Cheesy Refried Bean Tacos (15 minutes)

Easy, crispy, and cheesy refried bean tacos feature a smoky mashed black bean filling paired with crunchy red cabbage, creamy avocado, salty cheese, and fresh cilantro. The savory and slightly spicy bean and cheese mixture gets elevated with tomatoes, garlic, and warm spices. Serve any leftover filling as a creamy dip, or use it for burritos, nachos, or quesadillas. Ready in 15 minutes!

Summer weather always puts me in the mood for Mexican food, like veggie fajitas, salsa, and enchiladas.

In this delicious and easy recipe for refried bean tacos, we make homemade (and much healthier than the store-bought stuff) refried beans using black beans. This way, we can control the amount of salt and oil that we use.

Make this budget-friendly recipe when you want restaurant-worthy tacos in the comfort of your own home.

Jump to:

• ⭐️ Why These Bean and Cheese Tacos are the Best
• 🤔 What is the Difference Between Refried Beans and Regular Beans?
• 🌮 Ingredient Notes
• 📝 Taco Variations & Substitutions
• 🔪 How To Make Refried Bean Tacos
• 👩🏼‍🍳 Expert Tips
• 🥑 Taco Toppings
• 🍽 How to Serve Refried Black Bean Tacos
• 💬 Frequently Asked Questions
• 🌯 Related Recipes
• Refried Bean Tacos Recipe

⭐️ Why These Bean and Cheese Tacos are the Best

• Mashed black bean tacos with a creamy and crunchy texture
• Savory, smoky, and cheesy refried bean filling that can be used to make burritos, nachos, or served as a satisfying dip
• Healthy vegetarian tacos that are nutrient-dense, high in protein and fiber, with dairy-free & gluten-free options available (don't miss these portobello mushroom tacos!)
• Quick and easy refried bean taco recipe that's ready in 15 minutes
• Budget-friendly taco recipe that uses pantry-friendly ingredients, so you can make a restaurant-worthy meal at home

🤔 What is the Difference Between Refried Beans and Regular Beans?

Contrary to popular belief, refried beans are NOT deep-fried or fried twice. Rather, they're beans that have been cooked, mashed, and then pan-fried with some oil, onions, and spices to create a seriously flavorful and creamy dish.

In northern Mexico, pinto beans are typically used, but in other regions of Mexico, black beans or red kidney beans are used. I love black beans, so that's what I use in these tacos, but you can easily use your favorite type of bean.

Making tacos with refried beans at home is not only cheaper than ordering them at a restaurant, but it's also much healthier, as you can control the amount of fat and salt in your cooking.

🌮 Ingredient Notes

• Garlic - I highly recommend using fresh garlic for the best flavor here. You can use jarred garlic or garlic powder, but it won't taste as fresh.
• Black beans - These nutrient-dense beans are high in protein and fiber, and budget-friendly. You can use canned beans or dried (fully cooked) beans.
• Cumin, ancho chile powder, smoked paprika, and salt - Warm Tex-Mex spices add so much deep and complex flavor.
• Corn tortillas - I prefer soft corn tortillas with my tacos, but flour tortillas or hard taco shells will work as well.
• Tomato - You can use a fresh tomato or canned diced tomatoes.
• Cheese - I like to use a salty Mexican-style cheese or pepper jack cheese for a slight kick, but they're also delicious made with cheddar cheese.
• Red cabbage - Adds a beautiful pop of color and fresh crunchiness. For guidance, read my post on how to shred cabbage.

📝 Taco Variations & Substitutions

• Beans. Substitute pinto beans, red kidney beans, or garbanzo beans/chickpeas for a slightly different flavor.
• Make dairy-free tacos: Use your favorite brand of dairy-free cheese. Depending on what you use, it might not melt as evenly, but it will taste great!
• Make gluten-free tacos: Use 100% corn/certified gluten-free tortillas for a gluten-free meal.

🔪 How To Make Refried Bean Tacos

*See recipe card below for printable instructions.

Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Add olive oil and allow it to become translucent, about 1 minute.

Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Adjust heat to medium-low and add black beans. Using a potato masher or fork, mash around ¾ of beans.

Add diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, and spices. Cook for several minutes or until cheese has become melted.

Toast tortillas: over a medium flame, place tortillas directly over burner one at a time until nicely charred (flipping once using tongs), around 30 seconds per side.

Assemble tacos with black bean filling, smashed avocado, shredded cabbage, and cilantro. Serve immediately.

👩🏼‍🍳 Expert Tips

• Storage: Store leftover taco filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Wrap tortillas in foil and store in the fridge.
• How to reheat tacos: Place bean mixture in a skillet over medium-low heat for 5-7 minutes, until heated through. Tortillas can be wrapped in foil and warmed in a 350 degree F. oven for 10 minutes.
• How to freeze: Place completely cooled bean mixture into a freezer-safe container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months (tortillas can be frozen separately). To thaw, place in refrigerator overnight and follow reheating instructions above.
• Char tortillas over an open flame. If you have a gas stovetop or grill, I highly recommend giving your tortillas (you can use corn or flour tortillas) a good char for extra flavor. Just a few seconds on each side is all that's needed!
• Serve any leftover filling as a creamy dip, or use it for burritos, nachos, or quesadillas.

🥑 Taco Toppings

When it comes to toppings for tacos, the sky's the limit! Here are several suggestions:

• Sour cream
• Pico de gallo
• Black bean salsa
• Guacamole
• Pickled onions
• Squeeze of lime juice
• Cabbage slaw
• Cilantro
• Roasted jalapeños

🍽 How to Serve Refried Black Bean Tacos

Serve tacos accompanied with a summery appetizer, like cucumber soup, corn salsa, or guacamole.

For a hearty meal, pair them with beans and rice, crispy sweet potatoes, or corn on the cob.

Don't forget dessert! Serve a galette with cherries or double chocolate zucchini bread for the finale.

💬 Frequently Asked Questions

🌯 Related Recipes

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