or just enjoying rice, as I did here.

CAN I USE DRY BEANS?

Dry beans will always be more budget-friendly, are usually lower in sodium, and oftentimes have a better flavor, but they can take more time and work to prepare. This Cheesy Pinto Bean recipe is designed for convenience, so this time we’re using canned beans. If you want to use pinto beans that you have cooked dry, you will need about three cups of cooked beans. You’ll likely need to add a little more salt to your recipe at the end, too.

HOW TO SERVE CHEESY PINTO BEANS

This simple, delicious recipe can be eaten in many different ways. She served me over a bowl of rice, but you can also mash more beans and serve it as a dip in penne chips! I think it would also be good to serve it in a bowl and then eat it with some naan or bagels. Or simply serve it on its own as a side dish with your favorite meal.

WHAT ELSE CAN I ADD?

Beans are a flexible ingredient, so there are many other ingredients you can add to these cheesy pinto beans. Here are some other ingredients you can stir in with your cereal:

Diced Hatch green chiles
Salsa
Diced red onion
Diced ham or bacon
Sour cream (makes the beans EXTRA creamy)
Cilantro
Green onions

CHEESY PINTO BEANS

Cheesy Pinto Beans are a quick and satisfying meal made with simple basic ingredients like canned beans.

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 20 mins

INGREDIENTS

2 cloves of garlic ($0.16)
1 jalapeño (optional) ($0.08)
1 Tbsp cooking oil ($0.04)
2 15oz. cans of pinto beans ($2.00)
1/4 tsp smoked paprika ($0.03)
1/4 tsp ground cumin ($0.03)
1/8 tsp freshly cracked black pepper ($0.02)
2 dashes of hot sauce ($0.10)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese ($0.50)

INSTRUCTIONS

Chop the garlic and chop the jalapenos into small pieces (remove the stem and seeds).
Add garlic, jalapeno, and cooking oil to a saucepan. Saute garlic and jalapenos over medium heat for about 1 minute, or until garlic is strongly fragrant.
Add a can of pinto beans to a blender, with the liquid in the can, and puree until smooth.
Add the mashed beans and the second can of beans (drained) to the pot along with the garlic and jalapenos. Stir until smooth.
Season the beans with smoked paprika, cumin, pepper, and hot sauce. Stir until combined, then heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Finally, add the shredded cheddar cheese and stir until smoothly melted into the beans. Taste the beans and adjust the seasoning to your liking. Serve it with rice or with your favorite meal.

HOW TO MAKE CHEESY PINTO BEANS – STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Mince two garlic cloves and chop one jalapeno (seeds and stem removed). Add them to a bowl with a tablespoon of cooking oil. Fry the garlic over medium heat for 1-2 minutes or until really fragrant.
Add 15 oz. The pinto beans can be placed in a blender (with the liquid in the can) and pureed until smooth. Alternately, you can use a blender immersed in the bowl with the beans.
Add the mashed beans to the saucepan with a second 15 oz. A can of pinto beans (drained). Stir until smooth.
Season the beans with ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, and ½ teaspoon ground cumin. 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper and a few splashes of hot sauce. Stir the mixture and leave the beans to heat up, stirring occasionally.
Once the beans are hot, add 14 cups of shredded cheddar cheese.
Stir the beans until the cheese melts smoothly in the beans.
Taste the beans and adjust the seasoning to your liking. Since beans and canned cheese contain a fair amount of salt, I didn’t find that I needed to add any to the beans. Serve the beans over rice, with chips, or alongside your favorite meal!

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