Mexican-style chorizo beans (frijoles con chorizo) are an easy, one-pot meal packed with layers of rich flavor from hearty chorizo and spices. They make an ideal side dish to accompany any Mexican feast.

Why You Will Love This Recipe
If you're looking for something a bit more creative than your regular tacos or burritos, then you'll love these chorizo beans!
Chorizo pairs perfectly with creamy beans in this simple and savory recipe that has a little bit of kick but just enough flavor-packed punch. Whether you're hosting a fiesta or wanting to make something special for lunch this week, these flavorful refried beans are exactly what your kitchen needs!
And best of all, chorizo refried beans come together in no time – so even if you’re short on time or ingredients, these refried beans will fit the bill perfectly.
- Easy to make. This recipe only requires a few simple ingredients and steps, so you can have it on the table in no time.
- Versatile. Chorizo beans can be served as a main dish, a side dish, or even a dip.
- Budget friendly. Refried black beans with chorizo is made with inexpensive ingredients, so you can save money without sacrificing taste.
- Delicious. The combination of smoky chorizo and tender beans is simply irresistible, and complements everything from soup to steaks.
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Refried Chorizo Beans Ingredients
- How to Make Chorizo Refried Black Beans
- Serving Suggestions
- Related Recipes
- Substitutions and Variations
- Equipment
- Storage and Reheating
- Tips for Success
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
- 📖 Recipe
- Food Safety
Refried Chorizo Beans Ingredients
Why do the same-old plain refried beans when you can make chorizo refried beans instead? This easy recipe is sure to become one of your go-to dishes - it has smoky heat from the chorizo sausage combined with traditional Mexican flavors like cumin and garlic – it's almost as good as if an abuela cooked it!
In this blog post we'll share how you can quickly whip up a batch of mouthwatering chorizo refried beans at home. So grab some cans of pinto beans from your pantry, start browning that choriz0, and let’s get cooking!
- Olive oil
- Chorizo sausage - Mexican style bulk sausage. If it comes in casings, remove them. Turkey chorizo sausage is also VERY low in fat, but you can use any bulk chorizo sausage for this recipe.
- Onion - Diced.
- Bell pepper - Red bell pepper, seeded and diced.
- Poblano pepper - Seeded and cored, diced small.
- Jalapeno - Seeded and cored, diced small.
- Garlic - Minced.
- Black beans - Two 15 oz canned, or cook 1 â…“ cups dry with 3 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of salt in an Instant Pot for 40 minutes on High.
- Broth - Any.
- Oregano - Look for Mexican oregano leaf in the Hispanic aisle of your grocery store, but regular oregano is fine.
- Salt - to taste.
- Black pepper - to taste.
- Cilantro - Chop coarsely, you'll add half at the end of cooking, and the rest can be used as garnish.
- Sour cream - Optional, for garnish or serving on top of frijoles con chorizo (chorizo beans).
- Avocado - Sliced and added as a topping if desired.
PRO TIP: Use disposable gloves when working with chiles, so you don't transfer the capsaicin oil to your eyes or lips!
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Chorizo Refried Black Beans
Our twist on this humble Mexican dish will be sure to tantalize your taste buds while keeping things nice and easy for even inexperienced home cooks. Flavorful, zesty, and surprisingly simple – what more could you want out of a meal?
Brown The Chorizo
- Remove any casings or packaging from the bulk chorizo sausage. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet and add the chorizo, breaking it up as it browns. Drain off any excess fat.
- Dice the onion, chile's, and red bell pepper, and garlic for the sofrito.
- Add the vegetables and oregano to the skillet and bring heat to medium.
Cook Sofrito With Chorizo
- Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion, chilies, and bell pepper are soft, tender, and fragrant.
Add The Black Beans
- Add the black beans and the broth and bring the skillet to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium low.
- Using the back of the spoon, or a spatula, smash about â…“ of the black beans and stir to combine.
- Simmer to thicken the frijoles con chorizo until you reach the refried beans are creamy.
Garnish And Serve
- Stir in half of the chopped fresh cilantro if desired, and adjust salt and black pepper to taste. Serve with a bowl of sour cream, sliced avocado, sliced limes, and additional chopped fresh cilantro.
Serving Suggestions
Chorizo refried beans are a delicious way to upgrade any meal, but they are especially suited for any Latin inspired menu. Whether you’re cooking up tacos, enchiladas, or nachos, chorizo beans (frijoles con chorizo) will complement and complete your meal.
Some great recipes to serve these chorizo refried black beans are:
- Pork Pozole Verde
- Chile Relleno Burrito
- Crockpot Mexican Shredded Beef Torta
- Mexican Pickled Red Onions
- Birria Quesadilla
- Mexican White Sauce
- Pineapple Pico de Gallo
- Cebollitas Asadas (Mexican Grilled Onions)
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Related Recipes
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few substitutions and variations when making this refried bean with chorizo recipe:
- Substitute pinto beans for black beans if you prefer.
- You can substitute any type of chorizo you like. Spanish chorizo, Mexican chorizo, or even breakfast chorizo will work.
- Top the beans with shredded cheese, sour cream, or salsa.
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite pieces of equipment that I use when making this refried bean with chorizo recipe.
- 9 inch Round Cast Iron Skillet
- Oven Safe Enameled Skillet
- 6 qt Enameled Dutch Oven
- Instant Pot - For cooking dry black beans quickly instead of using canned.
Storage and Reheating
- Chorizo beans can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- They can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
- To reheat, thaw the beans in the refrigerator overnight and then heat them in a saucepan over medium heat until warmed through.
Tips for Success
- If you want a spicier dish, add some chipotle chili powder to taste.
- For a milder dish, reduce the amount of poblano and jalapeno chiles, or use green bell pepper instead.
- You can also add other ingredients to the beans, such as chopped tomatoes, corn, or hominy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can, but to get the same flavor, add ¼ teaspoon of ground chipotle, and 1 ½ teaspoon of chili powder.
Yes, 1 â…“ cup of dried black beans cooked in 3 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of salt in a Dutch oven or Instant Pot will equal 2 cans of drained black beans.
Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
📖 Recipe
Chorizo and Refried Black Beans (Frijoles con Chorizo)
Equipment
- Instant Pot for cooking dry black beans
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 lb Chorizo sausage Mexican style bulk sausage
- 1 Onion diced
- 1 Bell pepper red bell pepper, diced
- 1 Poblano chile seeded and diced
- 1 Jalapeno seeded and diced
- 2 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Oregano Mexican or regular, dried
- 30 oz Black beans 2 cans, or 1⅓ dry cooked.
- 1 cup Broth chicken or vegetable
- ½ Cilantro fresh, coarsely chopped, divided
- ½ Sour cream optional, for garnish
- 1 Avocado optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Remove any casings or packaging from the bulk chorizo sausage. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet and add the chorizo, breaking it up as it browns. Drain off any excess fat.1 tablespoon Olive oil, 1 lb Chorizo sausage
- Dice the onion, chile's, and red bell pepper, and garlic for the sofrito.1 Onion, 1 Bell pepper, 1 Poblano chile, 1 Jalapeno, 2 cloves Garlic
- Add the vegetables and oregano to the skillet and bring heat to medium.1 teaspoon Oregano
- Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion, chilies, and bell pepper are soft, tender, and fragrant.
- Add the black beans and the broth and bring the skillet to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium low.30 oz Black beans, 1 cup Broth
- Using the back of the spoon, or a spatula, smash about ⅓ of the black beans and stir to combine.
- Simmer to thicken the frijoles con chorizo until you reach the refried beans are creamy.
- Stir in half of the chopped fresh cilantro if desired, and adjust salt and black pepper to taste. Serve with a bowl of sour cream, sliced avocado, sliced limes, and additional chopped fresh cilantro.½ Cilantro, ½ Sour cream, 1 Avocado
Notes
- If you want a spicier dish, add some chipotle chili powder to taste.
- For a milder dish, reduce the amount of poblano and jalapeno chiles, or use green bell pepper instead.
- You can also add other ingredients to the beans, such as chopped tomatoes, corn, or hominy.
Nutrition
Food Safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
- Wash hands after touching raw meat.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
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